Publication: Faith-Inspired Education in Ghana : A Historical Case Example
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Date
2014-06-10
ISSN
1557-0274
Published
2014-06-10
Author(s)
Olivier, Jill
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Abstract
In order to understand the current role of faith-inspired schools (FISs) in Africa and some of the debates about the magnitude of the services they provide, it is useful to consider their presence in a historical perspective. Faith-inspired schools have a long and distinguished tradition in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this article is to sketch that history using the case of Ghana, a country where FISs date back to early Islamic schools and, as of the 16th century, to Christian missionary activities.
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Publication Faith-Inspired Schools in Sub-Saharan Africa : An Introduction to the Summer 2014 Issue(Taylor and Francis, 2014-06-10)At a time when many sub-Saharan African countries may not achieve the education targets set forth in the Millennium Development Goals, and discussions on the post-2015 agenda are the topic of the day in development circles, the contribution of private providers of education, including faith-inspired schools (FISs), is crucial. For these providers to work alongside the state in the delivery of services, and possibly benefit from state support, basic information is required on their market share, reach to the poor, cost for households, and satisfaction of users with the services received. Yet today little systematic evidence is available on the role of FISs, at least in sub-Saharan Africa, and how they compare to other (public and private secular) schools. This special issue of The Review of Faith & International Affairs aims to bridge this knowledge gap. 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It is nevertheless possible to take one (partial) step towards such comprehensive assessments in specific countries by comparing and interpreting the market share estimates for the health care services provided by various types of providers obtained with both facilities and household survey data, and to measure the facilities’ “reach to the poor” (understood here as a comparative market share assessment of various types of providers among segments of the population according to their level of well-being, and especially among the poor). In addition, qualitative work can help reveal the reasons why patients tend to choose one type of provider versus another. The objective of this article is to do precisely this in the case of Ghana.Publication Market Share of Faith-Inspired Health Care Providers : