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EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES IN THE CARIBBEAN. Cynthia Hobbs Latin America and the Caribbean Region The World Bank 14 July 2003. Main issues and challenges in Education in the Caribbean. Access and equity Efficiency Quality Regional sharing. Equitable access to education.
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EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES IN THE CARIBBEAN Cynthia Hobbs Latin America and the Caribbean Region The World Bank 14 July 2003
Main issues and challenges in Education in the Caribbean • Access and equity • Efficiency • Quality • Regional sharing
Equitable access to education • Most countries have achieved universal primary education • School-age population is stable or declining • Current focus: (i) increase equitable access to pre-primary, secondary and tertiary (ii) increase male participation in secondary and tertiary (iii) provide better support for academically and emotionally challenged students (iv) improve quality at all levels
Efficiency of education • Most Caribbean countries are spending a high percentage of GDP on education • However, they invest very little and now face severe fiscal constraints • Efficiency gains should be made in the education sector
Quality • Outcomes (test scores, CXC) • Curriculum (relevance) • Teacher training and teacher migration • Resources/ materials • Planning and management
Efforts at meeting the challenges • Within and between countries • Among donors
Strategy for education reform • All countries have established strategic sector reform plans and have created a shared vision to improve education • These strategies establish the foundation for investments • Projects financed by the World Bank and other donors are assisting countries to achieve their strategic goals
Education Reform Projects • Expand equitable access • Improve quality • Strengthen institutional capacity
Moving Towards a New Secondary School • School Development Plan with quality indicators • Teacher training in key subject areas (revised curriculum) • Learning Resource Center with free internet • Integrated Science Laboratory • Support services for disadvantaged students • School Improvement Project • Student-run Extra-curricular Activities • Decentralized budget for school maintenance • EMIS linked to school supervision
Regional Cooperation • There are initiatives in different countries that are worth sharing • To achieve changes in culture, content, and teaching and management approaches, knowledge sharing and cooperation among the countries are paramount
Knowledge Management • Creation of knowledge and statistical data (EMIS in each country using common performance indicators developed by UNESCO, OERU, WB) • Establishment of an advisory service within OERU to systematize sharing of information (WB, DFID, CIDA)