Seven years after 164 countries endorsed the Dakar Framework for Action, are developing country governments meeting pledges to prioritise Education for All (EFA)? Are governments preparing credible education reform programmes? Are donors allocating more resources to basic education?

A chapter in the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2008 seeks answers.

UNESCO data shows that a majority of governments, most noticeably in sub-Saharan Africa, have given more financial priority to education since Dakar. However, many still allocate very low shares of gross national product (GNP) and total government expenditure to education.

While in 2005, 26 countries outside North America and Western Europe spent 6 per cent or more of GNP on education, in another 24 countries it was less than 3 per cent. In 5 of the 21 sub-Saharan African countries for which there is data, expenditure on education reached at least 20 per cent of total government spending, but in 3 countries it was under 10 per cent. Many countries have a law for free and compulsory education, yet communities and households still have to provide a high share of the cost of schooling

Between 1999 and 2005:

• Outside North America and Western Europe, education expenditure as a share of GNP increased in 50 countries, but decreased in 34.
• Public expenditure on education increased by over five per cent annually in sub-Saharan Africa and in South and West Asia, the two regions farthest from achieving EFA goals.
• Countries with primary net enrolment ratios below 80 per cent in 2005 but making significant progress towards universal primary education increased their education expenditure as a share of GNP from 3.4 per cent in 1999 to 4.2 per cent in 2005, on average.
• In countries where progress has been slower, the average share decreased.

In many developing countries government and civil society are becoming increasingly proficient in preparing plans and strategies for achieving education development. However, there are many countries – with low attainment, little commitment to reform and little donor interest – where the goals of Dakar seem far away.

Funds committed to basic education increased from US$2.7 billion in 2000 to US$5.1 billion in 2004 before declining to US$3.7 billion in 2005. The increase particularly benefited low-income countries, which received on average US$3.1 billion a year in 2004 and 2005. However, many donors continue to prioritise post-primary education and to give a disproportionate amount of education aid to middle income countries.

Basic education has benefited from initiatives to increase debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries but donor-supported debt relief will now decline. On current trends, and if pledges are met, aid to basic education in 2010 will be well short of the US$11 billion a year required to reach the EFA goals. Aid to education is still not targeted to the neediest countries, and a tiny share goes to early childhood and literacy programmes.

The EFA Global Monitoring Report urges:

• national governments to maintain public spending on EFA and  increase it where necessary
• action to tackle corruption in education: civil society should be more involved in transparent and accountable budgeting systems
• donors to give more to primary and other forms of basic education, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asian and post-conflict states.
• funding agencies to coordinate their efforts around sector-wide reforms and make longer-term and more predictable commitments.

Source(s):
‘Progress In Financing Education For All’, chapter four in ‘Education For All By 2015: Will We Make It?’ by the EFA Global Monitoring Report Team, UNESCO and Oxford University Press, November 2007 (PDF) Full document.
Full report Full document.

Funded by: Several bilateral donors and UNESCO

id21 Research Highlight: 19 December 2007

Further Information:
Cynthia Guttman
EFA Global Monitoring Report Team
UNESCO
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP, France

Tel: +33 (0)1 45 68 2128
Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 5627
Contact the contributor: efareport@unesco.org 

EFA Global Monitoring Report Team, UNESCO, France

Other related links:
'Education for All by 2015: the good news'

'Education for All by 2015: the bad news'

'Can aid meet Education for All goals?'

'Is the international community getting serious about EFA?'

'Some progress but Education for All can do better'

'Education for all by 2015: how aid can help'