Higher Education and Research for EFA Project

IAU Collaborative Workshop: A three-step activity to discuss possible

links between higher education (HE) and Education For All (EFA) locally

University of Nairobi24/01/2013

Dr. Loise Gichuhi

The EFA 2015 agenda has been there since

Dakar 2000. which had been coined from Jomtien1990

22 years down the line we have had reasonably successes and almost an equal measure of challenges

The EFA picture is not shinning. Some dark patches remain.

Introduction

The international community has had several

events and commitments and has seen a lot of progress in enrollments

BUT By 2010, 61 million children remain out of

school, 30 million in Africa and 10 million drop out of school every year in Africa.

We need to check on both the pulling and pushing factors.

Intro…

GMR 2012, noted that progress towards many of the targets is slowing down.

Need to note that the 1st 4 goals focused on age- appropriate access while the last 2 goals deal with gender equity and quality education.

The aim of My discussion is to continue the debate on the last 22 years targeted for Education for All and rethink on the way forward

EFA 2015 to EFA Post 2015

Do we continue with the EFA framework post 2015 or

should the international community guide through other education frameworks ?

How can the national agenda inform the international agenda?

Should each region develop its own agenda? What role should be played by different stakeholders,

private and public? Should it bottom up approach or top bottom approach? Is it south to North or North to south, or south to

south?

Cont…

Are we too ambitious ? Discussion are already shaping up to post

2015. There is need to create a national dialogue

and join the great education debate that will reshape the international development agenda.

Higher education agenda in EFA has been seen through the teacher training Lens.

Conti….

The teachers knowledge and abilities are at

the heart of children’s learning in school. The connection of Teacher –Learner – quality

learning = quality human development. How do we prepare the teacher sufficiently to

teach? And guide learning? What role can the University play in both Pre -

service and post –service in addressing EFA 2015 or EFA post 2015?

Re-thinking The Teacher

It is important to re evaluate the Teacher’s role

in EFA As 2015 EFA deadline comes closer, the 2013

GMR theme is Teaching and Learning. In order to contribute towards this agenda ,

the Universities should develop their capacity for anticipation and be able to respond to the trust placed in them by the society.

University and the Teacher

University should be an EFA compass. When

education stakeholders are looking for a direction, university should be handy to help

When the education stakeholders are looking for data and research findings , the University are able to provide

The teacher that is well prepared from the Varsity, therefore, should have a multiplier effect at the learners level

To meet this multi-dimensional agenda, the university should be more flexible and adaptable

Conti…

As the varsities prepare the teacher for EFA

what kind of teacher are we looking for? The teacher reform for EFA 2015 and EFA post

2015 should be an endless process Universities should be more proactive and not

reactive in matters EFA. Should play a direct role in EFA by embracing

partnering even with non traditional actors.

Conclusion

Thank you

Reactions are welcome