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REPORT OF ROUNDTABLE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ON POLICY ISSUES AND PRIORITIESPresented to COMEDAF V, 27 April, 2012

By Mrs. Jennifer Chiwela, ANCEFA Board Chairperson

Africa Network Campaign on Education For All

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.

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2.POLICY ISSUES & RECOMMENDATIONS

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I.SUPPORT OF CSOs TOWARDS SECOND DECADE POA

A. POLICY ISSUESi. Inadequate involvement of CSOs in POA

activitiesii. Most CSOs have not aligned plans to POA.

B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS1) AU Member states, RECs, and AUC should develop

strategic partnerships with CSOs.2) CSOs should align their strategic plans with POA.3) AUC and ANCEFA to ensure CSO roundtable is a

regular session in future COMEDAF activities. www.ancefa.org

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II.THE PLACE OF ECD, LITERACY AND NFE IN SECOND DECADE POA

A. POLICY ISSUESi. ECD, Literacy & NFE are among neglected EFA goals that are also

not adequately integrated in the Second Decade POA.

ii. ECCE adopted as 8th priority area of POA, but matrix of activities and indicators not yet approved.

B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS1) Next AU Heads of State Summit in Malawi in July 2012 should

endorse ECCE as priority and approve matrix of activities & indicators.

2) COMEDAF should endorse NFE and Literacy as POA focus areas.

3) AU Member states should promote cross -sectoral and inter-ministerial collaboration.

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III.IMPROVING EQUITABLE ACCESS

A. POLICY ISSUE i. Low enrolment and higher exclusion of girls, children with disabilities,

and other vulnerable groups threatens goal of equitable access for all.

B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS1) AU Member States should pay more attention to the girl child

programs and address barriers to girls enrolment and retention.

2) AU Member States should adopt inclusive education policies and address challenges of children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

3) African governments should increase funding for education and ensure better management of resources.

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IV.QUALITY EDUCATION & TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

• POLICY ISSUESi. Unsatisfactory education quality in most AU Member

States.ii. Shortage of qualified teachers, and poor teacher working

conditions.

• POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS1) AU Member states should develop plans to effectively

address teacher shortage and conditions of service.2) CSOs, Teacher Unions, Media and communities should

engage in collaborative monitoring, capacity building and advocacy for improved quality.

3) Education stakeholders should promote the reading culture, and local languages in schools.

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V.ENHANCING THE ROLE OF PARENTS, CSOS AND MEDIA

THE ROLES OF PARENTS, CSOS, & MEDIAa. 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.

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POLICY ISSUES & RECOMMENDATIONS

A. POLICY ISSUES

i. Inadequate awareness of Second Decade POA.

ii. 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.

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VI. THINKING AHEAD: POST 2015 MDG AGENDA

A. POLICY ISSUE

i. Inadequate participation and coordination of state holders in the growing debates seeking to define post 2015 MDG agenda.

ii. No guarantee that education will be a key priority in post 2015 MDG agenda

B. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

1) Facilitate consultations at all levels.

2) Reach consensus on priority areas and advocate for inclusion in the global agenda.

3) 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.

4) Focus MDG agenda more on outcomes than processes

5) Develop framework for South-South cooperation.

6) Enhance efforts to increase domestic sources of financing to support the post 2015 agenda and minimise donor dependency.

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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.

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THANKS!!

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