THE NEED
A growing body of research is revealing an unlikely truth: many of the poorest parents in the developing world are choosing to send their children to low-cost private schools. These schools are owned and operated by local school proprietors who charge an affordable tuition to parents who demand higher accountability than the government sector can provide. However, despite growing market demand, low-cost private schools lack access to many basic services.
PROGRAM
In response to this growing need, the IDP Foundation, Inc. developed the IDP Rising Schools Program in partnership with Sinapi Aba Trust (a Ghanaian microfinance institution) and Opportunity International US. The program was launched in 2009 in Ghana to boost the development of existing low-cost private schools by efficiently delivering financial and capacity building services in an innovative way.
GOALS
For the Schools:
- Improve the quality of education school owners can offer their students
- Increase sustainability (and profitability)
- Achieve gender parity
- Increase enrollment
For the Microfinance Institution:
- Demonstrate that investing in low cost private schools has a positive return on investment as well as social impact
COMPONENTS
The Program consists of trainings to school proprietors, teachers, and caterers to improve business management, quality of education, health, and safety, as well as access to six different targeted loan products that specifically address the cash flow challenges of a school.
To learn about how we developed and structured this model, click here.
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