Session 4A: Extending Basic Education, Expanding Secondary Education: Governance and Policy Issues

1. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Session 4A: Extending Basic Education, Expanding Secondary Education: Governance and Policy Issues Extending Basic Education to include Lower Secondary Education, while simultaneously addressing the Quality Imperative Presenter: Dr. Pap Sey Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

2. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Problem statement - issues & obj. • Access & Equity: Low enrolment rates, especially between regions, and inequitable distribution of educational services and resources • Quality: Imbalance between access and ‘quality’ • Structure:6-3-3 school system characterised by low mastery levels and about 40% pushed out due to inadequate secondary school places • Policy: Pursuit of national objectives, universal basic education and the EFA Goals led to policy shifts and the ‘expanded vision of BE’. • Objective: To examine the system and share the Gambian experience with others. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

3. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Research methodology • Context The Gambia: West African country, • with a population of approx. 1.5 million • - More than 10 yrs of the expanding basic • education to 9 yrs excluding pre-school years; • school and management systems restructured; • curricular reviews; huge investments; teacher • education programmes revisited, etc. • Desk review of policies, studies, reports, etc. in addition to a questionnaire administered to teachers, parents and the public Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

4. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Main results • There appears to be a preference for the 6-3-3- system to the 9-3-3- system, possibly due to resentment of the automatic promotion of students (G1-9). • The perception is that the curriculum is overloaded but responsive to stakeholder needs and prepares students for life both within and outside The Gambia. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

5. Main results contd. • The effective delivery of the curriculum by teachers is in question, which has far-reaching implications (for content/teacher performance/teacher disposition/teacher education, etc.). • Attempts at providing quality education are perceived to be more genuine/substantial after the ‘expansion’ than before. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

6. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Main lessons learned • Political will is key to success, as challenges are enormous vis-à-vis inputs and processes. • Popular participation and continuous sensitisation are crucial to earn public confidence. • Examination and assessment mechanisms tend to lend credence to school systems. • External support, community participation and school internal efficiency measures must complement one another. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

7. Main lessons learnt contd. • Policy dialogue and formulation must be sufficiently participatory, and educational reforms require maximum stakeholder involvement at every stage. • Establishing a unified national education system could have a crucial impact nationally (e.g., integration of the Madrassa curriculum with the conventional curriculum has contributed in boosting enrolment at the lower basic level in The Gambia). Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

8. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Conclusions: Main messages • Policy option: The expansion, and effective provision, of quality basic education which includes lower secondary is the way forward. • Learning achievement: Teacher education, deployment and utilisation for effective learning is a major challenge. • Quality:Quality issues will have to be endlessly addressed, given that ‘education’ and the contexts for its provision are fluid and evolutionary. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

9. Conclusions: Main messages • Leadership: Reform successes may hinge on sound leadership and policies matched by appropriate and implementable strategies by all stakeholders/parties. • Governance: Within the framework of the expanded vision of BE, a less bureaucratic and less centralised education system, with empowered governing bodies at various levels, may fair better than a traditional, centralised system. • Resources: Support from funding agencies makes a HUGE difference, especially when aligned with the national plan(s) of the receiving country. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

10. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education