During 1998 the Working Group on Finance and Education (WGFE) focused on three key elements: training, research, workshops and seminars. Besides building awareness of issues related to the financing of education, the WGFE also improved communication among researchers and staff from the ministries of education and finance. Finally, it helped create a network that brought together some forty experts on education and finance from twenty African countries.
Training
The methodological seminars organized by the WGFE brought to light the need to strengthen national members' theoretical knowledge in the realm of educational finance and the management of education. To this end, a training seminar was organized during March 1998 for members of the National Working Group. Some 20 members of the national teams as well as high-level staff from the Cameroonian and Ugandan ministries of education participated. The following topics were discussed: financing of education; the budgetary process; and evaluation of funding needs for education. The seminar hoped to give participants better control over the tools and research methods used for planning budgets and financing education. Seminar documents are available from the Working Group.
Research
- Literature review
One of the first tasks of the Working Group set itself was to conduct a survey of the literature documenting the various finance mechanisms existing in Africa as well as the financial management systems applied. Completed in 1998, the survey is called A Review of the Literature, Policies, Procedures and Strategies for Allocating Resources for Education in sub-Saharan Africa. It describes the budgetary practices of various African countries as well as different experiments in financing and sharing costs for primary and secondary schooling. The survey is available in English and French.
- Country case studies
Case studies conducted in six countries (Benin, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, Swaziland and Tanzania) are now being finalized. They highlight the policies, practices and mechanisms of financing education in each country, as well as ties existing between ministries of education and finance for the planning and implementation of educational budgets. Preliminary reports have been produced and results disseminated by the national teams in their respective countries. Initial conclusions reveal the following trends: that the percentage of state budget going to education varies between 15 and 30%; that teachers' salaries represent a major portion of public spending for education: they make up 90 to 95% of public spending at primary level, 70 to 80% at secondary level, and 60 to 70% at tertiary level. These figures explain why so little is left over for teaching materials. The results also show that both parents and the community are major financial contributors at primary and secondary level. As for intrasectoral spending, it is clear that the State spends 10 to 20 times more (depending on country) on a tertiary-level student than on a primary pupil. And this despite the priority given to primary schooling when allocating public resources for education.
Workshops and Seminars
At least two awareness-building and information workshops were held in each pilot country. These allowed political decision-makers and other actors involved in the financing of education to become acquainted with the studies and to discuss the preliminary results and recommendations. They helped build a closer sense of cooperation among the team members, the decision-makers and members of civil society.
Two technical workshops bringing together researchers, experts and WGFE's coordinator, were organized in June and August. The workshops enabled participants to agree on the methods and techniques used for calculation and analytical work. In August, a Regional Workshop on Financing and Budgeting for Education was organized in Mauritius. It brought together 40 participants from 18 African countries. The main purpose was to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and information about problems confronting African countries that are trying to improve their financial management of educational systems. Representatives from the case study pilot countries (Benin, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, Swaziland and Tanzania) presented their preliminary reports. Representatives from five additional countries (Burkina Faso, Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Zambia) presented related studies implemented with other funding agencies, as well as accounts of different experiments to reform and improve financial management of educational systems in their countries. The forum helped reinforce the PanAfrican network of professionals specialized in the financing of education.
The Forum helped reinforce
the PanAfrican network of professionals specialized in the financing
of education. A second Regional workshop will be organized soon to
present the final case study reports.
Rémy
Coffi Noumon
Coordinator of the Working Group on Finance and Education
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