Transcript The Challenge of Financing the Expansion and Strengthening of

SIXTH INTER-AMERICAN MEETING OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION
“Better opportunities for the youth of the Americas: Rethinking secondary education”
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, MP
Minister of Education
August 14, 2009
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: 135
No. of Secondary school teachers: 6,687
No of primary schools: 484
Primary 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 year
By 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$0.5M
The cost of building and furnishing a
new primary school: US$5-6.3M
The 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 SocioEconomic 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
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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