J1216N Developing Excellence in Education Global

The Situation

Education is key to lifting people out of poverty. It provides employment opportunities and empowers children to be involved in decision-making for themselves and for their communities. Although primary education is mandatory in most parts of the world, poverty creates barriers to accessing education for children in many developing countries.

The quality of education provided in many countries around the world is a concern. Large class sizes and inadequate teacher training lead to poor literacy and numeracy outcomes. Teaching methods may be dated, teacher-centric and exam-driven. Teachers who are poorly educated themselves can become demoralized leading to high absentee rates. Violence against children is sadly common in some schools in developing countries.

Schools are often poorly resourced. They have minimal classroom resources and little, if any, digital technology. Classrooms may be poorly maintained and/or unsafe.

This project, in partnership with New Hope International (NHI) works to support schools to pursue excellence for the sake of children around the world primarily through teacher training and school development.

The Objectives

• Teacher Training

A key focus of the project is through the provision of excellent teacher training through New Hope International (NHI). NHI’s Effective Teaching and Learning Series (ETLS) 1, 2 and 3 is one series that provides professional learning for teachers that builds their capacity, character, confidence, and competence in the classroom. Other training in classroom management and holistic education is part of the project along with internships for teacher trainees. This has the effect of:

• Keeping excellent teachers in the classroom
• Providing a safe, productive learning environment for children
• Developing the capacity and confidence of teachers to teach well
• Building the capacity of teachers to take a student focus in their classroom management

Training will go a long way towards addressing the issue of inadequate teacher training and will reduce or eliminate the use of corporal punishment in classrooms and abuse of students. A productive, safe classroom environment will also help reduce in the incidence of children not completing their primary, or even secondary education. Excellent education is the primary means of providing students with hope and lifting them out of poverty.

• School Development

As well as teacher training, the project will assist schools to purchase and maintain the physical resources needed to provide quality education: safe, attractive classrooms and books and digital resources needed in a 21^st century world. This, supplemented with teacher training, will enable those resources to be used and maintained well to maximise children’s educational outcomes.