Education in Crisis and Conflict
Remedial Education Program
An innovation to improve girls' academic performance in refugee contexts
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and its partner Windle Trust Kenya (WTK) have been implementing remedial education programming in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps in northern Kenya since 2011. This innovative approach has proven effective in addressing critical systemic gaps, improving girls' academic performance and positively influencing parental and positively influence parental and community attitudes towards girls' education.
- The provision of remedial education has helped girls to improve their overall academic performance. Between 2014 and 2015, girls in Class 6 (the class who received the most remedial sessions during that time) showed the greatest improvement in literacy test scores, from a mean of 32 in 2014 to 42 by the end of 2015.
- Qualitative evidence shows that girls value the remedial education program because it allows them additional time outside of regular school to continue their studies, which is not always possible for them to do at home. Girls have reported that they feel comfortable to ask for support from teachers when they need it in smaller, girls-only classes.
- Increased attendance and demand for remedial classes in both Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps has shown that parents and guardians are increasingly willing to allow girls to attend additional classes on weekends. Given that girls might otherwise be tasked with household responsibilities, it is clear that families are increasingly making the choice to prioritise girls' education. Demand for remedial classes has increased from 1,440 girls in 2014 to 2,646 girls in 2016.