Zone d'Education Prioritaire (ZEP)

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Zone d'Education Prioritaire (ZEP)

Mauritius
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

Our Mission Statement is based on positive reinforcement reducing school and social inequalities by providing equal opportunities to all primary school children of the Republic of Mauritius. We aim at mobilizing all the resources within the Zone to contribute in raising the standard of achievement of the school. This includes:

  • Empowering the Head Teacher and the school community, including the staff, the parents, the community-based associations, the NGOs and business organizations.
  • Promoting flexibility and autonomy on the pedagogical front through networking of ZEP personnel and benchmarking practices.
  • Evaluating and monitoring all processes regularly.
About You
Location
Project Street Address

N/A

Project City

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Project Province/State

N/A

Project Postal/Zip Code

N/A

Project Country
Your idea
Country your work focuses on:

The Republic of Mauritius

Website URL

http://www.zep-mauritius.com

What stage is your project in?

Operating for more than 5 years

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What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

<$10

Innovation
Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

The ZEP Project aims at combating abject poverty through education by providing positive reinforcement and equal opportunities to all pupils of the country to achieve better in the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) which is the gateway to further studies and a sustainable way to break the cycle of poverty.

What makes your idea unique?

This idea pulls in all resources available and focuses on education as the main long term solution against abject poverty.

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

Children & Youth , At risk youth , Behavioral issues , Boys' development , Child care , Child exploitation , Child labor , Child protection , Education , Education reform , Girls' development , Play , Youth development , Youth leadership , Hunger , Poverty alleviation , Scholarships and grants , Population , Food , Health care , Health education , HIV/AIDS , Sports , Abuse and violence , Child exploitation , Conflict resolution , Youth leadership.

What impact have you had?

1. Rate of absenteeism reached a record low of 12.9 % in 2008.
2. CPE results increased from around 29 % in 2003 to around 36 % in 2008.
3. Results in non academic field are beyond expectation.
4. Admission of our pupils into prestigious colleges have increased.

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

1. Rate of attendance needs to be increased further.
2. Pupils should be further exposed to academics.
3. Capacity building among staff to develop and implement an adapted pedagogy

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

1. There is a team of Parent Mediators to conduct a community mobilisation campaign and bring the school closer to the homes.
2. The Project mobilises all resources available to provide support services to the pupils and their parents.
3. There is an on-going capacity building exercise to prepare staff

Impact
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

Increase rate of attendance through community mobilisation and parental education

Success in Year 2:

Train more staff to decrease the pupil:teacher ratio and develop the appropriate pedagogy adapted to the needs of the pupils in ZEP schools.

Success in Year 3:

Mobilise all resources to further support the pupils and their parents

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

Yes

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

Intensify the community mobilisation actions towards the parents.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

Find means to provide multiple support to those in need.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

Set up a think tank to devise, implement and monitor pedagogical strategies and tools that would help low achieving pupils

Describe the expected results of these actions.

1. Attendance will increase in schools.
2. Pupils will be healthy and well fed.
3. Pupils will have the basic necessities to study.
4. Academic achievement will increase.
5. Poor people will have hope for a better living.

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

In 2002, Mauritius embarked on measures to realise the Education for ALL millenium goals. Today Mauritius has solved its problem of access to education. It has now to ensure quality and inclusion.

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

This Project is a unique way to address poverty through education and impact on the quality of living of the section of our population living in abject poverty.

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

Through colleagues at the Ministry.

Sustainability
What would prevent your project from being a success?

1. We need quality and committed staff to realise our mission in difficult and sometimes hostile conditions.
2. We need more resources to provide further support to all.

Financing source

YES

If yes, provide organization name.

Mauritian Ministry of Education, Culture and Human Resources

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

More than five years, since 2003.

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

There is a ZEP Council chaired by the Minister to approve the strategy and monitor results.

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

YES

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

YES

The Story
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

YES

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

Partnership is a pillar of the ZEP strategy. It involves all partners into what they do best in the interest of those in need. Contributions are in terms of ideas, funds, staff or into running multiple projects to support the pupils and their parents

How many people will your project serve annually?

More than 10 000 pupils and parents

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

Staff amount to about 600 including administrative, teaching, non teaching and social workers

What is your organization's business classification?

Government

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

United Nations Development Progam (UNDP) .