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Financing Adult Literacy and Education

A Continuing Challenge in

Asia-Pacific and the Philippines

Rene Raya

ASPBAE Policy Group

Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education

Foro Internacional de la

Sociedad Civil (FISC)

Novermber 28-30, 2009

Presentation Outline

1. The Philippine EFA Plan 2015

2. Civil Society Tracking and Costing of Literacy(ASPBAE Initiatives)

- In the Philippines- In the Asia Pacific Region

3.The Challenges in Financing

4. Options for Financing Adult Literacy and Education

Regional network of organizations and individuals

Established in 1964

With 640 members in 30 countries across Asia and the Pacific

• Community organizations • National education coalitions• Teachers unions • Grassroots educators• Child rights networks • Women’s organization • Other campaign networks

Mission Build an Asia Pacific movement dedicated to promoting quality education for all and transformative adult education

ASPBAE works with and through other NGOs, community organizations, government agencies, universities and int’l partners

It is a member of ICAE and GCE

Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education

About ASPBAE

Philippine EFA 2015 Plan

Central Goal:Provide basic competencies to all Filipinos to achieve Functional Literacy for all.

Four component outcomes to achieve EFA 1.Universal coverage of youth & adults on basic learning needs;2.Universal school participation;3.Universal completion of the full cycle of basic education;4.Total community commitment to attain EFA.

Philippine EFA 2015 Plan

One of the better articulated EFA Plans – A MODEL!Underscores Functional Literacy as central goal, Adults as part of key target groupsInclusive and mindful of existing disparitiesProvides a convincing rationale for EFA

But…Two critical weaknesses:

Poor Targeting (Who, Where, Why, How Many) No Financing Strategy (A clear disjoint between policy & financing)

Result…EFA Plan on Literacy hardly implemented (Consultant’s Plan”)Education has become the most threatened among MDGs

In much of Asia and the Pacific

Similar situations occurred…

Plans may be good and responsive

But, No clear targeting

No financing strategy

And so, EFA gaps remain in many countries of the region

In much of Asia and the Pacific

Adult Literacy is a Neglected EFA Goal

Governments and donors are not putting enough money (fund allocation is usually less than 1% of the education budget)

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The situation calls for urgent action

Literacy is affordable and feasible

And the investment is certainly worth the cost

ASPBAE Advocacy Strategy…

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We track and make estimates…Philippines

67%

Fully Literate

Non-LiterateDifferent levels of Illiteracy

4.1 M - Totally illiterate 6.9 M - Functionally illiterate

MALE FEMALE

57% 43%

More Male illiterates than Female

Adult, 25-64 Yrs.

Youth15-24 Yrs.

34% 66%

One-third of illiterates are Youth

Low LiteracyMedium LiteracyHigh Literacy

Missing data

EDIWe locate and do mapping…Philippines

Identify areas with low levels of literacy

75% of adult illiterates in rural areas

Huge concentration in poor communities and households in remote upland and island communities In disaster prone areas among Muslim and ethnic minority groups Among those with disabilities

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We do Targeting…Philippines

Male Female  TOTAL

Young Urban 394,392 332,934 727,326

 (15-24 Yrs.) Rural 1,124,906 730,754 1,855,660

Senior Urban 115,774 131,322 247,097  (25-64 Yrs.) Rural 331,231 288,238 619,468

TOTAL 1,966,303 1,483,248 3,449,551

*** NEED to reach out to 3.5 million youth and adult illiterates to meet EFA Target of reducing illiteracy by half.

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We do Costing…Philippines

Amount (Phil. Peso)

Amount (US$)

Total investment required 28.3 B 567 MAnnual Expenditure if total cost is spread to 5 years (2010-2014) 5.7 B 113 MPercent of Education Budget 3.5% 3.5%

*** ASPBAE referred to the GCE/AA Benchmarks; the van Ravens costing model; and developed its own costing methodology.

Computing Per Learner Cost Plus Factoring Additional Cost: 20% for women learners10% for rural learners 3% for senior learners (45 Yrs old Up)

