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 Parallel Session 6B: Skills Development in General Education School Enterprises and Sustainability: Challenges for Secondary and Vocational Education Presenter:Madhu Singh ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 1

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 Problem statement  Current secondary and vocational educational models fail to adequately prepare students for the high probability of self-employment, which is a reality in most developing countries on account of the lack of formal sector jobs.  Increase in the number of students completing primary education is not accompanied by increase in finance to respond to the growing demand for post-primary ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 2

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 Context:  Changes in the world of work  MDGs have sidelined skills developemnt  EFA pay little attention to articulation between education, skills development and entry into the labour market  Demographics – growth in young population  Primary education is advancing at a rapid pace, but are there capacities to progress to secondary? ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 3

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 Issues:  Scarcity of formal jobs  Self-employment as an important means of earning a living  Question of increasing relevancy of secondary education needs to be revisited  Urgency of meeting the learning needs of beneficiaries from rural background.  The potential of youth is not being developed to the fullest  There is a lack of clear and coherent strategeis to implement Dakar goal 3  The education of the cohort of primary school leavers is not being adequately furthered ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 4

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 Objectives  Highlight successes,  School enterprise as part of a larger edcuational project  Conceptual framework  Highlight the various features of school enterprises  Highlight some basic principles that need to be kept in mind while setting up school enterprises ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 5

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 Methododology Benefits of school enteprises, and some possible problems from the perspective of  Learner,  institution,  nation A rough typology of school enterprises  Placing priority on economic goals  Placing priortiy on educational goals  Balancing economic and educational considerations Different financial options ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 6

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 Various features of school enterprises  Diversity of structures  Organisation of learning  Core competencies  Curriculum  Training stages  Assessment  Teaching staff  Regulatory frameworks  Selection of students  Integration with the community ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 7

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 Financial options for school enterprises  Combining public and private  Cost recovery methods  Increasing institutional efficiency ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 8

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 Learning output  Learning outcome – i.e., the trainees‘ competencies and qualifications as skilled workers  Trainees‘ productive achievements  Earnings from the sale of goods and services as well as other proceeds : e.g. Rent, tuition,income from the cafeteria ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa 9

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 Key messages  Because of urgent need to finance post- primaryeducation and training, self-fiancing and cost-recovery methods of financing may have to be seen as not only supplementary options, but rather as alternative sources to public finances.  School enterprises nevertheless remain primarily institutions for training human resources, and places where education is a public and not a private good. Governments and stakeholders must recognize problems in introducing NQFs. 10

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 Key messages  Several factors enhance school enteprises  Labour market analysis  school enterprise must be quick to adapt to the demands of new technologies and processes  Trainees shoud not become low wage workers  Incentives  Access to all, including the poor  Ecological way of production  Change in mindset of teachers  Recognize certificates  Advice from experts  School management cooperate with local economy, community and region. Governments and stakeholders must recognize problems in introducing NQFs. 11

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 Key messages Some significant principals  Both general and technical components of vocational skills are important.  Local initiative is a leading force.  It takes a combination of learning methods  Closeness to the utilization and application  Motivation means when when future economic returns become visible; Motivation also enlisting the creative potential and active participation of many people.  Basic educational competencies are the prime step in developing vocationally specialized competencies in men and women. Governments and stakeholders must recognize problems in introducing NQFs. 12

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 Key messages The number of examples of school enterprises is still very small, and more research and examples of practice are needed in more countries, if the question of financial sustainability has to be addressed; Nevertheless, the above analysis of the school enterprise approach can serve as a guide for governments and stakeholders who are looking for alternative ways of expanding secondary school as well as finding ways to ensure that students stay and complete secondary school, and also take up employment or self- employment Governments and stakeholders must recognize problems in introducing NQFs. 13