ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
Session #: Session title
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
THE PROVISION AND FINANCING OF QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH PPP IN MAURITIUS –
A SUCCESS STORY
Praveen Mohadeb
1
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
Pressures for free and compulsory secondary education
Need to reform the provision and financing of secondary education
PPP as an alternative
The Problem
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
Main findings/ results
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
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
Main findings/ results
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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 findings/ results
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
Main findings/ results
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
14
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%)
Main findings/ results
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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
Main findings/ results
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.
Main findings/ results
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
Beyond Primary Education:Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa
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.