No coherent plan, no free education

UNICEF says it was always going to be impossible to achieve this goal without a coherent plan.

The absence of it, it says, is why many beneficiaries of funds directed towards this goal still found themselves being sent home by principals. UNICEF, which is an acronym for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, says it tried to play its part.

"We funded a big delegation of Ministry of Education officials to travel to other African countries that have adopted the free education model to familiarise, take notes and try to bring back and apply what was feasible locally in order to fulfil the constitutional obligation.

"As we speak, we do not know what became of that team," said the UNICEF country representative Dr Jama Gulaid.

He was responding to questions from this newspaper on their view and role towards the free education deadline that has seen critics view it as yet another violation of the constitution while government blames it all on the lack of funds.

This was on Friday when the UN country team met editors at the Royal Villas for an update breakfast meeting.

Dr Gulaid believes, however, that the blame game will not provide solutions and emphasised that only a coherent approach involving parents, teachers and government would see this country achieving this goal.

"There are reports done by the Walter Bennett led Commission and Save the Children looking into the issue of free education and the OVC Fund where the gaps in responses were identified and recommendations made.

"These can be used to put in place an effective delivery system. What this country needs is to move away from the fragmented approach in moving towards this goal and bring all stakeholders (parents, teachers and the ministry) together. There is a great need for cohesion," he stressed.

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