Copyright 2002 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
April 10, 2002 Wednesday, Home Edition
SECTION: Atlanta & the World; Pg. 3E

LENGTH: 347 words

HEADLINE: Charter school principles at work in Africa

BYLINE: JOHNNY ISAKSON

SOURCE: For the Journal-Constitution

BODY:
Whatever my expectations may have been, they were exceeded during my visit to rural Egypt and rural Ethiopia, where I saw the face of Africa's children and the hope for Africa's future.

I traveled to Africa courtesy of the Basic Education Coalition to see firsthand the results of United States' public and private efforts to bring education to Africa's children. In Minya, Egypt, we visited an in-home preschool, government schools and new schools developed in partnerships with the United States government, CARE, Save the Children and the U.S. Agency for International Development. In rural Tula, Ethiopia, we visited new schools developed in partnerships with the U.S. government, Save the Children, World Learning and USAID.

Egypt is 95 percent Muslim, and Ethiopia is about 55 percent Christian Orthodox and 45 percent Muslim. Both countries are working to change cultural attitudes that mitigate against educating young women. Both are working to improve the future of their female population and the future of the countries, and to reduce the growth of AIDS. In the midst of abject poverty and despair, both countries are making progress.

In both Egypt and Ethiopia, the greatest progress is being made in schools that abide by traditions that are very similar to the U.S. charter school movement's four guiding principles. First, the school's governance includes a parent council and overall parent involvement. Second, the school seeks community involvement and support, similar to our "Partners in Education" program. Third, the new schools raise expectations for the children in achievement. Fourth, there is an accountability system to measure progress.

Both countries suffer a huge shortage of qualified teachers. In Egypt, CARE promotes a Master Teacher Program to improve teacher quality, and, in Ethiopia, USAID has sponsored the Basic Education System Overhaul program and works very closely with the Awassa College of Teacher Education.
 


U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) is a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2002