The document discusses quality of education from the perspectives of international agreements, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and determinants of quality for learners, teachers, content, processes, and environment. It outlines aims of education according to the Convention, including the development of the child's potential and abilities, respect for human rights, cultural identity and diversity, and preparation for life in a free society. A systems approach to quality education is possible if there is autonomy over decision making at the school level, accountability among stakeholders, and investment in early childhood development and education.

1. Quality of
Education
Rania Zakhia
Education Specialist
UNICEF Lebanon
April 2016

2. Background: Dialogue towards Quality Education
• 1989 Convention on the Right of the Child
• 2000 World Education Forum Dakar, Senegal:
Free education access for all children by
2015
• 2015 SDGs post-2015 education agenda
More focus on quality

3. CRC and the Quality of Education
Education should support children reach
their fullest potential in terms of cognitive,
emotional and creative capacities.
The learner is at the centre of the
educational experience, in a context also
characterized by respect for others and for
the environment.

4. CRCs in detail
The aims of education, from the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, Article 29 (1):
• The development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and
physical abilities to their fullest potential;
• The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
and for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;
• The development of respect for the child’s parents, his or her own cultural
identity, language and values, for the national values of the country in
which the child is living, the country from which he or she may originate,
and for civilizations different from his or her own;
• The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the
spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship
among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of
indigenous origin;
• The development of respect for the natural environment.

5. Quality determinants for learners
Quality outcomes:
- Learning through life
- Healthy/free from
violence
- Aware of their rights
- Able to participate in
decisions that affect their
lives
-Able to to respect diversity
and practise equality
Learners and
teachers as
learners:
- health and
psychological
development
- home/community/
Content:
- Material
- Curriculum
- Standards
Processes
Environment:
- Physical elements
- Psychological
element
- Health and
hygiene element

6. Quality determinants: Processes
Students
Customized
education
based on needs
Access to
relevant
education
Teachers Professional
development
Performance
appraisal
Supervision
Administrative
support and
leadership
Financial
resources

7. A Systems Approach to Quality is possible if…
• Autonomy
• The autonomy reform:
empowering the schools by
devolving part or all of
decision-making power
regarding school management
• To empower a school by giving
it ownership
• To reinforce the school’s
resource base by mobilizing
social forces
• To build up the relevance of
the school’s education
• To enhance the school’s
competitiveness
• Accountability
If autonomy is in place:
• Decision-making power is
redistributed among various
stakeholders, local authorities,
school principals, teachers,
students
• other stakeholders are given
new responsibilities for resource
deployment and school activities
• Creation of new relationships of
accountability.

8. A Systems Approach to Quality is possible if…
• ECD/ECE
• Tremendous burst of
synapse formation occurs
early in life
• The best time for nurturing
sensing pathways, language
abilities and higher
cognitive function is the
early years of childhood.
• Effective investments in
ECE/ECD can reduce
inequalities perpetuated
by poverty, poor nutrition
and restricted learning
opportunities.
• Scarcity of investment in
ECD could be a major
barrier to the quality and
cost-efficiency of overall
educational delivery

9. Thank you