Parent Associations constitute new structures of civil society in Francophone Africa. Although they are still fragile, they have positioned themselves as guardians of democracy due to their efforts to maintain meaningful dialogue and consultation with all stakeholders in education: national authorities, teachers and teacher associations, development agencies, economic operators and other actors.
The Sub-Regional Seminar on Parents' Support to Education for All and Girls' Enrollment, which was organized by the African Federation of Parent Associations (FAPE) in collaboration with the World Bank, confirmed the emergence of parents as a rising force in education development. The Seminar enabled participants to know more about FAPE and Parent Associations and to propose concrete activities to strengthen their action at national level.
In most countries, financial constraints have led to the increasing involvement of parents in schools. Parent Associations (composed of parents having at least one child enrolled in school) have made important contributions to support school operations (classroom maintenance, supplies and teaching materials, security and employment costs, etc.) and, in some cases, the construction of new classrooms.
In 1995, Parent Associations from fourteen countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo) met in Brazzaville to constitute an African Federation of Parent Associations (FAPE). Since its first Congress held in Ouagadougou in January 1998, the Federation, based in Brazzaville, has been recognized as a negotiating party by education development organizations.
FAPE recently adopted a formal declaration on "Parents' Support Towards Education for All" (Le soutien des parents à l'éducation pour tous) which engages national, provincial and local Parent Associations of francophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa in the general movement launched by the Jomtien World Conference on Education for All. The declaration formally commits parents to join forces in support of schools, education -"which must become the motor of the African Renaissance"-, girls' enrollment and initiatives carried out on the continent for the creation of a new African school.
Parents as major partners in educational development
The Sub-Regional Seminar on Parents' Support to Education for All organized by FAPE and the World bank confirmed the emergence of parents as a rising force in educational development. The seminar was held at the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), the host institute of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).
The seminar was attended by approximately sixty participants, including members of FAPE and Parent Associations as well as representatives of development agencies and NGOs. The seminar provided an opportunity to engage in a productive dialogue on the role of parents in furthering enrollment and bettering education. While this role was recognized, participants agreed that the action of parents could be more closely targeted and reinforced with the assistance of agencies.
Preferred areas of action for Parent Associations
The seminar focused on specific actions where Parent Associations have a comparative advantage over other institutions and operate with greater effectiveness:
- Lifting impediments and obstacles of all kinds that prevent families from enrolling girls in school as much as boys: Three projects from Burkina Faso, Guinea and Senegal were aimed at increasing girls' enrolment;
- Improving the learning environment: Teacher associations are envisaging the organization of extracurricular activities (assistance with lessons and assignments, supervised study hall facilities, access to reading materials, textbook distribution, etc.). FAPE proposes to carry out pilot activities in a limited number of schools for purposes of experimentation and evaluation before extending the initiative;
- Informing and teaching families through a "parents' school": The parents' school would be backed up by the media, namely local radio. The school would enable parents to address other parents in order to encourage them to enroll their children and become active in the promotion of education for all. Parallel to reforms, the challenges and issues of education would be discussed. FAPE plans to initiate a pilot experiment in a limited number of countries.
The need to reinforce FAPE capacities and enhance dialogue between FAPE, Parent Associations and agencies
Two prerequisites were deemed necessary to implement these actions under the right conditions: the first involved the strengthening of FAPE institutional, human and management capacities; the second was aimed at reinforcing dialogue and cooperation between agencies, FAPE and parent associations.
These actions will obviously be more effective if parent associations and FAPE are stronger and more efficient. With this in mind, FAPE has launched the development of a "Parents' Charter" in member countries aimed at providing an institutional framework that would come in support of: (i) partnerships between Parent Associations and educational authorities; (ii) the participation and involvement of parents within all bodies where education is discussed.
The seminar also agreed on the importance of strengthening parent associations by training local and provincial representatives, constituting networks and improving the circulation of information both within parent associations and from Parent Associations to the general public.
Furthermore, a project was presented, aimed at exploring the potential for community and Parent Association ownership of schools, which holds considerable interest for planners in the context of decentralization policies. Towards this end, a preliminary study will be carried out on terms and conditions for the devolution of school properties to Parent Associations in the context of partnership with the community and/or territorial bodies and educational authorities.
In order to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Parent Associations, each of the agencies attending the seminar explained their mode of operation. There was a general agreement on project eligibility that went beyond consideration of each agency's specific criteria. Projects must be cost-effective, demonstrate the advantages of execution by Parent Associations, and prove the sustainability of actions following an initial period of assistance.
The seminar offered participants an opportunity to get to know each other better and define priorities for the implementation of parents' support for education for all. Parents Associations in Francophone Africa represent a valuable potential which needs only to be organized to be more fully realized
Etienne Brunswic and Jean Valérien
FAPE Advisers
For a copy of the report of the seminar, please contact:
FAPE
c/o Action Education
43, rue Thiers
92100 Boulogne Billancourt
Tel: 01 41 41 94 94
Fax: 01 41 41 97 11
The report will also be available on the following Web Site: www:francophonie.org/Fape
FAPE African Federation of National Parent Associations
FAPE was created in January 1995, in Brazzaville, at a meeting gathering Parent Associations from 14 Francophone countries of sub-Saharan Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo.
The objectives of FAPE are: (i) to promote greater recognition of the essential role of parents, primary educators of children; and (ii) to lobby for greater representation of parents within institutions working towards the development of education.
FAPE publishes an information bulletin Nous les parents ("Us parents") which comes out twice a year.
The following initiatives have been carried out with the assistance of the French Ministry of Cooperation and UNESCO:
- A training program for professional staff of Parent Associations, which was held in two sessions (Paris 1996, Bamako 1997). The program produced a Guide for Parent Associations (Guide du responsable APE).
- The involvement of local Parent Associations in innovative actions, such as the maintenance of school libraries and the organization of extra-curricular educational activities.
- A project for the creation of a School of Parents.
FAPE Headquarters:
avenue Paul Doumer
B.P. 1113,
Brazzaville, Congo
Tel/Fax: (242) 81 49 96
President: M. Martin
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