Taabo Tutoring Study

Официальное название

Tutoring and Targeting to Reduce Secondary School Dropout in Côte d'Ivoire

Обзор

Secondary school completion rates remain low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Côte d'Ivoire. Limited progression through lower secondary education may affect future educational and employment opportunities. In rural areas, pass rates on the Grade 10 national examination are modest, and some students leave school before completing lower secondary education. This study will evaluate whether tutoring improves academic outcomes and school continuation in the Taabo region of Côte d'Ivoire. Approximately 1,000 adolescents will participate in two related substudies. The first substudy will include 500 Grade 10 students identified by schools as being at risk of not passing the national examination. The second substudy will include 500 adolescents who previously attended Grades 7-9 but are not currently enrolled in school. Within each substudy, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: peer tutoring, teacher tutoring, or no additional tutoring (control group). Students assigned to tutoring may receive up to 15 sessions over approximately 6 to 8 months. Tutoring sessions will focus on reviewing core curriculum content, preparing for examinations, and strengthening academic skills. The primary outcomes are (1) passing the Grade 10 national examination and (2) enrollment in lower secondary school in the following academic year. Secondary outcomes include grade progression, study time, academic confidence, cost-effectiveness of the tutoring models, academic and well-being outcomes among peer tutors, and other longer-term outcomes (educational attainment, early family formation, mental health).

Подробное описание

Secondary school completion rates remain limited in many low- and middle-income countries, including Côte d'Ivoire. In rural areas, a substantial share of students do not pass the Grade 10 national examination, and some adolescents leave school before completing lower secondary education. There is limited evidence on the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different tutoring models at the secondary level in West Africa, particularly for both currently enrolled students and adolescents who are no longer enrolled.

This study is a randomized controlled education trial conducted in approximately 25 lower secondary schools in the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area of Côte d'Ivoire. The study consists of two related substudies.

Substudy 1 focuses on Grade 10 students identified by schools as being at risk of not passing the national examination. Substudy 2 focuses on adolescents who previously attended Grades 7-9 but are not currently enrolled in school at the start of the academic year.

Within each substudy, approximately 500 eligible participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned at the individual level to one of three groups:

* Peer tutoring * Teacher tutoring * Control (no additional tutoring provided by the study)

Tutoring will be delivered in small groups and may include up to 15 sessions over approximately 6 to 8 months. Peer tutors will be selected from higher-performing students nominated by school principals and randomly chosen among eligible candidates. Teacher tutoring will be delivered by trained teachers following structured lesson plans emphasizing curriculum review and examination preparation.

Primary outcomes are:

* Passing the Grade 10 national examination (Substudy 1) * Enrollment in lower secondary school in the following academic year (Substudy 2)

Secondary outcomes include grade progression, attendance, study time, academic confidence, and cost-effectiveness of each tutoring model. The study will also assess academic performance and well-being among peer tutors and longer-term outcomes.

Study documents will be retained for 15 years to assess long-term education and health impacts of the intervention (educational attainment, early family formation, mental health). Long-term follow-up will occur only for participants who are registered in the Taabo HDSS.

Results from this trial will contribute evidence on scalable tutoring approaches to improve secondary school progression in rural West African settings.

Вмешательства

• Поведенческое Peer tutoring
  Peer tutoring led by older and higher-performing peers from the same school implemented in small groups (e.g., 3-6 students). Tutors will be nominated by school principals and then randomly selected among eligible candidates to allow causal assessment of tutoring opportunities on tutors. Sessions will focus on: (i) reviewing core curriculum content; (ii) supporting homework and exam preparation; and (iii) building basic skills and academic confidence. Tutors will receive training on pedagogy, co
• Поведенческое Teacher tutoring
  Teacher tutoring led by trained teachers and implemented in small groups (e.g., 3-6 students). Teachers will follow structured lesson plans emphasizing remedial instruction and exam-relevant material. Sessions will emphasize active learning, practice exercises, and frequent low-stakes assessments. Teacher tutoring will involve up to 15 sessions, typically 1-2 sessions per week. For budgeting and planning, we assume an average of 10 sessions per student, with flexibility to increase up to 15 sess

Первичные конечные точки

• Proportion of participants passing the Grade 10 national examination (Substudy 1) [Срок оценки: Up to 12 months after enrollment]
• Proportion of participants enrolled in lower secondary school in the following academic year (Substudy 2) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]

Вторичные конечные точки (12)

• Proportion of participants enrolled in senior secondary school following the Grade 10 examination (Substudy 1) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Proportion of participants not enrolled in any secondary institution after Grade 10 examination results (Substudy 1) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Study time, homework completion, and exam confidence (Substudy 1) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Proportion of participants promoted to the next grade at endline (Substudy 2) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• School attendance (Substudy 2) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Persistence in school at the end of the 2026/27 academic year (Substudy 2) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Term and final grades (Tutors) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Examination pass rates (Tutors) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Educational aspirations and perceived returns to schooling (Tutors) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Time allocation, stress, and well-being (Tutors) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Cost per additional student passing the Grade 10 national examination (Substudy 1) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]
• Cost per additional student enrolled and cost per additional student promoted (Substudy 2) [Срок оценки: Up to 18 months after enrollment]

Критерии участия

Inclusion Criteria (Substudy 1)

• Enrolled in Grade 10 (troisième) during the 2025/26 school year in one of the 25 participating lower secondary schools.
• Identified by school principals as weak performers at high risk of failing the final grade 10 exam (based on exam scores, teacher assessments, or internal academic performance indicators).
• Males or females, aged 12 years or older at enrollment.
• Residing in the Taabo HDSS catchment area.
• Able to participate in small-group tutoring sessions.
• Parent or guardian provides written informed consent for minors; student provides written assent.

Inclusion Criteria (Substudy 2)

• Attended Grades 7-9 (6e, 5e, or 4e) during the 2025/26 academic year.
• Did not re-enroll in any lower secondary school at the start of the 2026/27 academic year, verified through school records and home visits.
• Males or females aged 12 years or older at enrollment.
• Residing in the Taabo HDSS catchment area.
• Able to participate in tutoring sessions organized after recruitment.
• Parent or legal guardian provides written informed consent for minors; student provides written assent.

Exclusion Criteria (both substudies)

• Individuals with severe cognitive or physical disabilities that would prevent meaningful participation in tutoring, based on information from parents, principals, and teachers.
• Adolescents or families planning to move out of the study area during the intervention period.
• For Substudy 2 only: adolescents who have already enrolled in an alternative education or vocational training programme at baseline.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Нет

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Простое слепое

Основная цель

Профилактика

Центры проведения

Côte d’Ivoire · 1 центр

• Centre suisse de recherche scientifique en Côte d'Ivoire — Taabo

Публикации

• Kone S, Baikoro N, N'Guessan Y, Jaeger FN, Silue KD, Furst T, Hurlimann E, Ouattara M, Seka MC, N'Guessan NA, Esso EL, Zouzou F, Boti LI, Gonety PT, Adiossan LG, Dao D, Tschannen AB, von Stamm T, Bonfoh B, Tanner M, Utzinger J, N'Goran EK. Health & Demographic Surveillance System Profile: The Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Cote d'Ivoire. Int J Epidemiol. 2015 Feb;44(1):87-97. do PMID 25433704

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT07486778 · IRB-25-0633

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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