JSPS Core-to-Core Program Seminar #6 on “Basic Education Finance & Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries”

On December 8, 2015, Kobe University’s Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS) hosted a seminar on “Basic Education Finance & Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries“ in its Main Conference Room, which was supported by JSPS Core-to-Core Program (Asia-Africa Science Platforms). A total of 53 participants were present, including 13 Ministry of Education Officers from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Haiti, Niger and Senegal, who were participating in the JICA Training on Education Finance and Administration.

The first session of the Seminar was dedicated to discussions on “Basic Education Finance in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.” Dr. Hamoud Al-Seyani, Advisor to Education Minister in Yemen, presented on “School-based Development in Yemen: Focused on Disadvantaged Groups,” followed by Assistant Professor Jun Kawaguchi (University of Tsukuba)’s presentation on “Educational Finance for Pupils with Disability: Comparative Research on Inclusive Education and Special Education.” The last presenter of the session was Mr. Kentaro Shimada (Doctoral Candidate, GSICS, Kobe University), who shared his research on “An Effect of Free Primary Education (FPE) Policy on Future Well-being in Kenya.”

The second session focused on “Basic Education Finance & Administration in Uganda.” Mr. Jeje Moses Okurut (Doctoral Candidate, GSICS, Kobe University) presented on “Implementation of Universal Secondary Education (USE) in Uganda,” followed by Mr. Katsuki Sakaue (Doctoral Candidate, GSICS, Kobe University) who presented on “Emerging Roles of Private Financing under Free Primary Education Policy: Case of Rural Uganda.” The last presenter was Mr. Takeru Numasawa (Master’s Student, GSICS, Kobe University), who spoke on “Empirical Analysis on Teacher Absenteeism in Ugandan Public Primary Schools.”

The main objectives of this Seminar were to share research results in the area of education finance and administration and to nurture new researchers – in fact, 5 of the 6 presenters at this Seminar were relatively new researchers who were able to benefit greatly from practical comments and questions from education policymakers from developing countries. The seminar also provided participating students and young researchers a meaningful venue to interact and build useful network with policymakers from developing countries. The Seminar was conducted in English and French simultaneous interpretation was provided for participants from Francophone countries.

Authored by Najung Kim (Doctoral Student)

Related Link
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