Real progress

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are much in the news currently. As politicians discuss progress towards them, and ways they could improve their delivery, it is reports like this that really sadden me.

So often Tanzania, and other countries in East Africa, are held up as shining examples of success. As it says in the article:

Across Africa, the last decade has seen a major effort to increase school enrolments. Tanzania in particular has made great steps. In 1999 there were 3.1 million Tanzanian children who did not go to school. This year the figure is down to 100,000.

The article picks out the importance of free primary education for helping this attendance improvement. It also goes on to say that, of course, school attendance is not enough on its own and that Tanzania has also been making good efforts at improving teacher training.

As I read these kind of articles I find it hard to celebrate. Of course ALL of these things are good! More children at school, better trained teachers, free access to school are all important factors. However all of these things are equally undermined if we ignore the factor of the language of delivery in the classroom.

I think about the UK, and the education I received here. We have a high attendance record for primary school. Teachers are well trained, and primary school attendance is free (at the point of delivery). However, had I attended primary school and found the teacher, no matter how well trained, teaching in a language that I didn’t understand none of those factors would have mattered! I would have struggled to learn and I would have felt excluded. As I read these articles my heart breaks, time and time again, for the millions of children around the world who cannot engage in the education system. They are cast aside like second citizens whilst governments pat themselves on the back.

Striving to improve the education system of a nation whilst consistently ignoring the issue of the language within the classroom, is like building the best hospital, filling it with all the latest technology but then not providing any doctors! People can attend, see all the potential available, but in the end leave just as sick as when they arrived.

Will you join us in remembering, campaigning, and supporting work to raise awareness of this huge need?