Literature review of community schools in Africa

The review is limited to primary education and focuses heavily on US-based, NGO-, and USAID-funded programs. The review examines the definitions of Africa"s community schools and delineates the different models being implemented; it also summarizes the specific programs on which information was available (these summaries are included in a table format at the end of the report). The review concludes by listing the following critical factors for the future of Africa"s community schools: (1) legal recognition of community schools and their integration into the national education system; (2) public funding of teacher salaries, as well as expansion of teacher training, improved teachers" working conditions, and professionalization of community school teachers; (3) ensuring that local and central government agencies monitor and support community school teachers; (4) public funding of textbooks, teaching materials. and a portion of construction costs; (5) local government accountability for community schools; (7) community management of schools; (8) support for local community leaders; (9) capacity building of parent committees and committee federations; (10) continued NGO involvement in education; (11) close relationships between community and public schools; (12) paying school fees as a collectivity rather than having parents pay for each student; (13) opportunities for alternative education, including practical subjects in the curriculum; and (14) regional networks of exchange.