Search

In this commentary, we reflect on progress made in tracking progress towards two targets associated with the education Sustainable Development Goal, namely on global citizenship education (4.7), and on teachers (4c). We highlight that both these targets suffer from problems in their final design, with the global citizenship target becoming a 'residual target', and 4c becoming narrowly focused on the supply of teachers. In both cases, the core intention of the targets has become lost in translation into indicators, with a focus on inputs rather than outcomes. Notably, attention to equity, which is at the heart of the goal overall, and key to quality learning, has become missing in this translation. In going forward, we argue for a need for meaningful participation beyond technical experts in the articulation of both targets and indicators simultaneously, and importantly shifting the focus from institutions in the global North. • The SDG4 Global citizenship education and teacher targets are poorly framed. • Equity as core SDG4 has been lost in the framing of indicators. • Current Indicators are focused on inputs rather than outcomes. • Meaningful participation in the articulation of targets and indicators is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a large-scale household survey, we investigate how disparities in learning change over the primary school cycle. Even controlling for other factors, household wealth and parental schooling drive sizeable gaps in learning, increasing in magnitude over the school grades. Gender gaps also widen, although only among the poorest. In contrast to other countries, overage status is positively associated with learning early on, but its importance dissipates by later grades. While the importance of factors varies across states, household wealth predominates. The analysis highlights the importance of tackling disadvantage associated with poverty early, to avoid its effects on learning becoming entrenched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst those engaged in devising post-2015 education targets, there is general agreement on the centrality of quality. However, there is greater debate on whether the quality of education can and should be measured by learning outcomes. Even if learning outcomes are viewed as an appropriate measure, what type of outcomes should be measured? Offering lessons from the goals that were set in 2000, this article highlights the importance of making sure goals and targets are clear and measurable, and put equity at their heart. From a rights-based perspective, the paper proposes tracking progress towards a universal target that, at a minimum, ensures that all children, regardless of circumstance, complete primary school and achieve the basics in reading and mathematics. The paper illustrates the importance of adopting a ‘stepping-stones’ approach to ensure that no one is left behind by 2030, with interim targets that assess progress for the most disadvantaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this case study is to describe clinical staff perceptions of implementing a person-centred model of nursing in an outpatient radiotherapy treatment department, using a Primary Nursing/Collaborative Practice framework. The questions are: 1) what are the nursing and radiotherapy staff perspectives of the changed model of care, 2) what factors impacted on aspects of the evolving model?, and 3) how was interdisciplinary collaboration influenced by the new model? Methods: An instrumental case study addressed the multiple perspectives of several radiotherapy health professionals, within a qualitative approach, to assess the new model of nursing care. Interview data were obtained from thirteen clinical staff over a six month period approximately one year after the model was implemented. Results: The new model supports nurses to work more closely with the individual patient, with some perceived positive patient outcomes. Nurses reported increased satisfaction with their work, more autonomy and responsibility, and improved working relationships with medical staff. They also became more aware of the holistic approach to support positive patient outcomes. However, this study acknowledged that education was required for nurses to provide holistic care, especially in the context of complex interdisciplinary relationships. Conclusions: A person-centred nursing approach in radiotherapy represents a radical change to the functional approach, providing some benefits for patients. However, the challenges of providing holistic care in the context of complex interdisciplinary relationships are evident, and this study acknowledges the importance of a team approach to addressing changes in practice in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the move towards achieving universal primary education, focus is increasingly shifting towards early childhood development. Within this, debates are apparent between those who view education at this stage holistically, with concern that it should not be directly linked with primary schooling, and those who view it more explicitly as contributing towards achieving universal primary completion by ensuring that children will be appropriately prepared for studying at this level. Moreover, it is apparent that views of different stakeholders vary. Evidence from Malawi indicates that national policies are closely linked with the international agenda, with a focus on holistic approaches. However, parents view pre-schooling in a narrower way, as an important step towards preparing their children for studying successfully at the primary level. Rather than considering this as parental ‘misunderstanding’, we argue that this perspective shows a greater awareness of local realities and is, therefore, more likely to support an escape from poverty. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Education is assumed to be an important influence on citizens’ understanding and endorsement of democracy, but whether this occurs in newly democratic societies with relatively low levels of educational provision is less clear. This paper explores the effect of education on understandings of and support for democratic government in Malawi—paying particular attention to the consequences of primary schooling, which remains the modal experience of Malawian voters. Analysis of a national survey indicates that primary schooling promotes citizen endorsement of democracy and rejection of non-democratic alternatives even when it has taken place under authoritarian rule, without explicit civic education. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) has evolved since the 2000 World Forum on Education for All at Dakar in recognition that, without support, some countries would not achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of Universal Primary Completion by 2015. A key question that emerges is whether the FTI can help the achievement of the goal. While it is evident that some progress has been made, the analysis suggests that problems remain. These include the omission from the FTI process of those countries most off-track; inappropriate choice of benchmarks used to allocate resources; and inadequate analysis of key demand-side issues. Importantly, despite considerable momentum surrounding the FTI, it is not yet evident that donors have met their side of the bargain of coordinating their activities and providing additional funds to ensure that no country will not be thwarted in the achievement of the MDG due to insufficient resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Following elections in 1994, the Government of Malawi embarked on an ambitious programme of free primary education (FPE), resulting in a dramatic increase in enrolment. The paper argues that the policy did not sufficiently consider the ways in which direct and indirect costs of schooling continue to be prohibitive for some households, or the effects that the expansion would have on quality. The relevance of education for the majority of children who receive only a few years of primary schooling is also questioned. The paper suggests that FPE might not be contributing to the achievement of poverty alleviation goals, as intended. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a crosscountry analysis of the impact of economic adjustment programs on female education. Decline in female enrollment rates; Gap between male and female enrollment rates.

