Child Protection

Across The Gambia, more than 66,000 primary school-age children and adolescents are out of school—missing out on their right to education and the opportunities it brings. The barriers are many: poverty, disability, child labor, and deep-rooted cultural practices that hinder enrollment and retention. For others, it’s the lack of inclusive classrooms, accessible learning materials, or flexible alternatives to formal schooling.

In response to this urgent challenge, ChildFund, 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) have launched a landmark national initiative: the Zero Out-of-School Children (ZOOSC) Project.

This ambitious three-year project aims to enroll 66,765 out-of-school children, connecting them with quality primary education and alternative learning pathways. The project is implemented by MoBSE, ChildFund and EFANET, with funding from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), under EAA’s global “Zero OOSC: Educate Every Child” initiative. 

“Children everywhere, irrespective of gender, socio-economic standing, or ability, have the same fundamental right to quality education,” said Gordon Jonathan Lewis, UNICEF Representative in The Gambia

A key focus of the project is reaching the most marginalized children through a nationwide, community-led approach involving parents, educators, and local leaders. The initiative also includes:

• Construction of over 50 disability-friendly classrooms
• Installation of 100+ WASH facilities (water, sanitation, and hygiene)
• Provision of learning materials for thousands, including children with disabilities
  

Training of 500 teachers and school leaders in inclusive, modern teaching methods

The ZOOSC project further supports alternative learning pathways for adolescents who missed out on formal schooling—offering evening remedial classes and literacy/numeracy lessons for children in traditional Quranic schools (majalis) to help them transition into formal education. An innovative data system linking birth registration with school admissions will help identify and track out-of-school children, enabling the government to respond more effectively.

 Watch this video to learn more about this transformative  initiative: