UN: Don’t just blame the Teacher when system at fault
Don’t just blame the teacher when the system is at fault, says UNESCO
Paris 24 October – UNESCO’s 2017/8 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report highlights the responsibility of governments to provide universal quality education and stresses that accountability is indispensable in achieving this goal. The Report, released today, warns that disproportionate blame on any one actor for systemic educational problems can have serious negative side effects, widening inequality and damaging learning.
“Education is a shared responsibility between us all– governments, schools, teachers, parents and private actors,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.“Accountability for these responsibilities defines the way teachers teach, students learn, and governments act. It must be designed with care and with the principles of equity, inclusion and quality in mind.”
Accountability in education: meeting our commitments, the second in the GEM Report series, which monitors progress towards the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goal for Education (SDG4), looks at the different ways people and institutions can be held accountable for reaching that goal, including regulations, testing, monitoring, audits, media scrutiny, and grass root movements.
The Report demonstrates that blaming teachers for poor test scores and absenteeism is often both unjust and unconstructive. It show, for example, that nearly half of teacher absenteeism in Indonesia in 2013/14 was due to excused time for study for which replacements should have been provided. Similarly, in Senegal, only 12 of the 80 missed school days in 2014 were due to teachers avoiding their responsibilities. People cannot be held accountable for outcomes that depend on the actions of others.
“Using student test scores to sanction teachers and schools makes it more likely they will adjust their behaviour to protect themselves, which may mean leaving the weakest learners behind,” explains Manos Antoninis, Director of the GEM Report.“Accountability must start with governments. If a government is too quick to apportion blame to others, it is deflecting attention away from its own responsibility for creating a strong, supportive education system.”
Whereas transparency would help identify problems, only one in six governments publish annual education monitoring reports. Strong independent bodies such as ombudsmen, parliaments and audit institutions are also needed to hold governments to account for education.
Lack of accountability opens the door to corruption. In the European Union in 2009-2014, 38% of education and training tenders only had one bidder, compared to 16% of tenders in the construction sector, indicating that the risk of corruption is higher in education than in the building industry.
Setting and enforcing regulations ranging from contract tendering to teacher qualifications are also crucial, argues the Report. Fewer than half of low and middle-income countries had standards for early childhood education and just a handful had mechanisms to monitor compliance. There are no regulations on class sizes in almost half of countries.
Government regulations are often too slow to keep up with the fast growth of private schools and universities. In Lagos, Nigeria, only 26% of private schools in 2010/2011 had been approved by the State Ministry of Education. In countries with weak accreditation processes, thousands of students graduate with unrecognized degrees. In Kenya and Uganda, private schools were operating without qualified teachers and with inadequate infrastructure before regulations were put in place and courts shut them down.
There needs to be better regulation of private tutoring, due to be worth over 200 billion by 2020 as a global industry, and a practice that is widening the education gap between rich and poor. In India, in 2007/08 about 40% of urban secondary students received private tutoring, compared with about 26% of rural students. Better-educated households in urban areas with children attending private schools were more likely to pay for private tutoring (Azam, 2016).
Accreditation of private higher education institutions also needs to be better regulated. India has about 1 million rural medical practitioners who are not graduates of accredited schools. Government and court records showed that, between 2010 and 2015, at least 69 of the 398 medical colleges and teaching hospitals had been accused of rigging entrance examinations or accepting bribes to admit students. The regulator recommended closing 24 of the colleges (Clark, 2015).
Where formal mechanisms fail, citizens play a vital role in holding governments to account for meeting their right to education. In Colombia, a citizens’ campaign successfully challenged the government in court leading to the establishment of free education. In the United States, parents and media successfully lobbied for the removal of climate change denial from textbooks, and students in South Africa were able to halt university tuition hikes.
The Report emphasizes the importance of accountability in addressing gaps and inequalities. Globally, less than 20% of countries legally guarantee 12 years of free and compulsory education. There are 264 million children and youth out of school and 100 million young people currently unable to read. In India, a quarter are not completing lower secondary education, there are 266 million adults and 33 million young people unable to read (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
The Report cites an accountability vacuum with donors not delivering on their aid commitments for those in need. The share of aid to education has fallen for six years in a row. At the same time, donors increasingly demand that in exchange for aid, countries achieve results that sometimes divert energy away from systemic improvements in the education system.
