29 Jul 2013
Chalkboards and Cheeseboards – Resisting the Workplace’s Colonisation of the Schoolroom
By Mike Douse, freelance education advisor. Many contributors to the post-MDG debate appear to take it as a glorious given that education is predominantly about economic growth and poverty alleviation and that it should be supported, planned and evaluated from that perspective. Just as a rich cultural heritage should not be perceived merely as... Read More
23 Jul 2013
More Effective Education Aid: The Challenge of Achieving More Evidence-based Aid Allocation
By Birger Fredriksen, Results for Development. From efficient to effective aid allocation The post-Dakar Education for All (EFA) decade saw much focus on enhancing aid recipient countries’ ability to develop more evidence-based education policies. Commendable progress has been made, more so than during the post-Jomtien decade. However, less attention has been paid to enhancing the... Read More
18 Jul 2013
Whither Post-2015? A Critique of the Post-2015 High Level Panel’s Education and Economic Goals
By Steven Klees, University of Maryland. The High Level Panel (HLP), appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, released its highly awaited report at the end of May this year: “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies Through Sustainable Development – The Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015... Read More
15 Jul 2013
The Red Threads of China’s Education and Training Cooperation with Africa
By Kenneth King, University of Edinburgh and NORRAG. China has an increasing role as an education collaborator with Africa, and this may be significant both economically and politically. First some questions: · Why does China run one of the world’s largest short-term training programmes, with plans to bring 30,000 Africans to China... Read More
09 Jul 2013
Acronym Stew: Why Some New Ingredients in International Development are Best Left Uncombined
By Ruth Naylor, CfBT Education Trust. Popular ingredients and methods in international development come in and out of fashion, just as they do in gastronomy. As new ingredients and methods are developed and discovered, they can add richness, versatility, and efficiency savings to the work of the development professional… or to the professional cook.... Read More
05 Jul 2013
Education Post-2015: Where are we going? How are we getting there?
By Kenneth King and Robert Palmer. Twenty two years ago NORRAG attempted (see NN7 and NN8) a policy history of how we got the Education for All Declaration and Framework for Action in the World Conference in Jomtien (UNESCO, 1990). As now, there were regional meetings and then a global meeting. But one of... Read More
24 Jun 2013
What's Wrong With Low-Cost Private Schools for the Poor?
By Steven Klees, University of Maryland. Right now, there is considerable attention being focused on a growing phenomenon in a number of developing countries — private primary schools that charge relatively low fees. They are described in miraculous terms, as private schools, once the bastion of the well-to-do, are now reaching disadvantaged families and thus... Read More
19 Jun 2013
Educating the Poor: Social Entrepreneur Style
By Karina Veal, Asian Development Bank. In common with the best international schools, Year 10 students at the school established in Burriam, Thailand by former Senator Mechai Viravaidya, spend a year away from home (in this case, to the Thai beach resort area of Pattaya). There they experience a different culture, gain independence, and... Read More
17 Jun 2013
Education and the Sustainable Development Goals: Open Working Group Discussion Today - 17th June
By Karen Mundy, University of Toronto and CIES. The intergovernmental Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) called for in the Rio+20 Outcome Document will convene its fourth meeting on 17-19 June 2013. On Monday June 17th at 3pm (EDT) (BST 8pm) I’ll be in New York to share with the UN Open... Read More
11 Jun 2013
Post-2015 Development Agenda: the Devil will be in the Details
By Alexandra Draxler, former UNESCO education specialist. The proposals of the High-Level Panel on Post-2015 are now on the table in the form of a report with suggested goals and an outline of possible targets. Reactions have been cautiously positive or positively enthusiastic both on this blog (here and here) and elsewhere (see for... Read More