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VSO's goals > Education
VSO works in education in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific region, and the Caribbean. VSO’s vision is that all children have access to good quality primary education. This includes ensuring the most disadvantaged, such as girls, those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and children affected by HIV & AIDS, are also able to go to school.
In 2000, 164 governments committed to achieving Education for All, which stated that everyone has the right to a basic education. In response, rich governments have donated more funds to education in developing countries and poor countries are increasing the availability of schooling, either by making education free or by opening more schools. However, as school enrolments rise, pressure on already overstretched education systems increases, which affects the quality of education children receive.
VSO addresses this by strengthening education systems and improving the quality of teaching. A child has a right to an education that is appropriate to their needs and prepares them for their future life. For this to happen teachers need to be qualified and motivated, but this on its own is not enough. A child can only benefit from a good quality education if there is both parent and community involvement. School management and education policy must be accountable to children, teachers, parents and the community.
Volunteers support improvements in education by working in teacher training colleges and with groups of schools on developing teaching methods. By improving classroom techniques so that lessons are enjoyable, practical and interactive, more children leave school with skills and knowledge that will improve their chances in life. Their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS and discrimination will be reduced and their ability to maintain good health and to make a living will improve.
We also work within the mainstream education system to overcome the barriers to marginalised groups, for example by improving the provision of special education needs teaching and with local government offices and Ministries of Education in areas such as assessment, strategic planning, national curriculum development, monitoring and evaluation and national quality standards.
‘Valuing Teachers’ is VSO’s international advocacy and policy work. What Makes Teachers Tick; a policy research report on teachers’ motivation in developing countries reported on issues of teacher morale, motivation and status and the impact that has on the quality of education children receive. The findings have informed much of VSO’s work since 2001, including national advocacy work to encourage governments to change policies affecting teacher conditions and efforts to improve the status of teachers in the community. The second phase of Valuing Teachers is looking at what further work is needed to improve education management systems.
VSO is also an active member of the Global Campaign for Education, an international coalition of charities, NGOs, civil society organisations, and education unions that mobilises the public to put pressure on governments to provide free education for all children and thereby delivering on the promises they made in 2000.
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