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The quality of education can be addressed in four components

1. Teaching and learning practices

2. Learning environment

3. Resources and materials

4. Investing in teachers

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Nations monitor academic achievement and the success of policy implementation with the usage of national and international tests

Challenges
•    Inappropriate use of test results can lead to political groups marginalizing low performing communities
•    Publishing comparisons of international tests can discourage poorer countries
•    Participation in large-scale assessments is costly for developing countries
•    Assessments don’t suit all nations’ circumstances

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National Tests
•    Purpose: to analyze and influence policy implementation, reveal education disparities between socio-economic groups, and assess student acquisition of basic skills
•    Aimed towards grades 4-6
•    Assessments are curriculum-based and subject-oriented with a significant focus on language and math

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International Tests
•    Data from international tests allow for the assessment of national progress towards eliminating inequity
•    Supports education policy design
•    Results influence instructional reform

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Effective teaching strategies that improve the quality of education:

Interactive classrooms that utilize pair/group work, peer tutoring, student feedback, and technology

Teaching in local languages

Lesson planning

Learner-centered pedagogy

Promote critical thinking

International agencies believe a learned-centered approach increases civic engagement

Challenges

·      Lack of teachers trained in effective teaching strategies

·      Large class size and small classrooms make it difficult and time consuming to implement a learner-centered approach

·      Learner-centered approach conflicts with traditional beliefs of teacher-student relationships

·      Lack of textbooks in local languages

·      In developing countries, access to technology is limited

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Child-friendly school model

Created by UNICEF and other bodies of the United Nations

Emphasizes that school is a safe and inclusive environment that involves students, parents, and the community

Enhances equity and overcomes disadvantages, especially in ethnic minority communities

Instructional time

More instructional time enhances learning and increases exposure to information

International agencies recommend 850-1000 hours of school per year

Challenges

In developing countries, instructional time is lost due to in-service training, teacher absenteeism, armed conflict, and strikes

Loss of instructional time in public schools pushes parents to enroll their children in private schools

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•    Locally recruited teachers positively impact learning
•     Policymakers need to attract and retain educated teachers to maintain quality education
•    Governments can improve the status of teachers by:

Increasing salaries

Requiring university degrees and certification

Implementing induction and mentoring programs for new teachers

Challenges

Developing countries tend to have a large teacher/student ratio

Schools hire unqualified people to increase the number of teachers

Inequality of trained teachers in advantaged and disadvantaged communities

Large-scale recruitment programs employ contract teachers who have poorer working conditions, lower salaries, and a higher turnaround rate than permanent teachers.

Hiring contract teachers reduces government spending on education in compliance with structural adjustment requirements

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•    Student-centered textbooks improve achievement
•    The international community supports textbook distribution in developing countries
•    Textbook production recently shifted from state agencies to public-private partnerships
•    There has been an increase in the discussion of human rights and environmental topics in textbooks

Challenges
•    Access to updated textbooks
•    Not enough textbooks per student
•    Teachers hoard textbooks in fear of future budgets cuts and lack of supplies