ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Session #:

ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa

Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa

Session #: Session title



THE PROVISION AND FINANCING OF QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH PPP IN MAURITIUS –

A SUCCESS STORY

Praveen Mohadeb

[email protected]

1





Pressures for free and compulsory secondary education

Need to reform the provision and financing of secondary education

PPP as an alternative

The Problem





Objectives of the study

To share the experiences of Mauritius on PPP provision and financing of secondary education

To expose a successful PPP model in the development of secondary education

To demonstrate how a policy on private provision and PPP can affect access to and equity in post primary education

To identify lessons that can be learnt from this experience which can guide to other SSA countries that are considering similar reforms.





Research methodology

Basically desk research

Review of national policies, regulatory frameworks and strategies for private provision and of public-private partnerships

Analysis of information, data, reports and publications

Latest data - 2005.

5

Structure of the Mauritian Education System

· NTC Level II

2

· NTC Level III

3

·

Form IVForm IIIForm IIForm I

Primary

Std V

Std IV

Std III

Std II

Std I

Pre-Primary

Form VI Upper

Upper Secondary Form VI

Lower

Cambridge School Certificate (SC)

Vocational Training

Pre-Primary Education

CPE Failed or by Choice

LA

BO

UR

M

AR

KE

T

Certificate of Primary Education (CPE)

Primary Education

Higher Education4

Others - LCC, City & Guilds,

Pitman, etc... (Private Education /

Training Institutions)

Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC)

CPE Passed

Pre-Vocational Education

1 (3 years)

IVTB

Lower Secondary Education

LABOUR MARKET

Grade

Lower

Secondary

Upper Secondary

Std VI

Form V

6

Std I 1000

Std II 999

Std III 997

Std IV 993

Std V 988

1st Sitting

Std VI- CPE 978 670 pass CPE

Mainstream Prevoc

Form I 670 154

Form II 646 110

Form III 599 66

Form IV 529

1st Sitting

Form V-SC 400 310 pass SC

Form LVI- HSC1 191

1st Sitting

Form UVI- HSC2 170 135 pass HSC

Figure 2.2: Flow of a hypothetical cohort entering Standard I in 1994 and reaching UVI in 2006





Main findings/ results

Primary Education has always been free in Mauritius

The Government extended free education to the secondary level in 1977 for all students up to the age of 20

It made education compulsory up to age 16 in 2005.






The private sector plays a key role in the provision of education:

At independence in 1968, the State provision = 6% and Private sector = 94% (private-aided 16% and private non-

aided 78%)

In 2005 83% for pre-primary; 25% primary; 66% secondary; 58% pre-vocational and + 50% for tertiary





0.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.080.090.0

100.0

1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2006

Govt.

Aided

Non-Aided

GER






The private secondary schools opened up access to secondary education to many students from lower income groups, for whom no other avenues were available.

Education is not just the concern of the Government in Mauritius. The system of education comprises several partners

-private schools (aided and non-aided); -non governmental organisations; -education authorities; -religious bodies; -parastatal institutions; -parents and -the community at large.





The Private Secondary Schools Authority (PSSA) was created to channel assistance to, and exercise control over, private secondary schools supplemented by a range of incentive grants which are provided to encourage the managers of private secondary schools to improve infrastructure facilities for teaching, learning and sports.







Main objectives of PSSA:

1. Promoting and encouraging education in secondary schools;2. Paying grants properly accruing to private secondary schools;3. Registration and inspection of private secondary schools, the Principals, Rectors, Managers and teachers.

PSSA has a vital and decisive role to play both as a regulator and a vehicle to upgrade the quality of services provided by private secondary schools so as to ensure that:

1. Government gets value for money invested in the Sector2. The goals set by the Government in providing a World Class

Quality Education for All are achieved.





Main findings/ results PSSA Grant Formula

1. Operations GrantPersonnel ExpensesTeaching Staff Costs; Non-teaching Staff CostsOther Operational Expenses

Per Capita Grant; Per Student-Subject Element

2. Management GrantBasic ElementFixed Element = Percentage of other operational expensesIncentive Elements = Academic Facilities; Sports and

recreational facilities; Academic Performance; Participation and Performance in Sports & Extra Mural Activities





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Despite wide disparity in unit costs, differences in pass rates between State and Private schools are not significant taking into account that private schools enrol students whose performances are generally lower at the CPE level than of State schools.

In 2005 pass rate

At SC = 73.3% for private against 89.9% for State (Avg.78.4%)

At HSC = 73.8% for private against 82.8% for State (Avg.78.2%)






There has always been a high social demand for education in Mauritius

Mauritians place a high value on education

Different national development plans since independence n had similar objectives for education mainly laying stress on broadening access, equality of opportunity, diversified curriculum, promotion of science and technology, technical and vocational education, improvement of the quality of education and strengthening management of the education system.

Strong political commitment to education on the part of successive Governments and Ministers and hence continuity in implementation of major education policies





Cost and Efficiency (ADEA, CODESRIA -2001)

Lower Average Unit Cost in private secondary schools

Higher Average PTR in private secondary schools than State schools

Higher Average Class Size in private secondary schools.

Lower Average Teacher Class ratio in private secondary schools.

Teachers in private schools are “licenced” to teach several subjects

Lower costs in private secondary schools - substantial savings






Private tuition

The costs of extra tuition represent a significant investment that increases as more tuition is taken. A study carried out on the subject by the MIE (T R Morisson, 1997) revealed that the percentage of income depending on the number of subjects taken as private tuition could range from 5 percent up to 83 percent (for up to five subjects at SC level and up to four subjects at HSC level).

Private tuition is an integral part of the provision of education in Mauritius. Seen in this perspective, it can be argued that private tuition is a parallel system of education and an informal form of PPP.





The most favoured schools in Mauritius are State schools

Private schools are generally less well funded and cater mostly for the children of the families at the lower rungs of the socio-cultural ladder.

The Mauritian elite is formed and produced by a State-sponsored schooling.

Such schools receive a full measure of State support and are not schools of any particular community. Their children may come from all strata of the society and all ethnic groups.






Conclusion

The Mauritian experience shows that access, equity, quality, and relevance have on the whole improved significantly through this innovative PPP delivery system

Government has always honoured its contractual obligations towards private schools

It has made special concessions so that they may continue to offer efficient educational services to Mauritian children.

Government has never taken any action with a view to reduce the importance or to close or nationalise private schools.

It has believed more in a PPP approach to the provision of education but reserving the right to regulate and intervene to ensure access, equity and quality.





Conclusion

Government has taken a series of measures to eliminate disparities within the Secondary Education Sector.

Develop and upgrade infrastructure and physical facilities in private secondary schools.

Rationalised assessment criteria for academic and sports facilities to provide better incentives to Managers of schools to invest more in educational and recreational facilities.

Improved salaries and conditions of service of staff in the private secondary schools bringing parity of esteem in the system.





Conclusion

The public-private participation ratio is likely to change in Mauritius

The public share will increase although the private share will grow for pre-vocational schools

With the projected decline in enrolment in primary and secondary, the Government plan may not necessarily lead to the closure of private schools but would bring about a potentially positive effect by implementing quality measures such as decreasing class sizes

The closure of schools, however, could happen but most private schools that have been “long identified as substandard” have not ceased to exist.

Documents

ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Session #: