Transcript Education for All (EFA) within the Millennium Development

Education for All (EFA) within the
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) framework. Is Gambia on
track with EFA & MDG?
WORKSHOP ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
FOR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
AND PARTNERS
22-24 OCTOBER, 2010
INCLUSION BECAUSE-----• The special needs children are often
condemned to a ’poor start in life’ and
deprived of opportunities to develop to their
full potential and to participate in society.
They are routinely denied access to the same
opportunities
for
early,
primary
and
secondary education, or life-skills and
vocational training, or both, that are available
to other children. They either have no voice
or their views are discounted.
What is Inclusion
• Inclusion is part of a much larger picture than
just placement in the regular class within
school. It is being included in life and
participating using one's abilities in day to day
activities as a member of the community.
• It is being a part of what everyone else is, and
being welcomed and embraced as a member who
belongs. Inclusion can occur in schools, playgrounds, work and in recreation and most
importantly in the home.
What is Inclusion (contd.)
• Inclusion is being a part of what everyone
else is, being welcomed and embraced as a
member who belongs.
• The goal of inclusion is achieved only when
a child is participating in the activities of
the class, as a member who belongs, with
the supports and services they need.
• Inclusion is "not" a trade-off of supports
and services for placement in the regular
class and is not a trade-off of achievement
of individual goals.
What is Inclusion (contd.)
• Children with disabilities are first and foremost children,
worthy of equal respect, opportunities, treatment, status
and place.
• Through inclusive education children with disabilities
remain on a path that leads to an adult life as a
participating member of society. Meeting all their needs
together increases their ability to achieve academic and
physical growth to their potential, and it enhances their
overall quality of life.
• Inclusive education teaches all children team work and how
to interrelate and function together with others of
different abilities. They learn to value diversity, see the
ability of others to contribute, and it gives children a
sense of unity and purpose.
EFA Framework for Action
• The Dakar Framework for Action have six
goals for education for all (EFA) goals
agreed by 164 countries in 2000 (Dakar)
and are the basis of the work of EFANet.
The EFA goals call upon countries to
deliver in the following areas: Early
Childhood Care and Education, Universal
Primary Education, learning needs of young
people, adult literacy, gender parity and
education quality.
MDG and EFA
• The MDGs comprise of 8 Goals, 18 targets
and 48 indicators. In January 2008, they
were revised to 21 targets and 60
indicators. The Gambia is committed to the
attainment of the MDGs
• The two MDG goals on education are: to
ensure that all boys and girls complete
primary schooling by 2015, and to make
sure that girls have the opportunity for
education at all levels by 2015.
Is Gambia on Track??
Progress
• The education sector continues to be one of the priority areas of
government as it attaches much importance to the sector in view of the
increasing need for trained manpower for the country to attain its
development objectives.
• Based on both normative and summative evaluations of various
interventions conducted with support from the Education for All/Fast
Track Initiative (EFA/FTI) and other bilateral and multilateral donors,
there is evidence to indicate that significant successes have been
registered within the sector. These include expanded access to
education across all levels of the school system, particularly by girls in
the rural areas, where, in some instances, interventions led to the
unintended decline of boys’ enrolment.
• Owing to the comprehensive and successful interventions to boost girls’
enrolment, particularly since 2004, The Gambia is one of the few
countries in SSA to have reached the EFA and Millennium Development
goal of gender parity in primary schools.
Is Gambia on Track??
• The GER at the upper basic level, which stood at 29% in
1998, has risen by over 30% to 65%. These achievements
have ultimately contributed to the attainment of gender
parity at the basic level (i.e., from Grades 1 to 9).
• Similarly, the GER at the senior secondary school level
doubled from 15% in 1998 to 32% in 2007.
• MDG Goal 2 (proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who
reach last grade of primary) has been attained. On track
to attaining net enrolment in primary education and
literacy among 15-24 year olds.
• MDG Goal 3 (gender parity in primary and lower basic has
been attained and parity at senior secondary is within
reach)
Is Gambia on Track??
Challenges
• The disparity between boys and girls in
enrolment, retention and performance.
• The three broad issues of providing quality
education, training and retaining qualified
teachers and other personnel
• Mobilizing sufficient resources for both
recurrent and development purposes
• The curriculum gaps and shortcomings,
especially of dovetailing the syllabuses to form
a continuum from one segment of the school
system to the other