No approach to accountability will be successful without a strong enabling environment that provides actors with adequate resources, capacity, motivation and information to fulfil their responsibilities. The Report calls on governments to:
- Design accountability for schools and teachers that is supportive and avoid punitive mechanisms, especially those based on narrow performance measures.
- Allow for democratic participation, respect media freedom to scrutinize education and set up independent institutions to handle complaints.
- Develop credible and efficient regulations with associated sanctions for all education providers, public and private, that ensure non-discrimination and the quality of education.
- Make the right to education justiciable, which is not the case in 45% of countries.
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Media contact Kate Redman on 0033 671786234 k.redman@unesco.org
Notes to Editors
Join in the conversation online @GEMReport / #CountOnMe #GEM2017
The Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report) is developed by an independent team and published by UNESCO. It has the official mandate of monitoring progress in meeting theSustainable Development Goals for education.
World Education Blog / Educación Mundial Blog
Kate Redman
Communications and Advocacy Specialist
Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report), UNESCO
(: +33 (0) 1 45 68 05 75 (: Port/Mob +33 (0)671786234 @rougewoman
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BJP Sinking Ship
Imperial ordinance of Rani Vasundhara Raje: Hangs The nation in shame? But she still thinks she is Queen:
Raje ordinance is an illegal act against Constitution of India. Raises Qs ,Gov, President, PM, ThyWisdom, Is BJP sinking ship now?, By self inflicted acts.
Raje govt refers black bill to House panel: Facing flak from various quarters, the Rajasthan government today referred a controversial bill, which seeks to protect public servants and judges from prosecution without its prior sanction, to a select committee of the assembly.
Amid uproar from the opposition Congress, the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill was tabled in the assembly by Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria yesterday to replace an ordinance promulgated on September 7.
At the beginning of the Question Hour today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore informed the House that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had held a meeting of ministers last night to discuss the bill and that the home minister would apprise the House of the development.
The home minister said that prior approval of the President was sought before introducing the ordinance in September. Independent MLA Manik Chand Surana had yesterday raised the point that no approval of the President was attached with the bill.
Regarding GST
Several opposition parties today announced that they would observe November 8, the first anniversary of demonetisation, as ‘Black Day’ and would hold protests across the country to highlight its “ill-effects” on the economy.
Announcing the decision at a joint press conference of the opposition coordination committee, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “This particular announcement made on November 8 is the scam of the century, which is why we are observing this as Black Day.”
He described the note-ban decision as the NDA government’s “most ill-conceived and hasty decision”.
“One can say this is a scam of the century. Eighteen political parties have decided to hold protests in every state in their capacity against the government’s decision which caused hardship to the people. Never ever in the world people have died because of a government policy,” Azad said.
Why BJP Sinking Ship ?
When Modi government is in midst of global recession and making imperative efforts to stay afloat the dashing economy, the poor managed demonetization and GST made severe adverse impact in corporate world, thus nosedives the GDP.
Modi government was struggling in Ministryskill to develop more employments but the concerned ministry fail to strike gold in this category of halo ministry with plethora of promises.Unemployment cross 8 millions touching 10 millions, with evey additional year pass half a million unemployed added.Corporate manufacturing structure in its slots of cost saving with automation and social security at its ebb the corporate investing in Alternate intelligence startup around the world brings Skillmin to harp on haze.
Synergy coordination nowhere for skill to develop the Skillministry after the change explored the new skipper, inexperience of skills but an eloquent speaker resorts to Greek and Latin, instead of skill thus employment government priority is in shelved in limbo or in shambles.
To get over the business of unemployment when media and other statistical organisation gave figure surging. Social media and opposition cried wolves then uprising in government with news diction of entrepreneur came to light. The Startup, ssi unit, new enterprise an entrepreneur in offing ,Government plundered the slogans and gave figure of 20K new Ssi units which are in actual the decimals of decimals and those winding-up entrepreneur in geometrical progression.
