Citizen Action for Education: TPC Mozambique launches its maiden Findings

Across Africa, and indeed the global South, a wind of change is blowing. Citizens from all walks of life have awakened to the realisation that they are the change their countries need. The story of TPC Mozambique, a program of Facilidade that has come to fruition due to active involvement of many people, within government and outside, exemplifies this. It is a story of citizen agency, indeed a story of the belief in the ability of each person to act for public good.

More than at any other time in history, it is important that each person puts effort, to ensure that the collective dream for each child, as enshrined in the declaration of human rights, and domesticated in our national laws, is met. Each child has the right to not only access formal education but also to learn, and derive meaningful experiences. The evidence that has continually been generated from citizen led assessments of learning, from east to west, unfortunately shows that we are failing many children. By not even assuring them of the basic ability to read, we are failing to secure their future wellbeing. This is serious.

Let us look at the evidence starting from ASER India that bequeathed us with the citizen led assessment approach. Only about half of the children (48%) in Grade 5 can read a Grade 2 level text. The situation is not any better in Uganda (56%) or Nigeria (44%), and is much worse in Senegal (33%) and Mali (10%).

How does Mozambique compare? The evidence that is contained in the launch of the first ever citizen led assessment shows that only 4 of every 10 children in Grade 5 are able to read a Grade 2 story. The work in Mozambique, as in many other countries is cut out for us.

We must ask ourselves why too many children are not able to acquire basic foundational skills. More critically we must ask ourselves why we are yet to act with definite precision to assure each child of their fundamental right to education. Many children who miss out on the promise of formal education are already disadvantaged by various socio-economic factors or come from regions that have infrastructural deficiencies. We should not let access to school also exacerbate the difference and entrench inequity. On the contrary, formal education needs to remain as a leveller, the avenue for fair chance, and the route that each has to equip themselves so that they became global citizens who contribute to a better society for all.

Many countries including Mozambique have recommitted themselves to improve the quality of education. The ambitious Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), adopted by 193 Members of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 commits to ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all’. The recommitment represents a renewed focus for inclusive, lifelong and equitable education.

Monitoring progress on the new Global Goal on education (SDG 4) requires evidence to track whether all children are learning. The work of TPC Mozambique therefore not only has local relevance, but also international relevance. It is an approach that will unmask the extent of the learning crisis, not just for children who are in school, but also those who are out of school and missing out on their constitutional right to education. The citizen led assessment approach used by TPC Mozambique will offer a lens that can be instrumental in addressing inequity in educational provision.

We therefore join Mozambique in a congratulatory message at the progress made, and collectively urge them, as indeed other countries, that at the very least, we must all ensure that each child can read. Without the ability to read a child cannot move forward in school or indeed in life. Without the ability to read, a child will remain dependent on others and will not be able to access all the richness of knowledge that the world holds. We can change this, and assure each child a better future.

TPC Mozambique conducted their pilot citizen-led assessment (CLA) in 23 Districts of Nampula Province in Northern Mozambique in November 2016. The report on the pilot CLA was officially launched on 30^th June 2017, in Nampula, Mozambique.