• Research assesses learning in complementary education and school transition in Ghana. • Initial low learning is shown to be associated with subsequent low performance. • Boys are more likely than girls to escape the trap of low performance. • Greater support for most marginalised is needed in complementary and formal schools. This study examines the link between initial school performance on subsequent learning for marginalised children in the Complementary Basic Education programme in Northern Ghana. Specifically, we focus on whether initial low performance of girls and boys differentially affects learning trajectories. Drawing on longitudinal data, we find a significant association between initial and subsequent low performance as students transit into formal education, even after taking account of other potential factors. Boys are more likely than girls to improve from low attainment as they move into formal school. As such, girls are at particular risk of maintaining low levels of learning, and therefore warrant greater support within both complementary and mainstream schooling contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Following a national policy reform of early childhood education in Ethiopia, the enrolment rate increased from 5 percent in 2010 to 46 percent in 2016. • Following this large-scale expansion of early childhood education, we find that inequalities in preschool access persisted with respect to a child's geographical location, gender, age. • Parental literacy plays a significant role in determining preschool participation in both 2010 and 2016. • After the expansion, preschool participation is significantly and positively associated with children's early reading skills in primary schools. In Ethiopia, major policy reforms to increase equitable access to pre-primary education were instigated in 2010, leading to a surge in pre-primary school enrolment. This paper investigates the effects of the expansion on who gets access to pre-primary education and on readiness for primary school. We find that inequalities in pre-primary access between advantaged and disadvantaged regions of the country persist following the reforms, with girls less likely to attend school, particularly in more disadvantaged regions. More than half of children enrolled in pre-primary classrooms are below the official age of 6 years. Children from more advantaged backgrounds (those whose parents are literate, have reading materials at home, and live in urban areas) are more likely to participate in pre-primary schools both before and after the reform. Yet pre-primary education could play a role in equalizing opportunities in primary school: we find pre-primary participation to be positively associated with children's reading skills in Grades 2 and 3 of primary school after the expansion. These findings highlight the need to focus policy attention on efforts to reduce barriers to pre-primary access for children in disadvantaged circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted treatment education for cancer patients has the potential to promote adjustment through assisting patients to participate in treatment decision making, comply with treatment regimens and cope more effectively with treatment side effects. A quasi-experimental longitudinal pre-test post-test and follow-up design was used to assess the effect of a patient education video about radiation therapy on patients’ psychological distress, knowledge about radiation therapy, self-efficacy about coping with treatment and physical symptoms. Patients with head and neck (n=26) and breast cancer (n=66) were recruited into the study and allocated into control and intervention groups. No significant differences were found between the control and intervention groups on any of the outcome variables. However, patients in the intervention group reported high levels of satisfaction with the video and all reported that they would recommend the video to other patients preparing for radiation therapy. As well, 90% of patients in the intervention group reported that some or all of the information in the video was new to them. Education materials that have excellent face validity and that are well received by patients may fail to produce significant change using standard controlled study designs. Future research in this area may need to consider alternative paradigms for evaluating the helpfulness of such materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• We model foundational literacy trajectories from complementary education into government schools. • At the point of transition into government schools, children who moved into a different language of instruction did not perform as well in literacy. • Those who transitioned into another local language were able to catch up after one year in government schools. However, those who transitioned into English did not. • To achieve sustained literacy for all children, local language should feature prominently in instruction in government schools. This paper presents evidence on literacy trajectories for children in Ghana who enrolled in a Complementary Basic Education programme taught in mother tongue and transitioned into government schools. At the point of transition, we find that children who enrolled in government schools where the language of instruction differed from instruction in their mother tongue did not perform as well in literacy. After a year in government schools, those taught in another local language caught up. By contrast, those who transitioned into English did not. Our evidence reinforces the benefits of mother tongue and local language instruction for progress in literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel approach to comparing ECE financing systems across Ethiopia, Liberia, and Mainland Tanzania. • While ECE is a policy priority in these three countries, this commitment is not aligned with the allocation of funding. • Moreover, government, schools, and households are not aligned on which children should be prioritised for ECE. • This has led to more children being enrolled than planned for by government, further exacerbated underfunding. • Systems based approach can help to anticipate outcomes of ECE underfunding. This article assesses the financing of early childhood education (ECE) in three resource-constrained contexts: Ethiopia, Liberia, and Mainland Tanzania. Based on an analysis of policy documents and education administrative data, as well as surveys with key policymakers, school principals, and parents, it identifies that ECE is seen as a national priority in government policies across the three countries. However, this commitment is not aligned with the allocation of sufficient financial resources by each of the governments, which are extremely low in all three countries. This misalignment is associated with inequitable resource allocation, further reinforcing gaps in access to quality ECE between more advantaged and disadvantaged populations within the countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]