The Unique School Program that Made a Difference in Gidan-Yaro

How can rural African children learn to read when there are no books in their languages? Save the Children helps kids to create their own books, creating a homemade library for their village.

The Tent to School Education Initiative mounts makeshift classrooms in communities where students would normally have to travel long distances to attend classes, leaving them vulnerable to potential safety concerns. In one nomadic settlement, volunteer teachers with the program have helped 70 percent of students improve their numeracy skills, while 65 percent have been able to build reading competencies.

Lagos' Project Zero program worked with teachers, youth organizations, and other groups in the education space to reach out to parents of students who had dropped out of school during the pandemic. The program provided them with school kits including everything they needed to re-enroll, such as books, uniforms, shoes, and other supplies.

To enhance learning, Smart Primary School has integrated peer-mentoring in its curriculum through the Buddy program. Each student in the first grade is paired with a fifth grader who tutors and guides the younger one with lessons and activities for the next four years. The program has not just helped them improve their language, communication, and mathematics skills, but also helped enhance the school atmosphere through the trust and bonding students build in the process.

Schools in Adamawa State are increasing the number of female teachers, which is inherently increasing the number of female students attending school. Previously, over 50% of girls in the area had not been in school, or dropped out, but with the increase of female teachers, the number of girls in school has dramatically increased.

The Transfer Scholars Network partners with community colleges and elite universities to help high-achieving students complete their four-year degree at a top school. Alongside mentorship throughout the application process, students who are accepted to partner institutions receive a financial aid package and ongoing support.

The Women Information Network’s Right to be a Girl project provides scholarships to girls who would otherwise be forced to drop out of school, many of whom are vulnerable to child marriage. The program has supported 573 students in schools across Enugu state since 2021.

At P.S. 958 in Brooklyn, students with and without disabilities learn together under an inclusive model. Initiatives such as the AIMS program, which is designed for students with autism, allow the school to serve students who might otherwise be segregated in more restrictive settings geared only toward those with disabilities.

In an attempt to close a gap in graduation rates for Black students, campuses in the California State University system, including San Diego State University and Sacramento State University, have shifted hiring practices to improve diversity among faculty and staff, opened resource centers, and implemented new career development programs for Black students. Between 2016 and 2022, Sacramento State's Black graduation rate improved from 21st out of 22 campuses in the system to ninth in the system, though Black students there still graduate at lower rates than average.

Placing students into smaller groups with peers of similar learning ability allows schools to allocate resources to struggling or underprivileged students. The Peterson Elementary School in Kalispell, Montana, has begun to close the achievement gap for students of lower income families by creating three tiers of educational development. Teachers then tailor curricula around the needs of each peer group.