Child Protection

ChildFund joined forces with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), the Office of the First Lady of The Gambia, UNICEF, Educate A Child (EAC)—a programme of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation of Qatar—and the Education For All Campaign Network (EFANET) to launch the landmark Zero Out-of-School Children (ZOOSC) Project.

This ambitious three-year project aims to enroll 66,765 primary school-age children and adolescents who are currently out of school, providing them access to quality primary education and alternative learning opportunities. Implemented by MoBSE, ChildFund The Gambia, and EFANET, and supported by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the initiative is part of EAA’s global “Zero OOSC: Educate Every Child” campaign.

“Children everywhere, irrespective of gender, socio-economic standing, or ability, have the same fundamental right to quality education,” emphasized Mr. Gordon Jonathan Lewis, UNICEF Representative in The Gambia. “This initiative is a step toward fulfilling that duty—giving children the chance to dream and build their futures.”

A major focus of the project is reaching the most marginalized children. Through a nationwide approach involving communities, schools, and parents, the project will help children enroll at the right time and stay in school. It also tackles the structural barriers to access, including the construction of 50+ disability-friendly classrooms, installation of over 100 WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities, provision of educational materials for thousands of learners, including those with disabilities, and capacity building for 500 teachers and school heads in modern teaching and school management methods.

The project includes alternative learning pathways. Adolescents who missed out on primary education will benefit from evening remedial classes, and children in traditional Quranic schools (majalis) will be offered literacy and numeracy lessons to help them transition to formal schooling. An innovative data system linking birth registration with school admission records will enable MoBSE to identify and reintegrate out-of-school children more effectively.

“This project represents an important milestone in our drive to attain universal access to quality education for every child,” said Hon. Claudiana Cole, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education. “We are grateful to our partners for supporting this vision, which aligns with our new Green and Recovery-Focused National Development Plan.”

In the lead-up to the launch, ChildFund hosted senior officials from EAA and UNICEF, including Dr. Mary Joy Pigozzi, Executive Director of Educate A Child, and Dr. Daniel Baheta, Chief of Education at UNICEF Tanzania, who represented UNICEF headquarters. The delegation met with ChildFund’s leadership team—Country Director Musu Komma, Programs and Sponsorship Director Nfamara Dabo, and Africa Regional Director Chege Ngugi—as well as with sponsored children. They also held high-level discussions with Minister Cole and Her Excellency First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, both champions of the ZOOSC initiative.

“Reaching zero out-of-school children is critical, especially in today’s climate of multiple crises,” said Dr. Pigozzi. “Often, the last remaining pockets of OOSC need extra special attention. This project ensures learners are supported to overcome the barriers to a quality primary education, no matter their circumstances.”

Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director at ChildFund, concluded: “At ChildFund, we remain committed to advancing child rights around the world, with education as a top priority. I am glad that this initiative will address the root causes of why children are not in school and engage communities to drive lasting change. The socio-economic impact this project will have should encourage us all. It will ensure Gambian children are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to transform their societies.”

Watch this video to learn more about the Zero Out-of-School Children (ZOOSC) Project.