Several children gathered around a school desk and reading a book together.

Accelerating Access and Learning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .

Education | Education Systems Strengthening and Policy Reform | Advancing Quality Education

Africa

ACCELERE! 1 Project

Project Dates: May 2015 - September 2021

In a country where more than 7 million children are not currently in school, a systematic effort is targeting the primary education sector to help close that gap.

The Democratic Republic of Congo government has created a 10-year national education strategy with two goals: increasing children’s access to education and ensuring that all children master fundamental reading skills by the end of Grade 2. To support the country’s goals, the ACCELERE! 1 project (“accelerating” in French), funded jointly by USAID and UK aid, worked with students, teachers, school administrators, reading coaches, and community members across 26 subprovinces. Chemonics implemented the largest component of ACCELERE! 1, which focused on collaborating with education authorities and nongovernmental partners to increase the effectiveness of schools at the local level.

Project Goals

Increase equitable enrollment in a high-quality education environment and keep students enrolled
Help the Democratic Republic of Congo Ministry of Education to develop and deliver evidence-based, early-grade reading curriculum and materials in local languages and in French
Work with the national government to develop and apply inclusive education policies and increase nongovernmental oversight of schooling
Improve reading outcomes by developing high-quality instructional materials and enhancing teacher effectiveness through training and coaching
Foster effective learning environments in a conflict-sensitive context

In response to school closure due to COVID-19, ACCELERE is pivoting to distance learning to ensure primary school-age students have continued access to education. The project developed interactive radio lessons in Kiswahili, Lingala, and Ciluba.

Our Impact Breaking Financial Barriers to Education in the DRC

In the DRC, many parents struggled to pay school fees for their children's education. ACCELERE!1 leveraged existing cultural traditions to help families earn and save money to keep kids learning.

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A group of children lift textbooks in the air happily

Our Impact Building Safe Spaces for Learning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

To ensure that girls and boys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have access to a meaningful education, the Accelere! project, funded by USAID and UK aid, aims to benefit more than 1 million children who otherwise would not get these opportunities.

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A schoolroom filled with children sitting at large wooden desks.

Our Impact At Home in the Classroom

By integrating mother-tongue language instruction in primary schools, teachers are building a stronger foundation for young students in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Image of a teacher pointing out a letter on a blackboard to a young student beside her.

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A graphic that says "Accelere! one" Below is a closed caption that reads "Accerlere! One is a joint initiative funded by USAID and UKaid to support the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

ACCELERE! Activity 1: Improving Education Access, Quality and Governance in the DRC

USAID, in partnership with the DRC government, designed the ACCELERE!1 project to improve educational outcomes for girls and boys through improved school materials, reduced barriers to education, and increased transparency.

Image of two children sitting beside a wall and reading individual books.

ACCELERE!1 Reading and Writing

ACCELERE!1, a USAID and UKAID-funded early grade reading program implemented by Chemonics, supports early grade reading and writing programs in the DRC. This video highlights the benefits of using teaching and learning materials.

ACCELERE!1 “Education en Langues Congolaises” (Education in Congolese Languages)

ACCELERE!1 provides technical support to the Congolese reading and writing curriculum, using three national languages (Ciluba, Kiswahili and Lingala) to teach children at the primary level.

A man sitting in a chair speaking. Beside his head is a graphic that says "Pascal BadiBanga."

ACCELERE!1 CAP Centers in Goma

Through the ACCELERE!1 project, USAID and DFID co-developed functional literacy modules in the local language of Kiswahili so youth impacted by regional instability can receive literacy training before starting vocational programs.

ACCELERE!1 “Comite Genre” (Gender Committee)

The ACCELERE!1 project works to strengthen the capacity of school directors and teachers on gender-sensitive pedagogy in order to prevent and fight against all forms of violence in schools.

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