EDUCATION Sector Update – December 1 st, 2011 HUMANITARIAN ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING - LIBERIA

PROGRESS education sector Highlights Reporting period (19 – 30 Nov) 40,577 children in school Number increased 4,000 from last reporting period NIMBA – 20,081 children Education activities continue in double shift 3,601 children aged 2-5 in ECD centers with 110 caregivers 16,480 children aged 6-12 in Primary Schools with 200 teachers Current enrolment both ECD and Primary less than the initial enrolment figures including camp schools

PROGRESS education sector GRAND GEDEH – 9,605 children 3,344 1,440 children aged 2-5 in ECD centers with 47 caregivers and 8,165 children aged 6-12 in primary schools with 156 teachers Ministry of Public Works attended the sector meeting to improve school WASH rehabilitation School furniture has been distributed in PTP camp school MARYLAND – 5,229 children 1,340 children aged 2-5 in ECD activities with 25 caregivers and 3,889 children aged 6-12 in Primary education with 72 teachers Vocational skills training classes commenced for Ivorian youth RIVER GEE– 5,662 children (Liberians) Distribution of education supplies to Liberian schools started

CHALLENGES in education sector OVERALL attendance unstable due to relocation & spontaneous returns NIMBA Five students identified with chicken pox in Bahn camp – investigation ongoing Host school in Kaylay closed due to late payment of teachers incentives Parents taking children to farms to harvest crops GRAND GEDEH Fluctuations in daily attendance rates of students Teacher incentives not fully resolved – motivation of teachers at risk Inadequate classroom space and furniture in camp schools Some education supplies runned out – inadequate to meet the needs of children MARYLAND Procurement and production of school furniture very slowly progressing Teacher incentives not fully resolved

WAY FORWARD education sector To continue: Supplies distribution taking advantage of the dry-season - better road and bridge conditions Monitoring and improving the quality of ECD/primary schools in PTP camp Monitoring the drop of school attendance compared to registration, particularly in Grand Gedeh Capacity building - EiE awareness workshops by sector partners planned in Nimba (Ganta) on 3 December Advocacy with parents/PTAs to stop child labor on farms Expansion of additional learning spaces & provision of adequate furniture Inter-sectoral coordination to address the issue of teacher incentives

Sector Partners FCA IBIS COHDA CAP EHUD Foundation CESLY IEDA UNICEF UNHCR WFP UNESCO MOE SC-UK PLAN IRC VIA LRRRC Sector Donors Japan Ireland Netherlands UK (DFID) Sweden