Challenges and Prospects of Alternative Basic Education Established by International Nongovernmental Organizations: The Case of Amhara and Oromia Regions
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Date
2009-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The mall1 pwpose of this study was to make an assessment of the Challenges and
Prospects of Alternative Basic Education by International Non Governmental
Organizations in the Amhara and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia. The study employed a
descriptive survey method. Questionnaires, focus group discussion, key informant
discussion and consultation of secondary data sources were used for data collection. Both
random and purposive sampling was used to select sample respondents of the study at
different levels. Regional, zonal and woreda Education offices of Amhara and Oromia
regions , Country and project offices of sample INGOs and woreda administrations,
capacity building and Finance offices were subjects of the study. Both qualitative and
quantitative techniques were used for data analysis. Finally the study came up with the
following major findings: ABE has improved access to basic education; quality of
education was improved through improvements in the input side (textbook, training of
ABE facilitators, community awareness raising, and capacity building at woreda levels);
INGOs provided financial and teclmical support to woreda;, improved policy
environment through advocacy; and the program was cost-effective for it used local
resources available. However, its sustainability seems threatened by factors like less
flexibility of the program in practice, less effort of woredas on finding alternative
mechanisms of financing the program, relatively lower quality of education, high staff
tum over, and high student dropout rates. In conclusion, the ABE program by INGOs
has been contributing significantly towards achieving the MDG goals complementing the
formal education system through creating access opportunity, improving quality and
enhancing local capacity. Given the low net emolment rate in primary education, there is
a need to enhance the cooperation further. There seems good policy framework which
should be translated into practice through allocating adequate budget and other resources.
On the other hand the program faces challenges of poor quality mainly linked to the
capacity of teachers, limited institutional capacity related to human power, allocating
budget, and using local resources. This demands further advocacy engagement with local
governments from the INGOs.
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Keywords
Prospects of Alternative Basic Education