Education
The past five years have seen significant progress made in the education sector, with improvement to education networks, and establishment of schools, kindergartens and childcare centres in remote and poor districts.
The Education Sector Development Framework (ESDF) has been a major achievement within the sector. The framework reflects a shared long-term vision and commitment to the education sector by Government and development partners. It also provides a shared understanding of major education reform priorities.
The framework proposes measures for better harmonization of external assistance to the sector and a shared commitment to mobilizing the necessary resources for reducing funding gaps and provides a single plan for the whole education sector.
Considerable progress has also been made in teacher education. During 2006-10, infrastructure for teacher training institutions has been provided, policy development progressed and curriculum and textbook development for teacher upgrading finalized. In particular, the Teacher Education Strategy and Action Plan (TESAP) was developed and endorsed by Government.
Recent educational reform has resulted in an additional year being added to lower secondary school, creating a key critical link between upper secondary and tertiary education systems.
Key challenges
A key future challenge is to build on the TESAP to ensure the sustainability of an efficient teacher education system. In particular, ODA is required to improve the management of the system, enhance the pedagogy of teacher education and implement the professional development strategy.
The changes made in lower secondary will require new textbooks, teacher guides and learning material together with a new curriculum for the training of upper secondary teachers.
Future directions
The Education Sector Development Framework provides the foundation for the educational component of the 7th NSEDP. The Framework aims to ensure a continuous increase of quantity and quality of education, continue the national education system reform, and ensure improvement of education.
Future targets
- increase the primary school net enrolment rate to 98% by 2015;
- increase the total enrolment of secondary school students to 75% by 2015;
- achieve 75% upper secondary school students enrolment by 2015;
- create a favourable environment to reduce illiteracy among citizens of age 15-24 years to 99% by 2015;
- reduce illiteracy rate of citizens over 15 years to 87% by 2015;
- build at least three vocational training schools in cities that have high economic potential and growth.