Thanks to the reform of education systems in African countries, more children have the opportunity to study at school
In African countries to the south of Sahara, where for decades there were serious problems in education, more children have the opportunity to study at school; and taking steps towards improving the quality of education. However, as stated in the agreement on a global partnership between donors and developing countries, in order to ensure universal schooling to 2015, the region still need assistance of rich countries.
“We have seen that progress is possible where there is political will, coupled with the necessary resources,” - Desmond Bermingem said, the new head of global partnerships in education, known as the Fast Track Initiative (FTI).
“Our goal is to help poor countries to consolidate the state-of-the-art strides and continue to improve the quality of education so that all children could finish school,” - he adds.
In African countries to the south of Sahara the percentage of pupils in relevant age groups increased from 83% in 2000 to 95% in 2002. This means that the number of children, who received the opportunity to study in school, has increased by 17 million people.
However, according to the Institute of Statistics of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in 2004 only about 65% of primary school-age children were enrolled in primary schools. In doing so, only 56% of children complete primary school (from first to fifth grade). Nearly 40 million children in African countries do not go to school.
Despite the fact that the international community considers education a prerequisite for economic growth, poverty reduction and combating diseases such as AIDS, much remains to be done to accelerate progress in education, noted in documents FTI.
“In principle, the country of Group of eight very strongly contribute to the achievement of universal schooling, and they are all fully committed to achieving this goal,” - Bermingem said, who previously worked in the Department for International Development United Kingdom (DFID).
However, that to 2015, worldwide 100 million children have been able to study in school funding under the Initiative should reach 10 billion dollars a year. Even now it need $ 2.3 billion to help several countries willing to join the Initiative to do so.
Credible education plans
To be included in the FTI and to receive funding under the Initiative, the country should develop “credible” and feasible plan for increasing the number of students in schools and improve the quality of education. The Initiative stimulates governments of countries to ensure that they take a leading role in the development of education plans, to ensure accountability in the use of the budget, political and financial support to accelerate progress towards universal primary education.
Partnerships in the Fast Track Initiative facilitate coordination between donors and poor countries to achieve common objectives in education and provide an opportunity for countries to develop long-term development plans in education. Another goal is to attract and mobilize resources to finance the cost of building and upgrading schools, roads, pay teachers, purchase of textbooks and other purposes.
“In Kenya(need Kenya visa) in 2003, numbers of students at schools increased by nearly one million people for one day, when the country was abolished fees for schooling,” - said Bermingem. In Ghana, as a result of the abolition of tuition fees in 2005, enrollment in primary schools increased by 14%. In Niger, where an opportunity to hire an additional 2 500 teachers each year, enrollment of primary school increased by 61% between 1998 and 2003.
To date, the Initiative’s approved education plans, developed by 20 countries including 12 African countries - Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique and Niger. In the coming months it is expected to include the seven African countries in the Initiative.
If in the context of the FTI adequate financial resources will be mobilized, to 60 countries can receive assistance in developing comprehensive plans for development of primary education that will benefit more than 70 million children - the report notes, prepared under the Initiative.
