Report: Poor governance jeopardises primary education in Africa

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - Poor governance and management are jeopardising efforts to provide quality basic education in seven African countries, according to a new report published by Transparency International (TI). The report, "Africa Education Watch: Good Governance Lessons for Primary Education", shows that despite 10 years of efforts to increase school enrolment through the Education for All initiative and the Millennium Development Goals, deficient or non-existent governance systems and practices are limiting progress.

"Increasing school enrolment is not enough. To ensure true, lasting progress in education levels and best use of the scarce resources available, oversight and accountability must be improved," said Stephane Stassen, Senior Programme Coordinator at TI, who leads the Africa Education Watch programme.

A statement sent to GNA in Accra on Wednesday, said the report, which assessed primary education management structures in Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda, analysed data from 8,500 questionnaires completed by parents, head teachers, heads of Parent- Teacher Associations (PTAs) and district education officers.

In the past decade, according to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), more primary school age children in Africa are going to school than ever before, and in many countries primary education is, by law, free of charge. However, TI said it found that parents who could ill-afford it still faced fees.

It said in the countries covered, 44 per cent of surveyed parents were requested to pay registration fees for their children. "Poor accounting and reported diversions of budgeted funds clearly show that funding must come with better management capacity and accountability mechanisms," said Stassen.

The report identified where the transfer of funds and supplies from central governments to schools were likely to be diverted. Most schools do not keep complete or even basic records of their finances, the report said.

"There is also an overall lack of training in financial management by head teachers and those responsible for managing school budgets," the statement said.

"TI chapters in the seven countries will work with governments and civil society to increase management capacity and strengthen accountability mechanisms, in order to ensure, that Education for All goals are met," it added.