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REPORT OF ROUNDTABLE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ON POLICY ISSUES AND PRIORITIES. Presented to COMEDAF V, 27 April, 2012 By Mrs. Jennifer Chiwela, ANCEFA Board Chairperson . 1.INTRODUCTION. Educations goals at risk of not being achieved by 2015. At least 22 countries currently off track.
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REPORT OF ROUNDTABLE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ON POLICY ISSUES AND PRIORITIES Presented to COMEDAF V, 27 April, 2012 By Mrs. Jennifer Chiwela, ANCEFA Board Chairperson
www.ancefa.org 1.INTRODUCTION • Educations goals at risk of not being achieved by 2015. • At least 22 countries currently off track. • Theme: “Taking Stock of Africa’s Education Vision and Thinking Ahead!” • Methodology: Panel on selected topics, plenary discussion, and synthesis of key issues & recommendations. • This report highlights policy issues & recommendations for COMEDAF V consideration & adoption.
www.ancefa.org 2.POLICY ISSUES & RECOMMENDATIONS
www.ancefa.org I.SUPPORT OF CSOs TOWARDS SECOND DECADE POA A. POLICY ISSUES • Inadequate involvement of CSOs in POA activities • Most CSOs have not aligned plans to POA. B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS • AU Member states, RECs, and AUC should develop strategic partnerships with CSOs. • CSOs should align their strategic plans with POA. • AUC and ANCEFA to ensure CSO roundtable is a regular session in future COMEDAF activities.
www.ancefa.org II.THE PLACE OF ECD, LITERACY AND NFE IN SECOND DECADE POA A. POLICY ISSUES • ECD, Literacy & NFE are among neglected EFA goals that are also not adequately integrated in the Second Decade POA. • ECCE adopted as 8th priority area of POA, but matrix of activities and indicators not yet approved. B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS • Next AU Heads of State Summit in Malawi in July 2012 should endorse ECCE as priority and approve matrix of activities & indicators. • COMEDAF should endorse NFE and Literacy as POA focus areas. • AU Member states should promote cross -sectoral and inter-ministerial collaboration.
www.ancefa.org III.IMPROVING EQUITABLE ACCESS A. POLICY ISSUE • Low enrolment and higher exclusion of girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups threatens goal of equitable access for all. B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS • AU Member States should pay more attention to the girl child programs and address barriers to girls enrolment and retention. • AU Member States should adopt inclusive education policies and address challenges of children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. • African governments should increase funding for education and ensure better management of resources.
www.ancefa.org IV.QUALITY EDUCATION & TEACHER DEVELOPMENT • POLICY ISSUES • Unsatisfactory education quality in most AU Member States. • Shortage of qualified teachers, and poor teacher working conditions. • POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS • AU Member states should develop plans to effectively address teacher shortage and conditions of service. • CSOs, Teacher Unions, Media and communities should engage in collaborative monitoring, capacity building and advocacy for improved quality. • Education stakeholders should promote the reading culture, and local languages in schools.
www.ancefa.org V.ENHANCING THE ROLE OF PARENTS, CSOS AND MEDIA • THE ROLES OF PARENTS, CSOS, & MEDIA a. Parents: Attend and support school activities and participate in school management and governance. They should also be involved in lobbying duty bearers including MPs to ensure that governments meet the needs of schools b. CSOs: Should take part by developing programmes for monitoring implementation of the POA (including parallel tracking, research), building capacity of parents and communities in school management; popularise the POA, and undertake advocacy campaigns. c. The Media: Should assist in disseminating information about the POA and good practices, engage the public in debates on education issues, and support CSO advocacy initiatives.
www.ancefa.org POLICY ISSUES & RECOMMENDATIONS A. POLICY ISSUES • Inadequate awareness of Second Decade POA. • Restricted rights & freedoms in some countries. B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS • Stakeholders should popularise Second Decade plan of action to raise awareness. • Stakeholders should promote freedom of the press, human rights and democracy . • Encourage formation of parents, CSO and Media associations and networks for promoting the right to education in AU Member states.
www.ancefa.org VI. THINKING AHEAD: POST 2015 MDG AGENDA A. POLICY ISSUE • Inadequate participation and coordination of state holders in the growing debates seeking to define post 2015 MDG agenda. • No guarantee that education will be a key priority in post 2015 MDG agenda B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS • Facilitate consultations at all levels. • Reach consensus on priority areas and advocate for inclusion in the global agenda. • Gather adequate data and consult widely to inform debate on whether or not COMEDAF should launch a 3rd Education Decade upon expiry of the 2nd Decade in 2015. • Focus MDG agenda more on outcomes than processes • Develop framework for South-South cooperation. • Enhance efforts to increase domestic sources of financing to support the post 2015 agenda and minimise donor dependency.
www.ancefa.org E.CONCLUSION • Stakeholders have hailed the CSO roundtable in COMEDAF V as a welcome development. • The Ministers of Education attending COMEDAF V are requested to consider and adopt the recommendations from the roundtable. • ANCEFA and AUC should collaborate in monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the round table and report progress during COMEDAF VI. • A similar CSO roundtable should be held at COMEDAF VI both for progress review and feedback to the Ministers. ANCEFA and AUC will need to work together with other CSOs to ensure thorough preparations and planning.
www.ancefa.org THANKS!!
