1. Problem

In 2013, a significant number of children in Syria dropped out of primary school. School closures, displacement, and safety concerns prevented children from accessing education.

2. Problem Evidence

• Increase in Out-of-School Children: The number of primary-aged children out of school surged from 20,288 in 2011 to 845,091 in 2013.
• Destroyed Infrastructure: Many schools were damaged or repurposed as shelters, further limiting access to education.

3. Potential Solution

A collaboration between UNICEF and the Syrian Ministry of Education focused on reintegrating out-of-school children through alternative education programs.

4. Solution Details

• Self-Learning Program (2015): Designed for children aged 6-19 with no access to formal education. It provided self-paced learning to help children re-enter schools.
• Curriculum B: An accelerated learning program allowing students to catch up on lost school years. It was particularly effective in summer learning programs.
• Reopening Schools: UNICEF facilitated the reopening of 23 primary schools in Aleppo, allowing nearly 6,500 children to return to school.

5. Solution Validation

• Increased school attendance in areas where these programs were implemented.
• Positive feedback from students and teachers on the effectiveness of accelerated learning programs.
• Gradual restoration of school infrastructure in conflict-affected areas.
• As shown in the figure below, students are getting back to school gradually from year 2022 to 2023, and expected to follow the same trend in the upcoming years, if the program will continue.

6. Findings and Recommendations

• Findings: The education programs have successfully helped children return to school, but challenges remain ongoing.
• Recommendations:
  1. Expand UNICEF’s programs to more regions, ensuring all children can access education.
  2. Increase funding and support for rebuilding schools and teacher training.
  3. Commit to a three-year goal of reintegrating all out-of-school children into the education system.

Sources:

• World Development Indicators | DataBank
• ‘Curriculum B’ programme helps students catch up on their learning during summertime | UNICEF Syrian Arab Republic