20 per cent increase in the number of children accessing, and 25 per cent increase in the number of children completing, free compulsory quality basic education.

The WASH program is creating child friendly schools, improving school infrastructure and sanitation facilities, providing educational materials, supporting school management and teacher training and improving education policies. The basic education component of the program is supporting pre-school education and community based early childhood education programs. Australian assistance is increasing access, retention and completion of basic education, as well as improving gender parity in basic education and supporting emergency preparedness. The program is also strengthening Parent-Teacher Associations, establishing student councils, and providing professional development for teachers and principals and Ministry of Education staff. Through supporting the improvement of the Education Management Information System (EMIS), evidence-based planning and monitoring is improved at both national, and district and school level. The WASH component of the program is providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to rural schools and surrounding communities. The program is also educating schools and their communities on how to manage these facilities. AusAID activity 11A656.

In 2012, the Early Childhood Education Policy was approved by the Minister, following two years of consultations. It provides a platform for coordinated support in this subsectors. 1,290 basic education teachers were provided with training in child freindly school approaches and the Ministry of Education has now integrated this training into its own training packages, provided by the INFORDEPE (teacher training institute) trainers. The School WASH Guideline was developed, providing the platform to improve school water, hygiene and sanitation. An additional 10 schools were provided with functional latrines and an additional 27 schools have been provided with functioning water suplies.