DOHA - The educationists and the policy makers involved in the UNESCO-sponsored Education for All (EFA) programme are facing a series of challenges in meeting their 2015 target in the conflict and post-conflict zones in the Arab region.
A round table at the third plenary session of the ongoing Regional Conference for the Arab States on Mid-Term Review of EFA found the challenges varied from the ennui of political leadership to the internal unrest within the respective nations.
The members from Yemen said the 2015 EFA target was facing many road blocks in that country. "Strong advocacy is needed in the political leadership in Yemen. We often find it difficult to convince the rival political forces that education is important for the country," an educationist from Yemen said.
She underpinned the need for political leadership and educationists coming together to meet the EFA target.
"There are attacks on students, teachers, schools and the media that reports these attacks. These are the crises that we face in our nation," said the representative from another Arab country. "Without the support of political leadership, we cannot move forward," he said.
The policy makers are also finding it difficult in getting data from government agencies in the conflict zones.
An expert from Palestine said 50 per cent of educational problems are related to the issue of 'Occupation'. "Without addressing this issue the EFA programme will not yield its desired effect. The international agencies, who are pumping in money for the education in this region must also address this political question," he said.
Meanwhile, as the EFA programme crosses the midway point projections for countries with relevant data suggest that without further acceleration 58 of the 86 countries will not achieve the target set by UNESCO. Seventy two out of 101 countries will not succeed in halving their adult literacy rates by 2015. Only 18 of the 113 countries that missed the gender parity goal at primary and secondary level in 2005 will achieve it by 2015, the mid term review of global monitoring document of EFA says.
"Across the world more than 18 million new teachers will need to be employed by 2015. Sub-Saharan Africa faces the greatest challenge. The stock of teachers will have to increase from 2.4 million in 2004 to 4 million in 2015, in addition to the 2.1 million new teachers required to replace those leaving the teaching workforce." the document continues.
© The Peninsula 2008
