Education

Why education? We believe that all children have the right to an education and that it provides one of the best routes out of poverty. We integrate our education programmes into both our development and emergency work to give extremely poor children more opportunities in life and support their overall wellbeing.

Key focus areas

Three key focus areas of our work on education are:

Increasing access to education, including in emergencies
Improving the quality of education and learning outcomes
Supporting the wellbeing of children and teachers

Three girls in classroom learning about hygiene

Concern Worldwide and its partner organisations organize sessions with young girls and adolescents in Rajapur High School in Shoronkhola. Photo: Mohammad Rakibul Hasan/Concern Worldwide

Mariatu Conteh (10) during a Class 6 lesson at the Muslim Brotherhood School in Masakong. Photo: Conor O'Donovan/Concern Worldwide

In Niger, Concern has set up school governments to involve students in decision-making in their schools in a democratic and accountable way. Photo: Apsatou Bagaya/Concern Worldwide

Teacher in Niger speaking to classroom of children

In Niger, Concern equipped 20 villages with library boxes to improve reading practices for children, for whom access to textbooks and books is very limited.

Children in school uniforms playing in playground in Sierra Leone

Mariatu Thullah (6) plays with her friends in the playground at the primary school in Mathombo. Photo: Conor O'Donovan/Concern Worldwide

Schoolchildren in Chad holding workbooks

Ateb* (centre) is one of the children who attends a school supported by Concern in Sila Province. Photo: Pierre Maget/Concern Worldwide

A closer look at our education programmes

The main goal of our education programme is to improve the lives of extremely poor children in a sustainable way, by increasing their access to quality primary education and supporting wellbeing. Here we spotlight three of our approaches.

Using EGRA to measure learning outcomes

At least 250 million school-age children worldwide currently do not know the basics in reading and mathematics. This poor level of literacy and numeracy drives school dropout and blocks students from progressing in their education.

In order to accurately assess, improve and monitor literacy levels, Concern is widely using the sector-leading Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) tool among the most vulnerable communities and in emergencies.

Safe Learning Model

Improving Access to Education Through Community and School Management Engagement