SAGA Progress Report - West Africa

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SAGA Progress Report
April, 2004

II. RESEARCH
F. West Africa

1. Senegal– Education and Vulnerability

Activities over the past six months

The previous six months was dedicated to the implementation of the household, community, and school surveys, including the data entry and cleaning, described in previous reports. The file preparation is in its final stages. Overall, the efforts involved in conducting this large and uniquely comprehensive survey were a major accomplishment. It involved over eight trips for the SAGA research team to Dakar in the past year, and approximately one person year of our team being on site during this period. In addition, numerous Senegalese institutions were engaged, as were some 50 numerators and supervisors. We have now begun to analyze the data, in conjunction with our various partners in Senegal and France.

Activities anticipated over the next six months

Over the next six months we will work with our collaborators to conduct the analysis. The Centre de Recherche en Economie Appliquée (CREA), Cornell University- USAID, the Institut National de la Recerche Agronomique, Paris (INRA), the World Bank, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Education are planning two large conferences with a broad range of stakeholders, researchers, and policy-makers in the next year to disseminate the research results. We had originally planned on the conference taking place in April, but we have run into various problems in terms of data cleaning and financing of those costs. We are now on schedule for an original discussion and conference in June 2004, followed by a larger meeting in September, 2004.

2. Community Schools and Distance Learning

Activities over the past six months

We are pursuing two major research themes: 1) distance education and its application for teacher training in Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa; and 2) community/non-formal schools in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. The scholars/researchers have enthusiastically endorsed the multidisciplinary approach and cross-national focus for comparison of research methods, process and results; sharing results; and building teams (institutions inside and across country).

Because of the political situation in Côte d’Ivoire, it has been difficult to start the studies as both themes include Côte d’Ivoire (e.g., community schools to be studied in occupied zones). Thus, the comparative approach of simultaneous studies has been dropped. Required sponsorship of SISERA member institutions creates additional burden and bureaucracy, diminishes the relative importance of the budget for each study and incentive to invest the time to pursue the research. The format of cooperation between SISERA institutions and non-SISERA institutions to carry out a research has not been practically set.

Côte d’Ivoire

Between February and April 2004, drafts/preliminary versions of four proposals have been submitted. They all require considerable work for revision before they can be submitted for consideration for funding. Feedback will by finalized by May 10, and fully developed proposals for consideration are expected by May 31. The four proposals are:

Centre Ivoirien de Recherche Economique et Sociale (CIRES) Proposals:
Les Dépenses Publiques d’Éducation et la Croissance Économique en Côte d’Ivoire: Une Analyse de Cointégration—by Dr. N’Zué Félix Fofana (project coordinator), Dr. Sobia Aïssata, Dr. Nahoua Touré, and Dr. Miaman Koné with Kpan Clément and Yaya Ouattara as research assistants.

Education et Pauvreté en Côte d’Ivoire—by Dr. Nahoua Touré (project coordinator), Dr. Kouadio Bénié Marcel, Dr. Sobia Camara Aïssata with Diallo Souleymane, Koudou Claude, Eric/Bongué Mamadou as research assistants.

Financement de l’Education en Afrique dans un Contexte de Mondialisation: Une Approche par les Ong de Côte d’Ivoire—by Professors Sylla Kalilou, Kablan Cléopâtre, Diallo Souleymane, and Seka-Brou Télesphore.

Joint CIRES — Centre d’Education à Distance—Côte d’Ivoire (CED-CI) Proposal:
Enseignement à Distance en Côte d’Ivoire—by Professor Sylla Kalilou (CIRES) and Dr. Kouassi Yao (CED-CI).

Senegal

A team of three researchers is being constituted and will be composed of one researcher from CREA to be designated/recommended by the Director of CREA; Mamadou Mara, Direction de L’Alphabétisation et de l’Education de Base, Ministère de l’Enseignement Technique, del a Formation Professionnelle, de L’Alphabétisation et des Langues Nationales, Senegal; and Marieme Lo, Ph.D candidate at Cornell University.

South Africa

A proposal is being written by Professor Philip Higgs of the University of South Africa (UNISA). The nature of collaboration between UNISA and DPRU, the SISERA institution, has yet to be functionally established. The Director of DPRU, Professor Haroon Bhorat, has proposed that a DPRU researcher in the field of education be invited to initiate and conduct a study as well.

Activities anticipated over the next six months

As the studies are completed, we expect to arrange a conference to present the results.

For both areas of research—distance education and community schools—we plan a longitudinal study and application (in regular and post-conflict context).

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