|
SCHOOLCONSEM
IV
Fourth Sub-Saharan Regional Consultation on School
Construction
Improving the quality of construction, maintenance
and management of educational facilities
UNESCO/BREDA-Dakar
6-10 of February 2001
 What
is SCHOOLCONSEM IV ?
Within the framework of the Special UN Initiative
for Africa (UNSIA) and in follow-up to the EFA 2000
Forum in Dakar, the UNESCO Regional Office for Education
in Dakar, Senegal (UNESCO/BREDA-Dakar) organized
with the support of the Africa Human Development
Department of the World Bank (AFTHD) through the
Norwegian Education Trust Fund a regional consultation
on school construction and equipment - SCHOOLCONSEM
IV - that took place in Dakar from 6-10 February
2001.
The meeting focused on the creation and management
of quality physical facilities for basic education
(primary schools, first cycle of secondary schools,
non-formal education, life long education and literacy
support centres etc.) in sub-Saharan Africa.
Attention was given to such concerns as : safe
grounds and buildings, the provision of a healthy
learning environment (e.g., water, sanitation, electricity),
comfortable school furniture, provision and production
of teaching and learning materials and supplies,
etc.
Inspired by the recommendations of the World Education
Forum (Dakar 26-28 April 2000), the central theme
of SCHOOLCONSEM IV was :
"Community involvement in the improvement of
educational facilities and learning environments"
 Purpose
of SCHOOLCONSEM IV
SCHOOLCONSEM IV was a bilingual consultation (English-French)
designed to enhance the visibility of efforts made
in Sub-Saharan Africa towards the improvement of
the teaching and learning environment.
The specific objectives were:
- Understanding the issues and concerns in the
provision of facilities for education, such as
: increasing access to schools and other educational
establishments where facilities are inadequate
or lacking ; enhancing functionality of classrooms
and learning spaces ; ensuring minimum learner
comfort and healthy conditions ; provision of
durable and comfortable furniture ; and assuring
the availability of teaching and learning materials,
and
- Identification of steps that can be taken by
Stakeholders (e.g., Ministries of Education, parent
associations, NGOs, Community-Based Organisations
(CBOs), individuals, etc.) to address these problems.
Particular focus will be given to the process
of decentralisation and the accountability of
the management structures at the "grassroots"
level.
Invited partners and other
contributors
- Users and managers of educational facilities
: e.g. Parent and Teacher Associations (PTAs),
CBOs, etc...
- Educational planners and professionals
- Educational facilities architects and producers
of school furniture
- Producers of teaching and learning materials
(Educational industries)
- Donors, UN agencies, NGOs
 The
programme
The programme of this meeting covered 5 working
days.
- Day one : Experience of the users and managers
of educational facilities
- Day two : Experience of educational planners
and professionals including teachers, literacy
workers and facilitators ; Dialogue and field
visits to educational facilities ;
- Day three : Experience of educational facilities
architects, furniture producers, School Construction
Units, teaching/learning materials manufacturers
; Identification of action projects
- Day four : Experience of donors, United Nations
agencies and NGOs involved with educational facilities
; Mobilising donor support
- Day five : The way ahead : Conclusions and recommendations
Expected outcomes
- Identification of actions to be undertaken to
improve the quality of educational facilities
- Design and development of specific and realistic
interventions
- Mobilising resources for concrete actions
- Setting up a network of concerned parties
|
