For every 1,000 children who begin school in Ethiopia, only one half will complete 5th grade, and one fifth will complete 8th grade. Of those students who make it to 10th grade, 3% will score above a 75% across their core subjects and less than 25% will receive an average score of 50%. This means that for every 1,000 students who begin school in Ethiopia, only 6 will one day be enrolled in 10th grade, receiving a “C” average or higher. We think this is a staggering statistic.
A solid education is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy regarding breaking the cycle of poverty for the children we serve, and we’re tackling this by providing a quality education at the BCI Academy. Because the odds are stacked against the children, we have decided to step up our efforts to ensure that the children stay enrolled in school and engaged in their studies.
For the 2019-20 academic year, we will be launching an Academic Excellence Incentive Program. This program will incentivize students for their academic achievements over the course of the school year. Additionally, teachers will be incentivized to produce high scores.
3 Tiers of Recognition
- Honor Roll: All students receiving at least a B average for the year will receive Honor Roll recognition and a $25 USD cash reward
- Grade Level: The top student in every grade level will receive an additional $25 USD cash reward
- Teachers: The top 3 teachers with the highest average scores will receive a $100 USD cash reward
It’s unheard of for student academic achievements to be acknowledge in this way in the Ethiopian school system. Honors assemblies, class valedictorians, and the like are not standard practice. It is our hope that recognizing the academic achievements of our teachers and students will put a focus on academic success in a positive way. We plan to pilot the program for the upcoming school year and evaluate any changes in academic outcomes and student retention.
How You Can Help
Sponsor an Honor Roll student for 1 year: $25
Sponsor a Teacher: $100
Sponsor the top student in every Grade Level: $300
Underwrite the program for 2019/20: $2,000
“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor.” – Nelson Mandela
Blessing the Children International 