Fourteenth International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies

Abstract

The Aga Khan Education Service Afghanistan (AKES), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, ensured learning continuity to around 6,000 Afghan children during the quarantine period from May - September 2020. Within just one month after the sudden quarantine announcement, AKES, a leadership team conceptualized the Home Based Learning Project (HBLP). The HBLP comprised of four components: development of learning packs, distribution of cost-efficient sim cards and top up credits to teachers and students, agile project management approaches and maintaining students’ motivation to learning. The HBLP was offered to children across ECD and non-formal education programs of English, ICT, Math, and Science in six provinces of Afghanistan. Poor telecom signal and children using shared telephones were the main project challenges. A robust in-house project impact assessment indicates that the project was over 90% effective to project beneficiaries and learning packs 75% relevant to the children needs. A total of 630 respondents (children, parents, project and operation staff) participated to the in house assessment. This paper provides a brief overview of the HBLP project design and implementation across ECD and non-formal education programs. Integrating HBLP lessons learned into program design, AKES is planning a phone based parenting project within the ECD portfolio highlights of which is discussed at the end of the paper.