Secondary School Bursaries

  • P Project/Program

? Activity Status: Unknown

Key Information

CAMFED’s flagship funding program provides holistic support to girls from the start of secondary school to completion. Targeted support includes school fees, exam fees, school uniforms, books, school equipment, and sanitary protection. Since 1993, CAMFED has provided secondary school bursaries to girls from poor, rural communities in Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The bursary scheme targets girls selected by communities themselves as the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Many are orphans and at the highest risk of dropping out. CAMFED guarantees that all girls identified to receive bursaries have the opportunity to complete a full cycle of secondary school, which is a four-year period in most of the countries in which we operate. CAMFED bursaries, combined with the work of CAMA's Learner Guides, who deliver life skills and study sessions, have encouraged regular school attendance in partner schools while lowering drop-out rates. These school retention rates are an impressive achievement in a context of high drop-out rates in the countries where we operate, especially for girls in rural areas.


Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ghana, Malawi, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Government Affiliation

Government-affiliated program

Years

1993 -

Partner(s)

Not applicable or unknown

Ministry Affiliation

Unknown

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

Global / regional

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Attainment

  • Primary to secondary transition
  • Secondary completion

Other skills

  • Social and emotional learning

Cross-cutting areas

  • Economic/livelihoods (including savings/financial inclusion, etc.)

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Girls (both in school and out of school), Youth

Age

Not applicable or unknown

School Enrolment Status

Some in school

School Level

  • Lower secondary
  • Upper secondary

Other populations reached

Not applicable or unknown

Participants include

  • Orphans and vulnerable children

Program Approaches Back to Top

Menstrual hygiene management

  • Sanitary product distribution

Reducing economic barriers

  • Addressing cost of school supplies
  • Scholarships/stipends for school fees

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Gender parity and non-discrimination are promoted at all subjects/education levels
  • Improved academic skills (literacy and numeracy)
  • Increased re-enrolment in school among out-of-school children
  • Increased secondary school completion
  • Increased secondary school enrolment
  • Increased test scores
  • Reduced absenteeism
  • Teachers and learners have the knowledge and skills to promote gender equality

Cross-cutting goals

  • Increased agency and empowerment
  • Increased employment/job-related skills