Workshop on Out of School Children Study (OOSCS) in Kenya: Establishing evidence for intervention, March 2nd-4th 2021 at Safari Park Hotel
Workshop on Out of School Children Study (OOSCS) in Kenya: Establishing evidence for intervention, March 2nd-4th 2021 at Safari Park Hotel
The Out of School Children Study (OOSCS) is based on the Global Initiative on Out-of-School Children led by UNESCO and UNICEF. The study aims to support countries in the analysis of out-of-school children and children who are at risk of dropping out by using innovative statistical methods to develop comprehensive profiles of excluded children, linking these profiles to the barriers that lead to exclusion, and identifying, promoting and implementing sound policies that address exclusion often from a multi-sectoral perspective. The studies are guided by an operational manual which provides concise and powerful tools for achieving this goal. OOSCI studies are intended to stimulate policy changes and enable governments to target their strategies for reaching out-of-school children.
Kenya, through the Ministry of Education is currently undertaking the OOSC study. The process is led by the UNESCO UIS who are working in Collaboration with UNICEF. The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO has been playing the critical role of coordinating the Technical working Group (TWG) comprising members from Ministry of Education, SAGAS, TSC, Kenya national Bureau of Statistics, Council of Governors, the Department of children services, members of civil society, UNICEF and UNHCR.
Towards this end, the second technical meeting was held from 2nd to 4th March 2021 at Safari Park following an initial one held in October 2020. The main purpose of this meeting was to to provide space for the national technical team to: review and provide recommendations to further enhance findings of the estimates of OOSC; identify the most critical barriers and bottlenecks as well as update of the roadmap for the finalisation of the report.
Official opening by the Director General, Ministry of Education
The meeting was officially opened by the Director General, Ministry of Education Mr. Elyas Abdi. In his speech he underscored the need to urgently address the issue of out of school children in Kenya citing that the areas hard hit were the informal settlements in cities, ASL regions and pockets of poverty in high potential regions. The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Saidou Jallow the representative of Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa and the Secretary General Kenya National Commission for UNESCO. The meeting adopted a blended format with members joining virtually. It was agreed that the report would be finalised soonest to maintain relevance for action.
