Education for All Youth Carmen Siri, AED March 9, 2004 EQUIP Seminar Series.

Education for All Youth

Carmen Siri, AED

March 9, 2004

EQUIP Seminar Series

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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World Education ForumFramework for Action

Dakar, 2000

(iii) Ensure that the learning needs of

all young people and adults are met

through equitable access to

appropriate learning and life skills

programmes

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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We need to act now…

• EFA success in basic education is increasing graduates

• Half of all youth out-of-school

• Growing young population

• Countries planning expansion of secondary education

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Education for ALL Youth in developing world

urgently requires

….a change of vision … a new strategy

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Why?• Heterogeneous needs and

conditions of youth• Adult responsibilities• Many are parents • HIV/AIDs• At risk / conflict areas• In gangs or crime• Girls special needs • Ethnic minorities • Poverty

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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Why not in school after primary?

• 50 % cannot afford school / opportunity cost

• 30 % lack relevance of school

• 20 % lack access to school

Honduras, Encuesta de Hogares, 2001

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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Secondary education

• Purpose not clear: university or work

• Lack of relevance

• Schedules not flexible

• Considers youth as children

• Academic orientation of teachers

• Public resources not sufficient

• Leads to unemployment

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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Wealth of successful alternatives to formal system…

• Youth active as partners

• Community, NGO & private sector partners

• Volunteerism

• Learning skills for life

• Flexible delivery mechanisms

• Models of what should happen in school

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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PROJOVEM - Brazil

• Rural alternative to vocational education

• Students develop projects on family land

• Academic subjects integrated

• Community involved in decision-making

• Results: Improved school work, family relations, leadership

• Cost lower than vocational: 2958 vs 4297 real/year

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Educatodos - HondurasAlternative lower secondary• Relevant curriculum• 250,000 person-years of

schooling• 4000 volunteer facilitators• Results: Learning

equivalent to school, values, service learning, volunteers as role-models, impact on women and production

• Cost 1/3 of regular school

EQUIP Seminar Series Carmen Siri

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For Honduras to reach poverty reduction goals (7 to 9)

• From $25 to $52 million / year by 2015

• Infrastructure $1.5 to $5.7 million / year

• Pedagogical university grow by 50%

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But good options are not sustainable…

• Alternative education seen as less valid

• Considered for the poor

• Assessment of results and costs are not used for decision making

• Not in public sector budget

• Not considered part of education system

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EFA

…a change of vision we are responsible for all youth

… a new strategy for donors and countries

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The new vision… the new strategy…

• We must reach ALL youth

• Strategy must be comprehensive: One answer does not work for all

• Quality & relevance are critical

• Existing out-of-school population cannot wait for the formal system

• Timing is now!