Independent Study on Non-Formal Primary Education Activities (2016)

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Client

UNICEF

Project Location

Project Duration

1 year

Total Value

N/A

Value of Montrose Component

$68,880

Situation

  • In Myanmar, an estimated 1.3 million children of primary school age do not attend school. There are multiple individual reasons accounting for this high rate of out-of-school children, but the underlying cause is poverty.
  • Poverty creates a barrier to accessing education, not only in terms of a direct cost barrier but also in terms of opportunity costs with many primary-aged children having to work.
  • The Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) programme in Myanmar, specifically targeting 10-14 year olds, provided a second chance to gain a primary qualification by delivering an equivalent curriculum through an accelerated and more flexible model.

Solution

  • As part of the one-year systematic review of the performance of the Quality Basic Education Programme (QBEP) for UNICEF Myanmar and its Myanmar Multi-Donor Education Fund (MDEF) partners, Montrose undertook an independent study on NFPE activities in Myanmar.
  • The purpose of the study was to provide an independent review of the process, effectiveness, and causes for drop-out from NFPE activities.
  • The intention was to provide a clear understanding of the key constraints and to inform an on-going strategy to deliver a primary level equivalency programme.
  • The study focused on a series of challenges identified in a 2013 assessment of NFPE and assess how these were responded to.

Impact

  • The study provided an evidence base to inform future decisions, including a specific study on the potential opportunities of outsourcing implementation to third party organisations.
  • The study was used by Ministry of Education officials, MDEF partners, and UNICEF to inform future activities.