A couple of days ago I was listening to the radio in my car and heard of a report just published about a survey conducted regarding the Millennium Development Goal related to the provision of Universal Primary Education. The goal is to reach 100% of children in primary education by 2015 and many countries, including Nepal, have signed up to this and created strategies and processes to achieve it. In the case of Nepal their main strategy is incorporated into their School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP), a document we have openly criticised for it's emphasis on desired outcomes, various standards and targets, rather than inputs into things like teacher capability, teacher development, pedagogies etc.
The radio report was about a study conducted in three African countries and the central theme was that using vast sums of money to build more schools and create opportunities for more children was having a negative effect on the overall quality of education received by the children who were entering schools, being taught by untrained or low standard teachers then dropping out! The report was acknowledged by Andrew Mitchell, the UK's Minister of Overseas Development.
Now, this is something we have been saying for 5 years, and something we back up with our own investment into teacher training. Forget the new buildings, use what you have got, there is plenty of space in Nepal for more children. The national obligation is foremost to give the children a high standard and quality of education, something that will attract all the "missing children" to turn up and to see it through to the end. Is this so difficult to understand?
If anyone can find a link to the actual report and send it to me I would be very grateful.
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