Working Group on Education Research and Policy Analysis back a page | next page The Working Group on Education Research and Policy Analysis (WGER/PA) was created in 1989 to bridge the gap between the generation of research knowledge and its utilization in the policy-making process. The working group is composed of African ministries fo education, universities, research networks and development agencies. Universities include the University of Cape Town in South Africa, the University of Botswana as well as the Association of African Universities (AAU). African research networks comprise the Educational; Research Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ERNESA) and the Educational Research Network for Western and Central Africa (ERNWACA). The International Development and Research Centre (IDRC) acts as a lead agency for the working group. What are the objectives of the working group? The general objective of the working group is to provide policy makers and educational practitioners with empirical evidence to guide them in the elaboration of sound policies and viable programs providing not only basic literacy skills, but also the technical training and savoir-faire allowing African populations to manage their own affairs and perpetuate development into the 21st century. The working group's specific goals include promoting the use of research findings and knowledge in policy formation and implementation, opening channels of communication between producers and consumers of research and encouraging research and policy analysis by African researchers, education research networks and funding agencies. The working group also functions as an arena for dialogue and exchange between researchers and policy makers. Strategy In 1996, the working group's members recognized the need for a radical change in orientation and thus, decided to embark upon a comprehensive review of research and policy analysis of specific, priority issues to be identified in consultation with African ministers of education, education practitioners and other stakeholders. The WGER/PA's strategy is to review research findings on these critical issues and make their conclusions available to ministers of education, policy-makers and other stakeholders. What does the working group do? The activities of the working group are demand-driven, that is, they are identified by consensus as being relevant and topical by those who need them most, i.e. African ministers and education practitioners. In 1996, at the request of African ministers and educational planners, the working group prepared a synopsis highlighting relevant research findings and policy experiences pertaining to national languages of instruction. The question of local languages of instruction continues to be a pressing issue which has yet to be reslved in many African countries. Case studies portray the past and present situations in Botswana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania and other countries in the world. Factors investigated include historical, sociological and linguistic environments, psycholinguistic aspects, language attitudes, curriculum development, learning materilas as well as ingredients influencing successful policy implementation. Other topics to be investigated in coming years will be determined in consultation with African ministers and educational planners. The WGER/PA emphasizes that the choise of any issue of focus will depend on its policy relevance, topicality and the probabilities of the research findings being used in the process of educational change. Hence, policy meetings are organized by the working group to maintain dialogue with policy makers, researchers, funding agencies and other stakeholders so as to ensure the pertinence and usefulness of its activities. Themes which are currently under consideration are the privatization of education and environmental education. Publications Aids and Higher Education by Edward K. Mburugu, 1994 The Status of Educational Research and Policy Analysis in sub-Saharan Africa* by Katherine Namuddu and J.M. Sibry Tapsoba, 1993. Languages of Instruction - Policy Implications for Education in Africa (1997) How to contact the working group: Working Group Leader: Sibry Tapsoba IDRC/Division des Sciences sociales Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop B.P. 11007 CD Annexe Dakar, Senegal Tel: (221) 824 09 20/824 42 31 Fax: (221) 825 32 55 E-mail: stapsoba@idrc.org.sn

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