Following the closure of the pilot project in 2016, Africa action/Deutschland approached MIET AFRICA to implement a four-year Technical Support Programme (2017–2021) to implement the learnings of the pilot project across 10 schools in the uThukela District, with the aim of building the capacity of the schools to implement a holistic Inclusive Education strategy to ensure improved education access, retention and progression for all children and youth in the project schools.
The scope of the technical support covered:
- Strengthening schools to identify and support learners with barriers to attend school regularly and complete their schooling
- Strengthening the district to support schools to implement an Inclusive Education programme that ensures that all children have access to quality education
- Establishing and maintaining local multi-sectoral functional support networks that form an integral part of the support system for children who experience barriers to education and development
The key activities of the project included advocacy and project establishment, training and support of SBSTs (including teachers), and service delivery events and campaigns. The four-year technical support programme saw the establishment of functional SBSTs at all 10 schools successfully implementing the screening, identification, assessment, and support (SIAS) process at the schools using learner profile and vulnerability assessment tools. Each year, several children with hearing, visual, psychosocial, and learning barriers at the schools were screened and received support through the partners in the multisectoral network of service providers.
The project activities were severely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in ongoing school closures. As a result, the project was granted an extension to the end of December 2022. Supplementary funding for the project to continue was sourced by africa action/Deutshland e.V. from the Dohle Foundation in Germany.
For more information contact Chris Ramdas chris@miet.coza