What are countries in South Asia doing to meet the learning needs for out-of-school children?

As part of the global initiative on Out-of-School Children, UNICEF has analyzed the data and barriers to exclusion in education in South Asia. The South Asia Out-of-School Children Study examines policy responses and... [ view full abstract ]

As part of the global initiative on Out-of-School Children, UNICEF has analyzed the data and barriers to exclusion in education in South Asia. The South Asia Out-of-School Children Study examines policy responses and strategies in countries to meet the learning needs of all girls and boys. The study covers Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. An analysis of household surveys show 27 million children between the ages 5 to 13 are out of school in these four countries: 17 million children of primary school-age and 9.9 million lower-secondary age children. The study gives insight on who are the out-of-school children as well as the multiple deprivations children face leading to their exclusion. This points to the need for large-scale multi-sectoral interventions. The study documents specific policies and interventions in the four countries underway to ensure that all children have access to learning opportunities via the formal education system or via alternative pathways to education, and by strengthening the equity focus in education sector plans. This involves targeted programmes to reach out-of-school children as well as encouraging appropriate age enrolment, and stemming drop out. In conclusion, the study recommends to expand and strengthen alternative pathways to basic education by: increasing public investments for these programmes; ensuring equivalency so children can be mainstreamed to formal schools; improving the quality of these programmes (including training of teachers and facilitators, improving teaching-learning materials and the pedagogy); and scaling-up alternative models of education tailored for vulnerable groups (child labourers, migrant children, out-of-school adolescents).