Education
For every child, an equal, inclusive and quality education
Challenges
Although education is a priority for Chad, the country remains faced with a real challenge to achieve goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). And this is despite the efforts of the government and its social, technical and financial partners to offer all children in the country an equal, inclusive and quality education.
The educational system is characterized by a low level of schooling, with one out of two school age children out of school[ per cent are girls. According to PASEC 2014, only 20 per cent of children who finish their primary school studies have a good foundation in reading and math in the two classroom languages, French and Arabic. The rate of illiteracy among youth is around 70 per cent, which is about more than 2 million youth who do not know how to read or write. The situation is even more alarming among girls aged 15 to 24, where the rate climbs to more than 77 per cent.
The academic level of teachers is generally low. Approximately three out of four pupils are supervised by teachers whose highest level of education does not go beyond secondary schooling.
There is little access to higher education, technical education and professional training.
The country has been affected by three humanitarian crises - in Sudan, the Central African Republic and Nigeria. These crises have created added pressure on the educational system in Chad, with more than 600,000 refugee children in need of schooling.
The System of Information and Educational Management (SIGE) acknowledges more than two years of delay in the generating of statistical data. This does not allow for proper planning and monitoring.
[1] Studies on children out of the educational system, UNICEF 2016
Solutions
Access to education
Within the framework of improving access to educational services and conditions of apprenticeship for pupils, the programme supports the involvement of communities to promote the education of children and girls, in particular. The programme also contributes to reducing inequities; the building of educational infrastructure, such as equipped classrooms, water points, separate bathrooms, sports fields with solar lighting; and the payment of contractual subsidies to teachers by cellphone to reduce the costs on communities and the upgrading of Koranic schools.
Quality of education
The programme supports improving the quality of education and promoting efficiency in resource management. This is done through the acquisition and distribution of school, teaching and pedagogical materiel; capacity building of teachers; the fostering of close pedagogical monitoring of teachers by inspectors; the development and use of score cards in schools and pedagogical inspections.
Activities for early childhood
As part of pre-schooling, UNICEF supports the development of a national policy on early childhood development by encouraging the active participation of communities.
At the institutional level
UNICEF provides technical support for the development of a sector plan and the mobilizing of funds for the support of the Education sector. UNICEF supports the development of early education in Chad through the Women’s Ministry, the Protection of Early Childhood and National Solidarity. The programme also works with the government for capacity building of national administrators in the planning and management of the educational system as well as the collection of data in real time in areas of humanitarian emergency through the mobile platform Edutrac.
Children outside of the formal educational system
A study on this issue was created in 2016. UNICEF supports training activities (a pilot project) and the reintegration of children who attend Koranic (muhajirin) schools in the educational system through upgrading the Koranic schools (development and validation of the programme). Professional training activities are also developed. UNICEF in Chad works in close collaboration with the government, communities and civil society organizations on innovative approaches to improve education and the quality of apprenticeship training.
Education during humanitarian situations
UNICEF also provides the lead for Cluster Education. The programme supports the offering of an inclusive, quality education through the building of emergency school infrastructure, the distribution of school, teaching and recreational kits, the distribution of school manuals and pedagogical guides, the capacity building of teachers for methods in their disciplines. The programme also provides psycho-social support, life skills, peace education and social cohesiveness. It supports the operation of Child-Friendly Schools (EAE) vulnerable to crises, as well as the payment of subsidies to community teachers. In view of the nature of the prolonged crisis affecting Chad, the support of UNICEF is geared toward strengthening the resiliency of the affected communities.
