Togo

Allocation: US$7 million

Years: 2020-2021

Grant agent: World Bank

Key documents:

• Application and program document
• Ministry of Education COVID-19 response plan

The US$7 million COVID-19 grant supports:

• education continuity by supporting distance learning and providing support to teachers, parents and caregivers (through TV and radio learning contents, online/offline platforms; teacher training; printed materials; communication campaigns for parents to support children’s learning at home and for sensitization on gender-related issues)
• safe re-opening and re-entry to schools through WASH support for students and teachers (hand-washing devices; masks; school disinfections; codes of conduct for disease prevention; disease prevention campaigns through radio)
• provision of salary subsidies for volunteer teachers
• remedial programs for at-risk students and back-to-school campaigns (radio, TV, printed materials)
• A distance learning approach to accommodate students with disabilities so that lessons broadcasted via television have sign language, and braille printed materials are distributed to students with impaired vision
• Girls with targeted back-to-school campaigns, including sensitization programs on early marriage, gender-based violence, early pregnancies and the importance of continuing to learn.

In late March 2020, the UNICEF office in Togo received a GPE grant of US$70,000 to support the Ministry of Education with planning its response to the pandemic. The grant is used to:

• procure computers and other equipment for the ministry’s crisis management team
• conduct a rapid risk analysis
• support the design and broadcast of distance learning content aligned to the national curriculum.

While crises in Togo have hindered education progress, the government has continued to commit to developing effective education strategies. The progress of Togo’s education system entails addressing several challenges. These include low access and equity issues in deprived and rural areas, low secondary schooling completion rates, and low literacy program coverage.

The government’s education strategy 2014-2025 focuses on four key strategies: (i) develop a quality basic education to achieve universal primary education by 2022, (ii) extend preschool coverage in rural and poorer environment, (iii) develop the second cycle of quality secondary, technical, vocational, and higher education courses, and (iv) reduce the illiteracy rate.

The plan spells out four objectives to achieve these strategies:

• Correcting national disparities through attaining universal primary education, increasing completion rates at the primary and junior high levels, and developing a second cycle of secondary education, technical and vocational training, and higher education that aligns with job market needs,
• Improving the effectiveness and quality of education services by improving internal efficiency,
• Developing effective partnerships by opening up dialogue with civil society, involving unions and communities in the decision-making process, and increasing parent participation in school management.
• Improving the management and governance of the education system by implementing a reliable information system, decentralizing management, and increasing accountability and transparency.

Togo’s education sector plan outlines several guiding principles underlying the chosen actions. These include reducing disparities and inequity, stimulating demand, liberalizing provision of education, and promoting a culture of excellence.