There was a critical need for textbooks to support and enhance the teaching and learning process in South Sudan.
Only 16% of teachers had a teaching qualification and the workforce was mainly non-English speaking, despite English being the main medium of instruction.
Most schools had never received any textbooks.
Those that existed were often outdated and not reflective of the revised curriculum following the formation of the new nation.
The average life of a textbook in South Sudan’s harsh climate was estimated at a maximum of three years, as those that existed deteriorated quickly.
Solution
Montrose was contracted to evaluate the textbook distribution process across six of South Sudan’s 10 former states.
We evaluated the impacts on access, equity and retention of learning.
Indicators assessed included
Changes in enrolment.
Attendance and drop out.
Changes in learning outcomes.
Gender differences.
Variations between populations.
Efficiency of their use in classrooms.
Capacity of teachers to use the textbooks.
Ease of use by students.
Progress made towards the development of a national textbook strategy.
Impact
Schools received over 7.5 million textbooks and 350,000 graded readers: 84% of delivery target.
Effective school storage was provided in 60% of schools and in 70% of county offices.
A National Learning and Teaching Materials policy was finalised and presented at the launch of the first ever National South Sudan Education Curriculum in September 2015.
Despite conflict and transport logistics the project was delivered £500,000 under budget.
Savings were used to provide additional supplies in counties where materials were lost as a result of conflict (e.g. an additional 318,300 graded readers).
Books managed, stored and used correctly were predicted to achieve a five-year lifespan.
