an Eldis Resource
Multisectoral Support of Basic and Girls' Education
The extent to which the private sector and civil society have supported girl's education over the past decade is reviewed in this report.
Authors:
K. Tietjen
Publisher:
Academy for Educational Development, USA, 2000
What role do businesses and civil society play in girls' education' While public education budgets are declining, constraints to girls' education have increasingly been recognised as outside the education system. In such a climate, multisectoral partnerships - which unite governments, business, and civil society - are necessary to build resources and capacity for education. This study reviews how businesses, religions and the media have supported girl's education over the past 10 years. The religious sector has been continually committed to girls' education by focusing on increasing access, operating independent schools and taking a humanistic view. But it tends to implement 'culturally-appropriate' programmes that may reinforce gender roles. Businesses have been less active, are vulnerable to economic trends and focus on school quality infrastructure. The media provides coverage on topical issues as well as services (e.g. distance learning), but is subject to censorship, and influenced by politics and profit. Multisectoral support should be pursued but not as a substitute for state funding, as it runs a risk of non-conformity with donor and government priorities.
