Education in Crisis and Conflict
Maintaining Learning Continuity During School Closure: Community Health Volunteer Support for Marginalised Girls in Kenya
To help ensure that the vulnerable girls we work with could still be reached amid school closures and lockdown measures, a new model was emergency education provision was rapidly developed, leveraging the availability of community health volunteers (CHVs). As the analysis of this report shows, the deployment of CHVs has led to an impressive level of learning continuity for many disadvantaged girls, with over 90% of households surveyed making use of the learning materials they provided.
The key findings from this research are outlined below:
- The deployment of CHVs has led to an impressive level of learning continuity for many disadvantaged girls.
- CHV delivery of ‘no tech’ paper-based resources was an essential feature in continuity of learning for girls.
- There were important variations from place to place with girls in ASAL regions spending more time learning than girls in urban areas.
- CHVs have played an important role in encouraging parental support for girls’ learning.
- Peer learning groups have supported girls to stay engaged during school closures in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and coastal areas.
- Cross-sectoral working between education and health has the potential to enhance learning beyond Covid-19.
- There is overall optimism about girls returning to schools when they reopen, amid concerns over early marriage and pregnancy affecting re-enrolment.