In Gbawe, children still face multiple adversities in their path towards attending school and being able to learn, while receiving a formal education. It is important that schools can identify these children and can create mechanisms that can prevent them from dropping out of the Education system and missing the opportunity of a better future. PAAJAF is committed to welcoming children from all backgrounds, gender and learning constraints, so that education can reach each one.
Since low-income families do not perceive school as important as potentially bringing more income into the household, the drop-out rate in these cases is normally higher. Girls are more likely to drop out of school to help with family care and housework. Therefore, girls' education should not be overlooked as an important element of inclusiveness. Distance to school and poor school conditions can also prevent children from attending.
PAAJAF priorities are to provide inclusive, high-standard educational conditions such as adequate infrastructure and learning materials, spaces for playing, healthy meals and good sanitation facilities. On the other hand, it is also important that school teachers have the competencies to respond to learner diversity by adopting inclusive pedagogy, while respecting the fact that each student has their own learning pace.
By creating a healthy, comfortable and safe environment at school, children will be more likely to attend, and to be deterred from dropping out. While at school, children will feel welcomed in an adapted learning process program and will be more likely to develop further competencies and new skills at their own pace, without being marginalized by their background, gender or learning ability.
