Training National Accounts at EASTC

1. http://www.eastc.ac.tz/ Training National Accounts at EASTC Meeting of the African Group of National Accounts Addis Ababa , Ethiopia, 20-22 April 2016 EASTC Presentation

2. Outline of the Presentation • Introduction-EASTC • What we teach in National Accounts • How we teach National Accounts • Why we teach National Accounts • Limitations in teaching National Accounts • Conclusion EASTC Presentation

3. Introduction • Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre (EASTC) was established in July 1965 under UNDP-EACSO agreement (EACSO is the predecessor to the East African Community (EAC) that was established in 1967) • In 1972 the UNDP ended its support and the East African Community took control of the Centre until 1977 when the EAC collapsed. EASTC Presentation

4. Introduction • April 1978, the Statistical Training Programme for Africa (STPA), under UNECA, requested the Tanzania Government to run the EASTC under the agreement that it remains REGIONAL and should expand to serve more countries in Eastern and Southern Africa in addition to the partner states of former EAC. • There are now eighteen user countries and these are; Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Eritrea, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe EASTC Presentation

5. Introduction • Currently EASTC offers the following programme • Diploma in Official Statistics • Bachelor of Official Statistics • Master of Official Statistics • Master of Agriculture Statistics • PhD of Official Statistics • In academic year 2015/2016 students are coming from different African countries: Tanzania, Seychelles, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Gambia, Lesotho, Rwanda, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia EASTC Presentation

6. What we teach in National Accounts • Teaching National Accounts at EASTC follows the Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) curricula. • National Accounts is a comprehensive system which aims at providing statistical description of the size of economic activities that have taken place over a period of time • It is an important economic statistics course in the area of Official Statistics that facilitate formulation of evidence- based policies and decision making to support sustainable development. EASTC Presentation

7. What we teach in National Accounts Bachelor’s degree: Two modules 1:Introductory National Accounts: To enable students to • Explain historical background of national accounts compilation worldwide before 1945 • Explain historical background of national accounts compilation in Africa before 1945 • Explain the nature of national accounts compilation after 1945 to-date • Describe concepts used in national accounts compilation • Explain the methods of compiling national accounts EASTC Presentation

8. Cont.... • Compile national accounts by using accepted standards and practices of accounting and presentations (Part I) • Compile national accounts by using accepted standards and practices of accounting and presentations (Part II) EASTC Presentation

9. 2. National Accounts • Develop Supply, and Use Tables (SUT) for analyzing input-output relations of industries • Describe the development, and purpose of ICP in international statistics • Breakdown GDP by expenditures to International Comparison Programme (ICP) • Examine the performance of the sectors of the economy • Develop trends for total GDP and sector/subsector • Relate GDP with other variables of the economy EASTC Presentation

10. Master’s Degree: One module: National Accounts • Describe concepts used in national accounts compilation • Explain the methods of compiling national accounts of an economy • Compile Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of an economy using accepted standards and practices • Analyse national accounts to determine sectors’ contributions and trends over time EASTC Presentation

11. How we teach National Accounts • Teaching National Accounts involves guiding students to undertake a set of learning tasks. The learner pursue them one after the other and lecturer makes sure that each of the task is completed. • The course is structured to be interactive and the emphasis is on learning by doing. • The learning context of the course is based on classroom lectures, guided independent work, practical demonstration, where needed; and case studies EASTC Presentation

12. Why we teach National Accounts • Bachelor’s Degree Teaching National Accounts to bachelor degree students is based on the principle EASTC strives to “To produce graduates who can work independently in all fields of National Accounts without professional supervision” EASTC Presentation

13. Why we teach National Accounts • Master’s Degree EASTC strives to produce competent, responsible and innovative strategic statistical professionals who will work as managers at senior levels of decision making at NSO, Government Departments and/or international organizations within the framework of National Accounts EASTC Presentation

14. Limitations in Teaching National Accounts • Teaching National Accounts at EASTC is based on CBET that require the lecturer to have both academic qualification and working experience from NSOs, Government Ministries/Departments/Agencies or International organizations. (i.e. From hands –on experience). However there are few people in Africa who meet both requirements. EASTC Presentation

15. Cont... • Statistical Training Centres(STCs) including EASTC face shortage of teaching staff and inadequate teaching materials in the field of National Accounts. • This situation limits the capacity of most African countries to produce reliable National Accounts for effective policy and decision makers. • The teaching of National Accounts based on UN handbooks and manuals. EASTC Presentation

16. Conclusion Conclusion • EASTC has a plan to establish Postgraduate Diploma in National Accounts aimed at building the capacity to NSO staff working in National Accounts department • Target Group: Compilers of national accounts statistics employed by agencies responsible for official national accounts data • Qualification: Degree in economics, or statistics with at least 3 years’ experience in compiling National Accounts EASTC Presentation

17. Conclusion Conclusion • Course Description: The course covers theoretical and practical aspects in the compilation of national accounts statistics based on the conceptual framework of the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA) • Proposed curriculum covers the following areas: • Review of Basic concepts • Money Balance Identities • Integrated Transaction Accounts • Integrated presentation of accounts • Production Account and Generation of Income Account ; Main entries and data needs EASTC Presentation

18. Conclusion Conclusion • Domestic economy and External transactions • Distribution and Use of Income Accounts • Capital and Financial accounts • Financial accounts • Price and Volume Measures • Supply Use Table • Satellite accounts • EASTC advises development partners (ECA, AfDB, AU etc.) to support existing STCs in Africa to establish long term training especially PGD in National Accounts EASTC Presentation

19. Feedback from participants In concluding the presentation; • EASTC kindly requests participants, contribution towards improvement of National Accounts curriculum EASTC Presentation

20. Thank you for Listening Attentively For more information on other EASTC Curricula visit http://www.eastc.ac.tz/ EASTC Presentation