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Burgess Manuscripts
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New Wave for Development
Some Critical Reforms to Catalyze Socio-Economic Progress
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ABOUT SECTORS
CHAPTER 13
EDUCATION
Education is an investment, not an expense. It may well be the most important investment that any society chooses to make. The earlier this investment is started in a child's life, the better.
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Good Education is Absolutely Vital
Health situation
The health status of Iraq has deteriorated relatively in the past years. Health and
health related services are limited because of shortages arising during the
economic sanctions and the war conditions. Coverage is low with the
distribution biased towards the urban population. Most health facilities in Iraq
are understaffed and the quality of training of some of the current health
workers is poor. Moral is low because of the state of chaos.
Management capacity at all levels is very limited and whatever management
information system existed previously has almost ceased to function.
Rehabilitation of health sector
The rehabilitation of health sector is a priority. Funding is needed for the
necessary construction work that needs to be done to rebuild and expand the
infrastructure. There is also a need to rehabilitate equipment and funding is
needed for this. The infrastructure includes both urban hospitals and health
clinics in smaller communities.
Many of the projects are an integral part of the Health Ministry's program and
are designed to facilitate their integration into the mainstream of the health
development of the region.
Education and training
Training nurse is a very high priority. There are not enough nurses. The need for
nurses is very high. Furthermore, nursing is a training and employment
opportunity for women. Training of nurses should be encouraged through all
means.
Training doctors and medical professionals is a long (and expensive process).
However, the long terms success of the area economy depends on having
trained professionals from the area in the area. Funding long term professional
training should be a part of the ongoing development strategy for the area.
Mother and child health programs
Mother and child programs should remain a priority in the health sector, with
continuing efforts to reach the mothers and children of pastoral families.
Immunization programs for children should remain a priority in the health
sector, with continuing efforts to reach the children of pastoral families.
Mental health
Mental health is a problem that is not enough of a priority. Mental health
practices are ones that became unacceptable in industrialized societies several
decades ago. The traumatic experience of the area in the last twenty years (or
more) has created a serious mental health problem.
Health sector
The health sector in the “south” is very challenged. Sickness is aggravated by
poor water and malnutrition almost everywhere in the “south”, and resources
for care and cure are very limited. Almost everything is in short supply, and
even though there is a health crisis throughout most of the “south”, there are
substantial financial abuses both in terms of the misuse of resources and
profiteering by suppliers of medications and equipment.
Even though there is crisis in the “south” health sector, some of the staff do
amazing work with very little. The tardy payment of nurses is common.
But health sector performance is unsatisfactory in the “north” as well. Though
scientific developments in health have been amazing, the cost and the
inefficiency of modern medicine is mind boggling. In some places in the “north”
the high costs and profiteering now makes good medical attention unaffordable
for many of the poor and middle class.
Good management information and public accountability has the potential to be
of substantial value to help performance improvement.
Education Sector Overview
Education is, more than anything else, the investment that will facilitate a
successful future. Education is a prerequisite for jobs and opportunities and to
be able to have valuable lives. The value of education is not a “certificate” but
the training of body and mind so that a person can do valuable things.
Education needs to move from basic to higher levels where a person is not only
challenged academically, but also is prepared for a productive life. Accordingly
there needs to be not only primary, secondary and tertiary education, but also
vocational and professional eduction.
Education does not need to be done in traditional or old-fashioned ways, but in
any way that works and is cost effective, including using electronic resources of
various sorts. In the future, the education sector is likely to include activities
related to the use of Internet resources.
Educational policy
Some appropriate goals of an education policy in Iraq might be the following.
No specific goals have been included here. Thus:
- Expand primary education
- Address priority needs in secondary, technical and vocational education
- Improve quality and equitable distribution
- Extend new curriculum to all levels,
- Increase the number of certified primary teachers
- Lower textbook ratio
- Achieve more efficient use of teachers,
- Raise female participation
- Increase the proportion of female teachers
- Rehabilitate all schools damaged by wartime activities
Under-served areas
Iraq has some areas that are under-served regions. The literacy rate in Iraq is
very variable depending on the place. In the main urban centers literacy is
around 80%, while in remote rural areas it is more likely to be 20%. Literacy
among women is 50% of the literacy rate for men.
Curriculum and text books
Iraq has a well developed curriculum of education. A laudable effort has been
made to revise the curriculum and prepare textbooks and teaching materials. A
lot remains to be done to improve the curriculum and the teaching materials.
Textbooks are also needed for the schools and training centers. The program will
support the preparation and the purchase of textbooks for schools and training
centers.
Teachers
The number of teachers in secondary schools in particular is less than optimum.
The proportion of female teachers in primary school is low and there are almost
no female teachers in secondary schools. New teachers need to be found, and
most important, new teachers need to be trained. Iraq needs capacity to teach
teachers. The teaching of teachers is needed for primary grades and secondary
grades, but also for skills training and the non-formal basic education initiative.
Planning and management
Planning and management capacity at every level is very weak. The
decentralization process implies that a lot more is expected from regional and
local government. There are a lot of vacant posts in the regional education
bureau and almost all the zonal offices are a one man offices. Most people in
responsible position at all levels lack the required qualification and experience.
Women and girls
The situation of women and girls in education in the area should be addressed
by the program in a practical way. There are ways in which women can expand
on skills they already have to become of very much more value to themselves
and to the community. Health skills training, for example, already known at an
artisanal level can be upgraded so that health skills can be used for the benefit of
the community at large. Informal, but nevertheless real, knowledge can be
mobilized so that it forms the basis for teaching in the non-formal educational
environment.
Skills training
Skills training for mature adults is critical for the growth of the economy and to
enable unskilled mature adults to participate in the opportunities of wage
employment. The skills training that is needed ranges from the very basic to
quite advanced, from how to be a laborer to doing repair work on computers.
People need to have an opportunity to learn skills so that they can make the best
of their capabilities.
Skills training is needed for all, young and old, male and female. There is,
however, and important need to address the skills training of young adults,
many of whom have lost many years of education and are now uneducated,
unskilled, unemployed and potentially a source of future difficulties.
Employment or jobs
Jobs is not really a sector or sub-sector ... but employment and jobs
are very important. The effort to creating self-employment
opportunities that require a lot of labor for very little return needs to
be supplemented by much more effort to make it possible for small
employers to become bigger employers, and for employees to selfimprove
so that they can do bigger and better paying work. The jobs
that are created need to be profitable, that is value adding, in order to
be sustainable. Where the value is social, as in health and education,
there also needs to be jobs in productive sectors that generate the cash
flows to pay all the wages.
Getting Ready for Life
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The Need for Education
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Continuing Education
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Early Childhood Education
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Primary Education
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Secondary Education
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Tertiary Education
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Post Graduate Education
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Vocational Education
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Special Needs Education
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Professional Education
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