| Project Detail |
Access to basic education has improved greatly in recent years for many girls and boys in Mozambique. The elementary school enrolment rate for six-year-olds has risen from just under 30 per cent in 2000 to just over 70 per cent in 2012. Nevertheless, the quality of education is still insufficient and a large number of pupils still drop out of school. Only 49 per cent of pupils complete the seventh grade and thereby graduate from elementary school. Girls in particular drop out of school early. Despite some progress, there are still too few qualified teachers to cater for the growing number of pupils. Only one teacher is available for every 63 pupils. This is one of the reasons for the serious shortcomings in the quality of the education system, which are also apparent in vocational training. After completing vocational training, three quarters of students cannot find a job in their chosen occupation because their training is not geared towards the labour market. Inadequate basic education and vocational training that does not take account of employability lead directly into poorly paid, less productive jobs and permanent poverty. Objective Children and young people, especially girls and young women, receive high-quality basic education relevant to the real world and employment-oriented vocational training. Approach The programme, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is fully integrated into the Mozambican Government''s education strategy and vocational training reforms. Its programme-based approach is coordinated with all the donors. The task-sharing, mutually complementary nature of GIZ’s cooperation with KfW Development Bank ensures a cohesive image of German international cooperation. The consulting firm Integration GmbH is working on behalf of GIZ in the area of vocational training, above all in implementing the labour market-oriented curricula and the in-service training of vocational teachers. The programme focuses on: Educational policy advice at national and regional levels Improving educational planning and management at national level and in regional education administrations and schools Support to improve the quality of basic education in the provinces of Inhambane, Sofala and Manica Advice on improving training and continuing professional development of teachers Advice on implementing vocational training reforms in industrial/technical professions, with a focus on school management and development, teacher training and practical teaching in cooperation with the private sector Advice on improving training and continuing professional development of vocational education personnel Support for implementing HIV/AIDS workplace programmes in the education sector Results achieved so far Overall access and gender-equal access to basic education has improved Almost all children can attend primary school. Nearly three quarters of six-year-olds are enrolled in the first grade. One major achievement is that the proportion of girls (70 per cent) starting school is now almost the same as for boys. As recently as 2005, only about 50 per cent of girls started first grade. Education planning and management are more effective All levels of administration draw up annual plans that are monitored for implementation and adapted where needed. School boards are closely involved, leading to improvements in learning conditions and environments in over two thirds of schools in the target provinces. Cross-cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS and gender are given higher priority in annual plans. The quality and relevance of teaching approaches and curricula have improved More qualified teachers are available as a result of the reform of teacher training. Curricula are better geared towards the needs of society and the labour market. Teachers increasingly integrate HIV and AIDS-related content into their lessons. Incorporating more varied teaching methods to engage and challenge pupils is having a positive effect on school completion rates. These increased from an average of 34 per cent in 2005 to more than 47 per cent in 2011. Completion rates in the provinces targeted by German development cooperation lie significantly above the national average. Vocational training: new reform strategy facilitates training geared to labour market requirements A new reform strategy geared to labour market requirements is facilitating and promoting exchange and coordination between private and public representatives for the first time. Skills-based curricula were developed in conjunction with the private sector to define standards and skills that trainees should be able to demonstrate at the end of their training. This enables training to be geared to labour market requirements. With German advisory support, vocational schools were refurbished and equipped with machinery and materials funded by the World Bank. This enables practical courses to be held that reflect the current and future requirements of the private sector. Working with the German internet company Strato AG, the programme was able to improve the quality of training for IT technicians in Mozambique. A training curriculum for renewable energy technicians was developed and launched. |
