Primary School Years
The quality of education has deteriorated since the transition began. Many teachers have left the educational system due to declining value of their salaries and a deteriorating school environment. Although enrolment rates are monitored regularly, no routine data are gathered on attendance rates disaggregated by gender. Children in Urban/rural disparity was found to exist to some extent and primary school attendance varies by region, household status and wealth. Literacy levels are also high in excess of 95%. 97.8% of the male population aged 15 or older (98.9 urban and 96.4 rural) and 92.6% of female population (95.7 urban and 88.6 rural) are literate. Literacy rates for the IDPs were equally high at 98.7% for IDP males and 93.1% for females. However, functional literacy has never beenApproximately 10 per cent of children do not live in a family environment and a significant number – about 20,000 children -- live in institutions. measured and thus remains unknown. Almost all education institutes lack basic textbooks, teaching materials and supplies to perform to an acceptable high standard. Outdated curricula and teaching methods add to this problem. The Government has acknowledged the benefits of the introduction of new teaching approaches and methodologies and has made specific policy decisions under PRSP to adopt these approaches more widely. Only 11 per cent of children attend some form of pre-school, with large discrepancies between rural (4 per cent) and urban (19 per cent) areas. More than two thirds of pre-schools are also in a poor state of repair. Attendance at early childhood programmes is most common in Approximately 10 per cent of children do not live in a family environment and a significant number – about 20,000 children -- live in institutions. Currently, the research is being carried out to find solutions on now to keep children out of institutions. However, precise numbers are not known, as no comprehensive survey has been carried out. A prevailing belief that institutions provide a better care environment for children, combined with a low household income and a poor regulatory mechanism, contributes to this situation.
|
