OVERVIEW
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Assessment of Learning Outcomes and Social Effects of Community-Based Education (ALSE) research project examines how well community-based schools are helping children learn in core subjects such as literacy and mathematics.
The program examines how the transition from community management to government management affects the performance of students and teachers. Implemented by New York University, the project assesses the results achieved by the Community-Based Education Enhancement Program, an activity funded by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development as well as a contribution from the Government of the Hellenic Republic (Greece). ALSE provides a series of executive seminars to help the Afghan Ministry of Education and Afghan non-governmental organizations education staff to apply rigorous and modern education research techniques, and to conduct education research that would meet international standards.
The program also supports 69 community-based education (CBE) classes in Herat, Ghor, Bamyan, Daykundi, Parwan, and Kapisa provinces of Afghanistan.
ACTIVITIES
Assess the impact of community-based schools on learning outcomes
Assess the performance of students and teachers after handing over management of CBEs from non-governmental organizations to the Ministry of Education
Provide a series of six short-term, intensive executive seminars focused on building the research capacity of the Ministry of Education staff
Provide overall technical and financial support to 69 CBE classes of which management will be transitioned from non-government organizations to the community
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Developed ten training modules with facilitator guides for Community Development Councils, Educational Subcommittees, and School Management Shuras to enhance their capacities in managing community-based education classes
Disseminated a research brief on community participation and the sustainability of rural education in Afghanistan
Co-piloted ten training modules with the Directorate of Social Mobilization and Shuras at the central, district, and provincial levels. The pilots were done in Dari and Pashto languages in three villages (Parwan, Bamiyan, and Kapisa)
Conducted a three-day training workshop on research proposal development with selected staff of the Research and Evaluation Unit of the Ministry of Education in Kabul
Held a joint panel with representatives of the Afghan Ministry of Education, Catholic Relief Service, and Steps Towards Afghan Girls’ Educational Success during the 2017 Comparative International Education Society Conference in Atlanta, Georgia
Successfully transitioned 69 CBE classes, previously managed by an NGO, to local community management