An Assessment of NGO-Assisted Alternative Basic Education Projects in North Wollo Zone
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Date
2007-07
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Addis ababa univeresty
Abstract
North Wollo zone, one of the zones in Amhara Region, is ecologically degraded,
climatically unstable and food insecure area. Moreover, it an area where harmful
traditional practices are dominantly exercised. On top of that, it an area where
educational disparity was the highest and enrolment rate in primary education
was the lowest. To alleviate these interrelated problems, NGOs are currently
implementing ABE projects as an alternate way to the formal education system.
Whether this alternate route provides promise in this aspect or not becomes a
timely issue that requires assessing their performance. Thus , this study tried to
objectively assess NGO-assisted alternative basic education projects in North
Wollo zone having specific objectives of identifying factors that constrain the
implementation of ABE, indicating contribution of NGOs in ensuring coverage,
quality and equity, scanning the sustainability of the projects in addressing the
parity of ABE and FE. To address its specific objectives, basic questions, regarding
factors that constrain the delivery of ABE, access, equity, quality, transformation
of projects after the phase out period, network and partnership among ABE
stakeholders, and parity and nexus between ABE and FE, were formulated.
Descriptive survey method was employed to address the issues. To gather the
relevant information regarding the basic questions, both primary and secondary
resources were involved using Quota, availability and stratified random sampling.
The data collecting process was a mixed approach type where questionnaire,
interview, observation checklist and discussion were used. Out of the total of 86
questionnaires distributed, 79 were filled and returned. The data gathered
through questionnaire were exposed to statistical analysis using frequency
distribution, t-test, Chi-square and Spearman rank order correlation. After
analyzing and interpreting both qualitative and quantitative data, the following
findings were obtained. A number of factors that constrain delivery of ABE were
identified (caring for animals, caring for siblings, collecting firewood and fetching
water, etc.). Achieving some of the goals of EFA seems to fail owing to low level
of quality and high disparity. ABE has got official recognition and parity of
esteem; the partnership among stakeholders seems promising and a preparatory
action was being taken by the project owners and implementers in order to bring
about transformation safely. Based on the findings, the mobilization of resources,
raising funds from different actors, devising income generating mechanisms for
the community, recruitment of facilitators including female facilitators in male-
dominated learning centers and training them are recommended
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Keywords
Education