Similar tracking and costing

initiatives are pursued in

the Asia and the Pacific

Region

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Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Brunei

Bhutan

China

Hong Kong SAR

Indonesia

India

Iran

Korea Rep

Lao PDR

Sri Lanka

Macau SAR

Maldives

Myanmar

Malaysia

Pakistan

Philippines

Korea DPR

Singapore

Thailand

Timor Leste

Vietnam

Fiji

Federated States of Micronesia

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

Niue

Nauru

Palau

Papua New GuineaSolomon Islands Tokelau

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Cambodia

Nepal

Percent

492.00 - 30,674.93

30,674.94 - 1,604,030.50

1,604,030.51 - 7,958,129.77

7,958,129.78 - 269,815,793.39

Missing Data

Note: The boundaries and the names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Adult Illiterate Population

(Total)

Mapping the Adult Illiterates - Where are they?

Source of Basic Data: UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS)

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.

Source of Basic Data: GMR 2008

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5

India

Bangladesh

Iran

Philippines

Malaysia

Indonesia

Myanmar

Lao PDR

Cambodia

China

Sri Lanka

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Thailand

PNG

Vanuatu

Tonga

Literacy Rate %

Bubble >> No. of Adult Illiterates

Samoa

Vietnam

Afghanistan

Asia Pacific Literacy Situation

Estimating the Magnitude of Illiteracy…

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Who are they? Profile of the Illiterates…

They are the poorest, living below the poverty line and situated in remote and depressed areas

Two-thirds of them are Women Least connection with the rest of the world Tend to be less visible With limited access to basic public services They have the least access to skill development facilities and

remain unskilled during their life time They are most vulnerable to natural hazards: flood, cyclone,

river erosion Tend to live and work in unhealthy environment Morbidity and mortality are highest among them

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Targeting to Meet EFA Goal 4…

256 Million Adult Illiterates must be reached in Asia Pacific to reduce Illiteracy by half by 2015

205.7 Million Female

49.9 Million Male

To Achieve Gender Parity in Literacy

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Total Cost Annual Cost(2010-2014)

Asia-Pacific $45.0 Billion $9.0 Billion

To Achieve EFA Goal 4 of reducing Illiteracy by Half

For the next 5 years, Asia Pacific countries will need to Invest a total of $9.0 Billion annually.

Estimating the Cost of Literacy…

Comparing Cost with Education Budgets …

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Challenges in Financing Adult Education and Literacy

There is a mindset - that there is no more money available for Adult Education and Literacy

That limited resources should be reserved for primary and formal education where the rates of return are much higher

Only token recognition of Literacy as a human right Lack of information on magnitude of Illiteracy Poor appreciation of importance of Literacy Literacy & Adult Education are not popular and

emotional issues Very few champions in government

IT IS DEFINITELY AN UPHILL BATTLE TO MAINSTREAM ADULT LITERACY AND

EDUCATION

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Challenges in Financing Adult Education

More Researches NeededNeed to mainstream Good PracticesClear messages that appeals to citizens and votersWE need more champions in and outside GovernmentsWe need strong EndorsersWe need to create a strong demand for Adult Education

We need a viable FINANCING STRATEGY

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Options and Strategies for Financing...

Maximize available resources •there are over 5% of Education Budgets allocated (and simply wasted) for Adult Education and Literacy•Gender and Development (GAD) budgets for women’s literacy• Include Adult Education component in VocTech Education•Tap local government funds

Rationalize existing programs and create synergies - livelihood, health, environment, women’s education and skills development programs

Ensure more and better ODA for Adult Education and Literacy

Do active and effective Budget Advocacy

Explore generating additional resources- Innovative Revenue Watching- Private sector financing (tripartite partnership)- NGO can shift some programs from Formal to Literacy and Adult Education- Church programs

Civil society as good practitioners, advocates, lobbyists and integrators/catalyst of existing adult education programs.

THANK YOU

From ASPBAE