Education Reform: Agreement Between the Republic Niger Government and the ORA
Implementations
Education Reform – 1995
The 1995 peace agreement outlined some broad education reform agendas.
According to the US State Department’s 1995 Human Rights report, the Niger government had supported greater minority representation in the National Assembly and increased education and health care targeted towards them. However, nomadic peoples, such as many Tuaregs and Fulani, had less access to government services. According to the report, the Niger government required 6 years of compulsory education, but fewer than half of school-age children completed 6 years of education.1
Education Reform – 1996
According to US State Department’s 1995 Human Rights report the Niger government supported minority representation in the legislature as well as increased access to education and health care.1
The Niger government, by recognizing the importance of capital development as a key to the country’s growth potential, targeted to increase the primary school enrollment rate to 35% by 1999, which stood at 29% in 1994. To that end, some 2,600 teachers were to
be recruited over the next five years, and the budgetary allocation for primary education would rise in real terms.2 After the presidential poll the World Bank gave 40 million dollars towards education in Niger.3
- “Niger Human Rights Practices, 1996,” U.S. Department of State, 1997.
- “IMF Approves three-year loan for Niger under ESAF,” PR Newswire, June 12, 1996.
- “Niger’s aid lifeline on stream again,” Agence France Presse, November 21, 1996.
Education Reform – 1997
No further information available on education reform as suggested in the 1995 peace agreement.
Education Reform – 1998
The World Bank, on September 16, 1998, approved US$ 18.6 million to support Niger’s efforts to improve the efficiency of the public sector and selected utilities. It was reported that the financial support would provide the Niger government with fiscal headroom, which would allow more time and money to be devoted to essential social services, such as health and education.1 Further information on education reform not available.
Education Reform – 1999
The Niger government, in January 1999, reformed the civil service, bringing in changes that would lead to the retirement of 1,853 civil servants by October 1999. The decision affected those who had reached 55 years of age and had served for 30 years in the public service. The move, however, would exempt essential sectors like health and education where some civil servants may have a five-year extension if there is a need to do so.
In 1999 Niger was embroiled in political instability because of the military coup. In the process of getting back to political normality, the presidential aspirants had also promised, among other things, to consolidate national unity, improve security and education as well as help reduce poverty and protection of the environment.1
Developments in 1999 suggest no serious efforts aimed at education reform.
Education Reform – 2000
According to the US State Department Human Rights Report, “The Government increased education for ethnic minorities; health care for minorities was at the same level as the rest of the population. It supported the 1995 peace accord calling for special development efforts in the north where the Tuareg population is dominant. However, nomadic people, such as Tuaregs and many Peul, continued to have less access to government services, and the temporary suspension of foreign assistance in 1999 limited the Government’s ability to fulfill its commitments to former rebel areas. During the year, foreign assistance resumed, and the region is receiving assistance again.”1
Education Reform – 2001
“Positive developments noted by the World Bank in Niger include the Improvement Of The Country’s School Enrolment Rate, Which Rose from 27 percent in 1995 to 34 percent in 1999-2000, mainly due to the recruitment of contract teachers and efforts in the education sector, the building of classrooms, teacher training and the acquisition of teaching materials.”1
- “Niger Records Economic Upturn In Two Years,” Panafrican News Agency (PANA) Daily Newswire, November 29, 2001.
Education Reform – 2002
No further information available on education reform except for a report on student protests against falling educational standards, grant reductions and exam reforms.1
Education Reform – 2003
The US State Department Human Rights Annual report highlighted that the Government increased education for ethnic minorities.1
Education Reform – 2004
Substantial progress was made in terms of education reform this year. “The policy reforms to improve access to basic education were successfully implemented through construction of 2,433 new classrooms over 2001/2002, of which 86 percent were in the rural areas, as well as the recruitment of 3,701 teachers for the school year 2003/2004, with 77 percent employed in the rural areas.”1
2005: Substantial progress was made in education reform the previous year. However, the government continuously worked with international partners to provide economically relevant education as an inducement to parents to keep their children in school. “The Ministry of Basic Education conducted training sessions to help educators meet the special needs of child laborers. During the year the government also created a special child labor division within the Ministry of Labor to coordinate government initiatives in the area.”2