3.2.2. Contributions of the introduction of O-level classes One of the innovative endeavors of Kinderpostzegels’ education support in Ethiopia is the introduction of O-level class attached to the ABE and other school support programs implemented by its partner organizations. The impact evaluation team had the opportunity to observe and gather information on O classes in all the Woredas and schools it visited. Based on what the responses and what it was able to collect, the introduction of O-class has been found to have resulted in the following positive impacts. Children who attended O level classes have become academically much better compared to other children who joined primary school without this opportunity. The respondents both at WEO and school levels confirmed the positive impact the introduction of O-class created on the comparative advantage of children that passed through O-class in their academic performance in the next level of education. According to Getahun Muliye, Principal of Belta Primary School in Este, those who joined grade one from O-class are fast learners compared to those who were not in preschool. Ahmed Gemeda Principal of Biten Kubi Priamry School in Siraro confirming this said “Those who attended O-class are much better in their class performance in grade one and next levels than those who didn’t come to our O-class before age 7.”. In the opinion of Alfia Tunicha, a female teacher at Loke Sifo School, when children from O-class and not from O-class get to the same grade one, those who were in O-class excel other children who did not come from O-class in many ways including academic results. A research commissioned by Kinderpostzegels on behalf of the Child and Development Alliance on the effects of early learning (O-class) found out the same results as the above observations. The research compared the results of children who went through O-level education against those who had no chance to go through O-class before joining grade one. The study found out “Children who passed through O-level education were found performing more than those children who didn’t pass through the O-level education” (Hussein A, Abera, D, 2015, p.65”. 28
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