Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF) - fighting educational exclusion

commonwealth education fund

getting excluded children into school

CEF objective: promoting innovative work and using the evidence from this experience to influence policy – and get all excluded children, particularly girls, into public schools The 75 million children out of school worldwide are not a random group. There are clear categories: the majority are girls; many are disabled; many are orphans; some are affected by conflict; some are the children of pastoralists or parents who migrate for work; some are from linguistic or religious minorities; others are street children. Most are child labourers – as children not in school are likely to be working, whether in homes, fields or factories. CEF supported the documentation of innovative approaches that have proved effective in extending education to marginalised groups. The learning has been fed into local and national dialogue with government, and has informed practical recommendations about how to make government schools work – how to make them responsive to the needs of these groups. CEF also worked to promote gender equality in education. To read more about this work please click here to visit the gender equality in education page, which includes information about gender mentoring work through the CEF Gender Equality in Education Project (GEEP).


Selected documents from CEF Partners
CEF Tanzania partner: Mkombozi Centre for Street Children works in northern Tanzania to address strengthen the communities producing street children as well as providing appropriate education to out-of-school children.		The Mkombozi Centre library contains research reports, newsletters and useful resources, including Non-Formal Education training materials for working with street children.

CEF Tanzania partner: Tanga Coalition of Disability and non-Disability CSOs is a group of civil society organisations implementing an advocacy plan aimed at improving the situation of children with disabilities, including access to education, and to influence key national policies.		Report Of The Participatory Assessment Of Children With Disabilities In The Districts Of Tanga Region (2005)

CEF Kenya partner: Women Educational Researchers of Kenya (WERK) are documenting the implemention of free primary education from the perspective on children in need of special protection.		The Participation of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Free Primary Education (2004)

CEF Kenya partner: Literacy for All (LIFA) works in the Kakamega district to mobilise and sensitise communities on non-formal education (NFE), establish a district network and lobby the government to finalise the draft NFE policy.		Accessing Quality Basic Education Through Non-Formal Education: the position of Non-Formal Education in Kakamega district in the face of declared Free Primary Education (2004)

CEF Kenya partner: Elimu kwa Wanavijiji Coalition are working increase access of children to quality education in informal settlements in Nairobi and lobbying for a Non-Formal Education policy		Rapid Assessment of Non-Formal Basic Education in Informal Settlements in Nairobi (2004)

CEF Ghana partner: Action for Rural Education (ARE) is working in 10 communities in cocoa growing districts. ARE aims to strengthen school communities, to advocate for increased support to teacher training and deployment of trained teachers to underserved communities and to promote transparency and accountability through budget tracking at the local level.		Handbook for Community Facilitators (2005) ARE website

CEF Lesotho partner: NGO Coalition on the Rights of the Child (NGOC) is lobbying the government for improved access for vulnerable children to quality education as well as for improved Non-Formal Education (NFE) options.		Case Study: Children Missing out on Education in Maseru, Mokhotlong and Mohales Hoek (2004)

CEF India partner: Pratham Resource Centre (PRC) has developed an accelerated learning method for out-of-school children. This programme is being implemented in collaboration with the government and the corporate sector and has been extended to 13 states in India.		Documenting Progress of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan: Children's Schooling and Learning Status (2004) Review of Literacy Assessment Surveys (2005)