Investing in school transport in rural Honduras: Implementation, impact, and evidence

• In Event: Poster session 2

Proposal

Since 2012, Catholic Relief Services Honduras (CRS/HN) has been implementing the USDA McGovern Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in the department of Intibucá to increase literacy and provide nutritious school meals to 54,627 children. One of the poorest departments in the country, more than 71 percent of households in Intibucá are unable to satisfy all basic needs. Many schools in Intibucá are far from children’s homes (the average distance is more than four miles each way) and access to education is particularly challenging for seventh to ninth grade students. In 2016 in Intibucá, only 11 percent of all primary schools (58 schools) offer classes for seventh to ninth graders.
Given this context, ensuring access to education is a challenge. In 2013, CRS developed a program to provide daily transportation to and from schools to select students, prioritizing families with limited economic resources, as well as 7th to 9th graders, to increase access and improve school attendance. Approximately 3,000 students in 40 schools have participated in the program.
To measure the impact of providing school transportation, CRS designed a quasi-experimental study to correlate its effect on key indicators such as attendance, dropout rates, safety, and student academic performance. The study has been implemented using a two-phase approach. In the first phase included a qualitative analysis, through focus group discussions and key informant interviews, was conducted to identify the perceived benefits of the provision of school transportation. The key indicators that were identified by families, mainly related to attendance and safety. Parents and children felt an increased sense of safety, while parents also noted increased student attendance and improved punctuality. The benefits identified by students included: more time to concentrate on homework and to play, and increased motivation to go to school.
The qualitative information pointed to key challenges such as: insurance for children traveling in the rented vehicles; increased community participation; road conditions during the rainy season; and finally the intervention’s sustainability. With a better understanding of these challenges, the second phase of the study will provide a better understanding on these issues, as well as the correlation of transport with attendance, drop-out rates, safety and academic performance. The second phase will use a non-probability sampling of both students that are receiving the transport service and students that live in similar conditions, but who do not receive the service. A mixed methods approach with quantitative and qualitative tools will be used. This phase, which began in April 2018 and will end in December 2018. The results of the study will be shared through an evaluation report, as well as key events and communication materials to share with local stakeholders. The study will serve to better inform decision-making on project as activities, as well as the investment of resources by CRS and the Ministry of Education and other local entities.

Authors

• jennifer mallman, CRS

• Olga Canelas, CRS