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Yemen Experience with the Fast Track Initiative Dr. AbdulSalam Aljoufi Minister of Education Fast Track Initiative Partnership Meeting Brasilia, November 10-11, 2004 Country Profile Population : 18-20 million (population census will be conducted next month), 76% in rural areas GNP : US$460
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Yemen Experience with the Fast Track Initiative Dr. AbdulSalam Aljoufi Minister of Education Fast Track Initiative Partnership Meeting Brasilia, November 10-11, 2004
Country Profile • Population: 18-20 million (population census will be conducted next month), 76% in rural areas • GNP: US$460 • Poverty: 42% below the poverty line (83% of them in rural areas) • Fertility rate: 5.9 • Population Growth: 3.5% • Population scatter in more than 100,000 small villages that are built in very rugged and inaccessible mountains; PROVDING SERVICES IS VERY COSTLY
During the last decades, the education system expanded dramatically:1970: 25,000 students 2004:4,500,000 students • However: issues (limited access, poor quality, inefficiency, and inequity) • Enrolment rate in basic education: 65% • Only 55% of girls in schools country-wide • Major disparities across governorates & between urban and rural areas (only 30% of girls in schools in rural areas) • Adult Illiteracy:52%
Yemen is one of the off-track countries, with a significant financing gap that might not able the country to achieve UPC by 2015. Yemen ranks 149th among 162 countries on the 2003 Human Development Index.
The Country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP) was formulated after a broad-based consultation process. It was endorsed in the 2002 Paris Consultative Meeting.
The Basic Education Development Strategy (BEDS) was also formulated through a broad participatory process with stakeholders: • The basic education sector issues were identified; • Suitable policies for addressing issues during the next 15 years were adopted; Goals 100% enrollment of grade (1-6) and 95% of (1-9). The BEDS was nested in the PRSP.
Yemen Received a USD10 mill. From the EFA-FTI Catalytic Fund Yemen Was invited To Participate In EFA-FTI Proposal Endorsed By the Donor Community The Grant Agreement Signed Country Proposal Submitted Within BEDS & PRSP Yemen Invited to EFA-FTI Meeting in OSLO J A N. 2 0 0 4 A P R. 2 0 0 4 J U N. 2 0 0 2 N O V. 2 0 0 2 M A R. 2 0 0 3 N O V. 2 0 0 3 EFA-FTI Catalytic Fund
The Government Prepared an Operational Plan (priority programs are selected from the sector plan) to use the Catalytic fund for achieving the following objectives: Increase enrollment with a special focus on girls in the most underserved governorates and districts, Enhance the quality and learning in the basic education system and Build and improve capacity for planning, managing, implementation and monitoring the educational programs.
The four governorates selected were: Al-Baidha, Al-Hodaidah, Dhamar, and Hajjah Selection Criteria: • The total and girls’ enrollment rate • Number of children out of basic schools • The human development index • No donors supported programs are implemented in these governorates.
Based on the successful implementation experience of the Basic Education Expansion Project (BEEP) in five governorates (2001-2005): 1) The FTI –CF Program was designed Components: Expansion of Access US$6.86M Quality Improvement US$2.015M Capacity Building US$1.125M Expected Results: GER GER-Girls Dropouts
2) The BEEP implementation arrangement has been followed: • The funds have been implemented by the Ministry of Education through the existing operational structure of the MOE. Each administrative entity, at both the Central and governorate level is implementing the activities that fall under its responsibilities. Continued…
Central level: Orientation, strategy, policy-making, program design, monitoring and evaluation. • Governorate level: Implementation and supervision of decentralized activities. • District level: Assist the Governorate to follow up on implementation and supervision of activities taking place at the district level, and working closely with the communities. • Community level: MOE staff from the Governorate and District levels work with communities on school location, construction and oversight.
Achievements from mid-August to end of October • 73% of the planned fund are committed, 8% were actually disbursed. • The Governorates Education Offices (GEOs) signed contracts for building 86 (3-CR new schools) with administration room, students and teachers toilets, store, staircase leads to the second floor and boundary wall. • Average progress in construction works is 30% • Ongoing rehabilitation works in six schools And more…
Continues… • Two-weeks training of 400 trainers and 14000 teachers were conducted at Governorate and districts level • Office equipment for facilitating fund implementation at the centre and governorates contracted and will be delivered soon. • Buses for facilitating school supervision contracted and will be delivered soon. • Students kits to encourage enrollment contracted and will be delivered soon. • Workshops on “preparation annual work-plans” were conducted for governorates staff.
Enhancing Partnership for Achieving EFA • The Government has been working with several development partners with regard to aid harmonization in support of sector plan priorities. • Major development partners are WB, Dutch, DFID, German, Japan, USA and UN Agencies. • A Partnership Declaration was signed in Jan. 2004 & the Basic Education Development Project (BEDP) is the first fruit. • BEDP will be funded by the Govt, IDA, Dutch and DFID • More donors show interests. • BEDP lays the foundation for a SWAP
Major Challenges Implementing 2004 FTI Plan, What can be achieved in the four governorates? What is the financing gap? How can we meet the needs? Are government resources enough? Donors’? • Increase the Gross enrollment rate in each targeted governorate by 3%. • Increase the Gross enrollment rate of girls in each targeted governorate by 5% • Decrease the dropout rate in each targeted governorate by 0.5%. • Decrease the repeating rate in each targeted governorate by 1%. More challenges…
Unit Cost for Construction: (the most isolated and underserved rural areas are targeted; increase in the cost of building materials; no proper roads for transportation)
Challenges... • Social Dimension (Tribal society) : Working on social coherence • Limited number of donors: Yemen is getting behind national plan
What can be achieved with the FTI? Projection of Net Enrollment by Gender