As a result, absenteeism and dropout rates have decreased. Girls can now attend school regularly and manage their health needs without fear, shame and embarrassment. These improvements have also led to better academic engagement. Students are healthier and more focused, and the school has noticed increased participation in learning.
These school-level gains are the result of a broader shift in Ethiopia’s education policy. For the first time in the country’s history, GEQIP-E officially recognized refugee schools as part of the national education system. This shift marked a significant change in both policy and financing, aligning with Ethiopia’s Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and the 2019 Refugee Proclamation. This new approach gave refugees access to national services, including education, which was previously not the case. Prior to GEQIP-E, refugee students were largely reliant on parallel education systems run by humanitarian organizations, with minimal government involvement. By including refugee schools under GEQIP-E, Ethiopia demonstrated a transformative commitment to equity, integration, and long-term support for refugee education within the national system.
The support provided through GEQIP-E to refugee education was delivered through two key strategies: service harmonization and service integration. Service harmonization aimed to ensure that the quality and delivery of education in refugee schools were aligned with that of host community schools, including equitable access to learning materials, teacher training, and school grants.
Meanwhile, service integration focused on fully embedding refugee schools, particularly secondary ones, into the national education system. This involved bringing these schools under the oversight of regional education bureaus and enabling them to operate within national policy and financing frameworks. Together, these efforts strengthened Ethiopia’s commitment to inclusive edureceived support through GEQIP-E, along with 12 additional secondary schools in host communities that enroll refugee students. The program has benefited over 167,000 refugee students.
Additionally, . Teachers were also trained on how to make their teaching and learning processes more gender-responsive, from lesson planning to evaluation and feedback. Moreover, schools received teaching and learning materials to further enhance the quality of education.
“The program has allowed our students to continue their education without interruptions,” said Principal Girma. “The school has become a better place for all students, and the community feels more integrated.”
Despite these improvements, the school still faces challenges. With more than 2,000 students, access to water remains limited. “Based on our student population, it’s not enough,” she lamented. “We need more water tanks and access points to meet everyone’s needs.”
The MHM room also requires more supplies. “Reusable pads alone aren’t sufficient,” she added. “We also need soap, lotion, and other hygiene items to support the girls properly.”
Although GEQIP-E made a meaningful difference, the program has now ended. Sustaining this progress—particularly for refugee education—will require continued commitment from the government and development partners. Without it, many of these gains could be hard to maintain.
The experience at Tsore No. 2 Primary School shows what steady investment in inclusive education can achieve. With the right support, all students, including refugees, can have a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed.