Consolidating research quality to inform education policy and practice in Africa presented by Kathryn TOURE, Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA) Steering Committee Seminar of Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Follow-up to the quality exercise: the experience and role of Working Groups and regional networks in capacity building April 2004 Chavanne-de-Bogis, Switzerland

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Outline Who we are, where we’ve been –ERNWACA as a case study for consolidating research quality What we are doing, where we are going –An integrated approach to research Perspectives –Quality partnerships

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April ERNWACA WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE’VE BEEN PART I

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April VISION Give an African face to education in Africa MISSION Promote African expertise and culture of research to improve education policy and practice ROCARE - ERNWACA

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April ERNWACA NGO founded in 1989 in Freetown (sister network ERNESA founded in 1988) Regional vision and approach with 13 member countries Research priorities defined in the region, for the region 15 years of experience in transnational research and regional networking Sole bilingual (multilingual) network for educational research in West and Central Africa 250 member researchers From diverse institutional, professional and disciplinary backgrounds Linkages with national and regional institutions Participatory approach that involves researchers, government, civil society, and journalists Bringing critical perspectives to educational systems, for 2010 and beyond …

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April ROCARE Vision et approche régionale avec 13 pays membres Priorités de recherche définies dans la région pour la région 15 ans d’expérience dans la recherche transnationale et le réseautage régional Seul réseau bilingue (multilingue) pour la recherche en éducation en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre 250 chercheurs membres Profils institutionnels, professionnels et disciplinaires divers Liens de collaboration avec les institutions nationales et régionales Approche participative qui implique les chercheurs, le gouvernement, la société civile et les journalistes Perspectives critiques et indépendants sur nos systèmes éducatifs … pour l’éducation du 2020 et au delà …

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Member Countries / Pays Membres Bénin Burkina Faso Cameroun Côte d'Ivoire Gambie Ghana Guinée Mali Niger Nigeria Sénégal Sierra Leone Togo

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April NC* RC ERNWACA Networking structure NC 15 to 25 members National Coordinator National Coordinating Committee National Scientific Committee Board of Directors Regional Scientific Committee * National Coordination

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April ERNWACA objectives Research and training Advocacy and visibility Institutional development

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Objective area no. 1 RESEARCH and TRAINING Small Grants Program for Education Research National studies Transnational studies + research methods workshops

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Research Agenda, Quality of Instruction and Management of Teachers 2.Impact of HIV/AIDS on education systems and education response 3.Education in countries in crisis or conflict 4.Contribution of New Technologies to Education in Africa 5.Use of National Languages in Education 6.Sector Analysis: Reform processes, decentralization, community participation, private sector involvement 7.Beyond basic education: links to non-formal, TEVT, higher education … 8.INCORPORATE GENDER ANALYSIS – all themes

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Transnational studies HIV/AIDS & Education Community participation ICT & Education Decentralisation

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Objective area no. 2 ADVOCACY and VISIBILITY Ministry linkages ERNWACA Cafés Web site Peer-reviewed Journal of Education Research in Africa (JERA / RARE)

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Stimulating public and policy dialogue Critical Perspectives Regional Seminar on Education: Schooling and Skills Development from a Gender Perspective in West and Central Africa Organized by ERNWACA and Network for Policy Research Review and Advice on Education and Training (NORRAG) with support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) September 2004 Bamako, MALI  For researchers, policymakers, and practitioners  Review of UNESCO and World Bank publications from national and regional perspectives  Presentation and publication of 30 policy-oriented papers

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Promoting promising young scholars

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Enhancing research with ICTs

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Objective area no. 3 INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT Partnerships Endowment Fund for more financial autonomy Decentralization

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Research impact on policy and practice GHANA Sector analysis review for WGESA Report for Ghana Nat’l Education coalition ERNWACA-Ghana institutional development Documentation center at Ministry of Education Tool to campaign for more $ for basic education COTE D’IVOIRE Studies on obstacles to girls’ education Seminars with teacher unions on findings from HIV/AIDS research Policies that increased access in north of country Teachers training teachers on HIV/AIDS instruction

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Research impact on policy and practice BENIN / TOGO Study on vocational training Curriculum reforms for more congruence between theoretical and practical training and informal sector realities GAMBIA Peer review of Gambia College Tracer study of GTTI graduates Ongoing surveys of knowledge and skills among industry and rural builders Government appointed committee to oversee implementation of recommendations on quality assurance Curriculum reform to improve pertinence Improved and sustainable built environment Progressive development of degree program in planning and architecture Participation in national conferences to evaluate education plan and develop the 3rd education sector program ( ) and in interface meetings between policy writers and readers

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Research impact on policy and practice CAMEROON National conference on teacher training Participation in review of EFA plan 30% more practical content in programs MALI Studies NGO participation in education Participation in development of PRODEC, 10-year education plan ( ) Increased dialogue between government and NGOs

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April What we are doing, where we are going AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO RESEARCH PART II

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April RESEARCHERS Conduct Research Build Capacity Disseminate Findings Feedback use of findings in planning, promotion, implementation and evaluation of practices and policies = PUBLICS Research → → Capacity Cycle Dialogue Policy Practice Question

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Transnational Studies Review of education research Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Ghana Mali Sierra Leon Togo Effects of community participation and access, retention and quality of basic education (financing, management, teaching, curriculum development, skills development) Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Cote d’Ivoire Gambia Ghana Mali Senegal Togo Recherche opérationnelle sur la coopération en éducation de base dans cinq pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest Francophone : La contribution des communautés à la prise en charge de l’école

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Longitudinal studies show increasing quality and more visibility for African education research expertise 1992 – countries 80 researchers, 35% women 1960 – countries

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Quality of Education ($ US ) 1.11-country literature review, ($US ); seek to publish on emerging research trends and numerise best 200 studies reviewed 2.10 Small Grants research projects, see summary of findings/recommendations ($US ) HIV/AIDS ($ US ) 1.Review of 75 research reports and policy documents from 5 countries, upload to central Clearinghouse (US $ ) 2.Prepare national/thematic syntheses and transnational study (US $ ) 3.Funding required for transnational study Integrated Approach: Examples

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Integrated Approach: Examples ICTs ($ US for Phase I + partner budget) 1.2-yr-5-country study of 40 pioneer schools 2.Perspective: apply findings to development of teacher training programs (US $ 3 to 5 million needed) Decentralization 1.Workshop to conceptualize study on inter-sectoral lessons (November 2004) 2.Conduct transnational study

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Integrating gender into the entire research process More women researchers active (through affirmative action) and leading projects Challenges Women more active in network management Gender sensitive research, gender analysis

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Perspectives QUALITY PARTNERSHIPS PART III

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Analyzing Quality of Partnerships – tool in development

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April ERNWACA 2002 Dakar Strategy Session Photo of Mamadou Ndoye at opening ceremony Thanks for consulting researchers and supporting them

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Areas for synergy with ADEA 1.Research on QUALITY: Volume II of Overlooked and Undervalued 2.Research on QUALITY: Second edition of Small Grants program + finalization action research handbook 3.POLICY DIALGOUE: Joint ERNWACA/ERNESA and ADEA bi-annual “Critical Perspectives Regional Seminar on Education” 4.ICT research quality: Scientific Committee member for ICT research 5.GENDER: Integrating gender into research processes (training workshops)

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April Internet addresses to consult this presentation online to subscribe to ERNWACA News / Nouvelles du ROCARE, sent by in English and French to 1000 members/partners on and off the continent 4x/year

Consolidating research quality, ADEA / April “Let us use these ideas to ensure that our reconstruction and development go ahead in harmony.” Nelson Mandela “In the research domain, there is no single recipe for policy impact. Luck and persistence, along with good science, are vital ingredients.” David Glover, 1995 “Determining what issues are discussed … may be the single most powerful political act.” Seekings and Fawcett, 1986 Policy / public dialogue …