Budget Hearings: Education Committee

1. By Macharia Kamau Representative, UNICEF South Africa 6 March 2007 Budget Hearings: Education Committee

2. The Context • Great strides last 12 years in education. • GER in primary school increased from 99% in 2000 to 103% in 2006 • New curriculum focused on outcomes based learning • Gender parity attained however challenge with high drop out rates for boys at secondary school and higher ones for girls at tertiary level • Low uptake for children aged 0 – 5 in ECD (16%). The National Integrated Plan for ECD will facilitate access to ECD at household, community and formal ECD centre level • Concern: condition of the 5,000 poorest schools – with an estimated 350,000 learners • Concern: unknown status of thousands of learners/children in rural/farm schools • 5.9% of 15 to 19 year olds are living with HIV (HIV+) • Violence (including GBV) a major concern in schools • Est. number of orphans in the country btw 1.7 to 2.5 million UNICEF South Africa

3. Education is the largest component of the 2007 budget • Summary allocations: • Health: R60.3bn • Social Services: R89.6bn • Education: R104.4bn • Justice: R8.88bn • The Challenge: Targeting and prioritization of resources for children UNICEF South Africa

4. The Nation’s Commitments to Children (State of Nation Address, 2007) • South Africa is making progress in achieving the MDGs; • Recognition of the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and of investing through the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP); • Resolution to increase non-fee paying schools, in order to expand the opportunities for all children; • Situation of violence against women and children is “unacceptable” • Stabilize education system to improve fluctuating matric results, particularly in maths • Intensify campaign against HIV and AIDS and implement a comprehensive package in addressing the pandemic, prevention, care and support, treatment – to cushion impact on educators and learners • Address multiple strategies to reduce and eradicate poverty UNICEF South Africa

5. The Millennium Development Goals • Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; • Achieve Universal primary education; • Promote Gender equality and empower women; • Reduce Child mortality; • Improve Maternal health; • Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; • Ensure environmental sustainability; • Develop a global partnership for development. UNICEF South Africa

6. Progress towards the MDGs • MDG2 on UPE is critical in supporting progress towards the other MDGs, particularly the ones on poverty/hunger, gender equity/empowerment, child mortality, maternal mortality and sustainable environment • Also important to note that not working towards achieving the goals of these other MDGs UPE can not become a reality • All MDGs are inter-related and interdependent UNICEF South Africa

7. How close is SA to achieving MDGs on Universal Primary Education? • Net enrollment (95.5) on track to meet MDG 2 by 2015 • SA to challenge itself differently • Relate education goals to social and economic outcomes • Step up access to provision of Integrated ECD (0-4) services and access to grade R • Redefine basic education – birth to 18 • Focus on quality: management and teaching practices • Investment returns: efficiency/effectiveness, • Accountability: participation, parental/community involvement, monitoring and evaluation (inspectorate), etc UNICEF South Africa

8. INVESTING IN ECD MAKE SENSE UNICEF South Africa James Heckman, Nobel Laureate

9. Investment Strategy • Focus on attitude, knowledge and skills for sustainable progress – curriculum, management and teaching practices • No-one must be left behind • Redefine BASIC EDUCATION - 0-18 inclusive/compulsory/free. • Integrated Holistic Approach to Learning (IHAL) 0-5 ECD 6-15 Basic Education 16-18 FET Current compulsory UNICEF South Africa

10. Critical components of IHAL • Learning outcomes must target social and economic goals • Corresponding investment in: not either or, • Infra-structure • Teaching and learning materials • Management and teaching skills • Complementary strategies: • Learner participation • Gender balance • Community and parental participation • Private sector investment • Monitoring and Evaluation, Especially retention and RRR at key intervals • Links with health and related social conditions UNICEF South Africa

11. What does this mean for the budget? • The 2007/8 budget laid emphasis on the role of education as one that expands opportunities and possibilities leading not only to development but to progress as well • Increased allocations for infrastructure, teaching/learning materials, math, science and supporting effective teaching and learning • To expand opportunities and possibilities learning outcomes must target social and economic goals with corresponding investment in : • An Integrated Holistic Approach to Learning from birth to 18 • Monitoring and evaluation particularly for retention and RRR at key intervals • Strengthening education sector’s capacity at all levels to deliver effectively • Target expenditure on principals to improve management and leadership (at all levels) and in particular at school level for quick and effective turn around strategies • Complementary strategies: • Learner participation • Community and parental participation UNICEF South Africa

12. Institutional costs Continued high drop-out rates Low participation and morale High repetition Lack of parental and community engagement Social cost Inability to fight pandemics Sustained high levels of violence and crime Gender discrimination and inequality Increased infant and child mortality/ maternal Increase in social security Rise in health costs Economic costs Poverty Unemployment Slow economic growth Political costs Instability Cost of not investing in Education and other MDGs UNICEF South Africa

13. Conclusion • South Africa has the commitment, vision and resources to meet the MDGs • The challenge lies in how to target, allocate and spend these funds: • Integrated Holistic Approach to Learning (IHAL) • Improve effectiveness/efficiency for quality outcomes in the education sector • Management, teaching practices, parental involvement and M&E • Tracking and monitoring of funds in education to ensure accurate expenditure and positive outcomes • Specific allocations for child protection and ECD • Reaching the un-reached 600,000 out of school, dropouts, remote/farm children UNICEF South Africa

14. Thank you UNICEF South Africa