The government in its anxiety of unemployment hold the service sector on rise and paying dividend to let national economy move, this digital garb was again thrashed its lifeline by directing orders to curtailed cash flow switch to digital cash flow in the poor country where people live below 50$ per month capita, the small units exodus was imminent and millions of units exodus erupted, market reached levels of stagflation, cash crunch in policies and action poor or nil ,put economy in lame duck. Those understand business went in peel of laughter,the laughing stock of government policy against people at large. Brand saffron party with difference trolled with ideas but the failed to implement on the ground said mindful men on streets. Drum beaters made lot of reasons to give credibility to the policies. The saffron fertile thinkers had next go,directed to put government slogan of startup bigger goal but with no concrete proposal the startup deep down the in deathwell.
Next best ideas, as per the constitution an excellent one, Last man at last mile to get the benefit, the Aanthuday ! could not found any taker, but infrastructure did well thus a reprieve to Last man. But last man asked how Long to wait?. Reply, Wait.
Ks of VIP need no punishment, government servants are the best among the best, with their self growth with systematic secure veil of touch me not. They know more than Public, busy schedule, gather personal gain, know all the business of business of governance.For them, who cares about last man.With demigod status to elite government servants not satisfied, formed with the elected biggy Nexus to play safe. New strategy of public servants, the design of these system followers babu’s look for Godhood status. The nation’s Constitution feel, its let down, Its people feel let down.
Let’s us all Judiciary, Media, CAG, EC ,masses go for deep slumber for another year 2019, when people has chance to vote the bipolar forces in India.
Look for another common man to give wisdom to this land of lusty greedy natives on sale-spree for personal gain.
Moot questions arises, Is the system so embedded or submerged or knee deep in corruptible practice in each action. Most of common man aspire, BJP party and it’s Leader needs to exhibit it’s Lotus like virtuous to keep Modi brand shine not lose its sheen or not dilute or vitiate.
Be reliable dependable to stay long to create cherish history inspiring for our future generation and not shameful as that of history of thousand years under foreign yoke.
Interesting tweets
I urge Vasundara to take back her ill fated Gag Bill. It is a sterile exercise&receive a rap from SC when the apex court strikes it down.
It is reliably learnt that Reliance Industries head Mukesh Ambani now owns more than 51% of the NDTV shares through his associated companies and trading funds.
He owns about that much in India Today TV and all of CNN News 18.
Besides all of the ETV bouquet. THE TOI’s Jain family owns Times Now, ET Now and Mirror
Now. Subhaschandra owns Zee and WION.
Then add all the Indian language channels owned by these groups.
We are now assured of a free and vigilant media and our democracy will flourish.
Ab tumhare hawala watan saathiyon…
FROM THE WALL OF Mohan Guruswamy
He owns about that much in India Today TV and all of CNN News 18.
Besides all of the ETV bouquet. THE TOI’s Jain family owns Times Now, ET Now and Mirror
Now. Subhaschandra owns Zee and WION.
Then add all the Indian language channels owned by these groups.
We are now assured of a free and vigilant media and our democracy will flourish.
Ab tumhare hawala watan saathiyon…
FROM THE WALL OF Mohan Guruswamy
Rajasthan, amid protest and pandemonium by opposition in Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, BJP government today sent the controversial criminal amendment bill, 2017 to select committee for review and reference till next session of the House. However, Opposition parties and some legislators of the ruling party demanded that the government withdraw the bill altogether.
After the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s instructions to senior ministers yesterday evening, the government agreed to reconsider the bill. As the proceedings of the assembly began today, Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria made his statement on the bill amidst the protest of opposition members. He said that government is ready to reconsider the controversial provisions of the bill.
He proposed to send the bill to the Select Committee by next session, which was accepted by the house. since past few days government was under deep pressure of opposition parties and other organisations on this controversial bill. Not only the opposition but also some members of the ruling party, the media organizations, the bar association and many more organizations are opposing this bill.
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