This program has focused on creating access to non-formal basic primary education for out-of-school children and providing tutorial and scholastic support for children attending formal and non-formal schools to prevent vulnerable children from different abuses, especially from labour exploitation.

In four area program offices, a total of 2505 children, of which 1485 were females, were given access to non-formal education (NFE). This figure is less than that in 2013 (73%) and the reason for giving children less access to non-formal schools in 2013 is the handing-over of the NFE in Adama and Addis Ketema to community-based organizations and to the government. In general, the support has improved the academic performance of the children. One thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine children in non-formal schools were successfully promoted to the next class, which means 82% of the children completed the academic year. Moreover, the dropout rate is 5.3%, which is below the national average for primary education. Apart from this, 5316 students, of which 2564 were females in both formal and non-formal schools, have received tutorial and scholastic support to enable poor academic performing students to get promoted to the next level of their education. Several NFE centres have been furnished with the necessary equipment by all APOs in collaboration with the local community as well as other stakeholders by initiating and establishing a multi-stakeholder community-based child protection system.  

Efforts made by FSCE to strengthen child protection endeavours also included support in terms of training, capacity building, and refresher trainings to teachers and project committees in order to improve the quality of education. Trainings were provided to girls’ club members on club leadership, communication, gender-based violence, assertiveness, reproductive health, psychosocial support, life skills, office management, and report writing. Moreover, information dissemination forums on sexual abuse and exploitation, harassment, and other child protection issues have been conducted in all girls’ clubs. Tutorial support has also been given to girls with poor academic performance.  

As a result of all these efforts, the following outcomes have been recorded: 

• The dropout rate of school-age children has decreased significantly.
• The academic performance of girls has increased.
• Enrolment and attendance of school-age children has increased.
• Girls have become empowered.