Quality, Teachers and Decentralized Education. Module 2 Quality Education in a Decentralized Context
Quality, Teachers and Decentralized Education Module 2 Quality Education in a Decentralized Context
Quality Education in a Decentralized Context Mod...
The Rural – Urban Challenge Delivering UBE to rural areas is perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing policy makers because:
The Rural – Urban Challenge Delivering UBE to rural areas is perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing policy makers because: Demand Side (Parent/ Student Characteristics) •
Higher opportunity costs of going to school in rural areas
The Rural – Urban Challenge Delivering UBE to rural areas is perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing policy makers because: Demand Side (Parent/ Student Characteristics) •
Higher opportunity costs of going to school in rural areas
•
Less educated parents are less able to provide home support
The Rural – Urban Challenge Delivering UBE to rural areas is perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing policy makers because: Demand Side (Parent/ Student Characteristics) •
Higher opportunity costs of going to school in rural areas
•
Less educated parents are less able to provide home support
•
Home study may be harder with greater demands on time and without access to utilities such as electricity
Teachers prefer urban postings Teacher absence rates are higher (collecting salary etc) Uneducated parents less able to monitor teacher attendance
The Rural – Urban Challenge
Supply Side (Teacher Characteristics) • • • •
Teachers prefer urban postings Teacher absence rates are higher (collecting salary etc) Uneducated parents less able to monitor teacher attendance Limited teacher in-service support in rural areas
The Combined Result • • • •
Shortage of teachers in rural areas Less qualified and experienced teachers in rural areas Less women teachers in remote rural areas Lower teacher attendance
Leading to ….
Leading to ….
• • •
Less instructional time for rural students Lack of role models for female students in rural areas Students loosing motivation and dropping out
Resulting in: •
Lower performance of rural students in comparison to urban peers
Addressing Rural Urban Disparity in Teacher Deployment There are two basic approaches to addressing rural urbandisparity in teacher deployment:
Addressing Rural Urban Disparity in Teacher Deployment There are two basic approaches to addressing rural urbandisparity in teacher deployment: Centralised planning: Teacher recruitment and deployment is determined by a centralised body managing the whole system (this could be national or provincial).
Centralised Deployment Advantages: •
Whole system view
•
Teacher selection less likely to succumb to local political pressures
Centralised Deployment Advantages: •
Whole system view
•
Teacher selection less likely to succumb to local political pressures
Disadvantages •
Practical challenges of effecting rational and needs based deployment in face of resistance from teachers and teacher unions
Decentralised Market Approach Teachers apply for postings in response to advertisments at specific schools. Teachers are selected by the school governing body. Advantages: •
Teachers deploy themselves – more likely to have better attendance records
Decentralised Market Approach Teachers apply for postings in response to advertisments at specific schools. Teachers are selected by the school governing body. Advantages: •
Teachers deploy themselves – more likely to have better attendance records
Disadvantages •
Teacher selection can be vulnerable to local political pressures
•
Less qualified teachers more likely to accept rural positions
Teachers, Quality and Decentralisation Time Required: 1 hour
1. Watch the video of Mr Paramente P. Phamotse (Chief Education Officer – Primary, Lesotho) and discuss the following questions: •
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a decentralised recruitment system ?
•
In your opinion would decentralised teacher recruitment offer any benefit to your country ? If so what ? Under what circumstances ?
•
What would the practical and political implications be of introducing such a system in your country ?
Teachers, Quality and Decentralisation Time Required: 1 hour 30 minutes
Supplementary / Intersession Activities Read the extract and worksheet provided for Module Two: Activity Three and complete the exercises using the instructions provided.
References: Teachers for Rural Schools: A Challenge for Africa. Aidan Mulkeen, Africa Region. World Bank. 2005. Additional Readings: The World Bank/AED.2005: Recruiting, Retaining and Retraining Secondary School Teachers and Principals.