the challenge of financing the expansion and strengthening of secondary education at a time of...
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The Challenge of Financing the Expansion and Strengthening of Secondary Education at a Time of Economic Crisis –
Strategies and Solutions
Trinidad and Tobago’s Experience
Hon. Esther Le Gendre, MPMinister of Education
August 14, 2009
SIXTH INTER-AMERICAN MEETING OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION “Better opportunities for the youth of the Americas: Rethinking secondary education”
ABOUT Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is situated only 6 miles from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Population: 1.3 M. Area: 5.128 square kilometres.
Primary and Secondary Schools• Secondary School Population: 100,374
No. of Gov’t and secondary schools: 135No. of Secondary school teachers: 6,687No of primary schools: 484Primary school population: 129,641
• Our goal is to increase tertiary enrolment to 75%. Over the past four years we have increased tertiary enrolment from 15% to 45%. This does not include overseas scholars and those attending private institutions offering tuition.
• Fiscal year 2009 budget has given each student graduating with first class honours a scholarship to pursue studies in any country of the world to complete a Doctoral degree.
Birth rate has declined to 18,000 per yearBy 2012: 601 state of the art Gov’t ECCE centres will be catering to 30,000 children age 3 and 4 years
The cost of building and furnishing a new ECCE centre: US$0.5MThe cost of building and furnishing a new primary school: US$5-6.3MThe cost of building and furnishing a new secondary school : US$30-35M
Our Economy and Levels of Education Financing
• MoE expenditure has risen by an average of 11 percent in the 2003 to 2008 period
• In that period Government expenditure has averaged 30 percent of GDP, MoE expenditure alone averaging 3 percent
• Expenditure on the Secondary Level has averaged 48.2 percent of MOE expenditure for the same period
• The Ministry has a large ongoing programme of school construction and upgrade, in addition to
ICT provision for all schools
Challenges and Strategic Measures in a Quality Education Environment
• Changes in National Socio-Economic Environment
• Teacher Development for 21st Century teaching and learning
• Curriculum Development and Relevance
• Decentralization and School Based Management
• Parent and Community Involvement
Modalities of Development and the Economic Downturn
• Maintaining political will / Government financing– Ensuring efficiency and effectiveness
• Data as the Driver of Strategic Planning
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Multilateral Loan and Grant Financing– Secondary Education Modernization Programme
(SEMP)
– Seamless Education Project
– Other Technical Assistance• UNV Involvement
• Project funding
Challenges
• Rising construction costs due to space requirements aligned with curriculum offerings
• Optimum sizing of schools in developed communities
• Construction on occupied locations
• CVQ implementation and
teacher availability
Modalities of Development and the Economic Downturn
• Involvement of the Private Sector– Partnering and recruitment via VAPA and CVQ
• Low and No-Cost Initiatives– System Changes – De-shifting and Conversion– Local School Boards, PTAs and Student Councils– On-Line Teacher Development – Communication, the Media and
Other Motivation Builders
Relevance
• Relevance is a major component of quality secondary education – This was clearly articulated by our youth
yesterday– We should be cautioned as we decide what is
relevant today for tomorrow’s graduate.
Thank You