Inclusive Quality Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Education for Roma and Egyptian children in Albania

Background   

The project “Inclusive Quality Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Education for Roma and Egyptian children in Albania” was started in April 2008. The project had two phases: April 2008 – March 2012 and April 2012-2015. It has been funded mainly by Medicor Foundation and Roma Education Fund and implemented by Save the Children.

The project is located in two Regions of Albania: in Korca and Gjirokastra, in two schools and two kindergartens in each region (4 schools and 4 kindergartens). It has implemented a holistic approach to provide quality inclusive education for all children in schools and kindergartens, making changes at the level of education and social inclusion for Roma/Egyptian children and supporting the direct involvement and active participation of R/E community. The main focus of the project is inclusion, non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all children.

Purpose/objective (including evaluation questions)     

Purpose of evaluation: to measure progress, assess the performance of the project (in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, sustainability and outcome,) the perception of stakeholders and beneficiaries, to document lessons learned and to provide practical recommendations for follow-up action.

The evaluation has taken into account the indicators of the projects and and aimed to provide information on the following areas:

• Assess the efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, sustainability and impact of the program and its implemented activities;
• Measure the extent to which the response has been accountable to the local needs and the level of child participation into the program;
• Examine how the program has mainstreamed cross-cutting issues such as promotion of human rights, antidiscrimination and gender equality and children's rights.
• Provide concrete recommendations for SC, project stakeholders (including children) and partners on how to improve practice, develop and document replicable, innovative solutions to the problems facing Roma/Egyptian children in education. 

Methodology     

The analytic work for this evaluation has included primary and secondary data analysis. It has involved: a desktop review of project documents, official reports and relevant literature; quantitative and qualitative methods, and three stakeholder workshops. The primary data will be obtained by carrying out field-work in two regions (Korca and Gjirokastra).

Key findings   

1. The activities implemented by SC project are highly relevant with regards to national priorities and identified gaps.
2. SC project is efficient.
3. SC project and activities have been implemented in an efficient manner and the staffs working with beneficiaries has a high level of motivation and competence. The quality of the services rendered by the project is evaluated to be high compared to local standards.
4. SC project have produced a new model to support access and better educational outcomes for R/E children.

Recommendations   

1. SC will intensify the  dialogue with policy makers in order that the results, practices and elements of its model become visible.
2. SC should also increase the cooperation with the local and international organizations in order to strengthen the advocacy and to gradually impose, in the educational policies, elements of its model.
3. The SC project can empower and become more visible if its positive achievements are covered by the mass-media through articles and documentaries. Therefore, a workshop with massmedia representatives will be organized.
4. The SC will consider the possibility of supporting R/E community in the creation of social businesses linking employment of R/E with their children's education.
5. The vocational program for R/E over 16 years old should be anticipated by an analysis of the local labor market demand for skills.
6. SC will provide support to REA so that the children who migrate seasonally with their families in Gjirokastra (during the period September-December) get registered in the schools of Gjirokastër city and than they should be facilitated to be transferred to the schools nearby their living places.
7. SC project should cooperate more (through trainings, workshops, individual discussions etc.) with the parents of the students of the majority population, so that they do not “migrate” from schools.
8. SC project will contribute to the awareness rising of education institutions (REA, schools/kindergartens, universities, etc) on the negative long term consequences of segregation.

Follow up (with reference to Action Plan)   

The report findings shared with beneficiaries and school stakeholders. A child friendly brochure with the direct involvement of children will be developed.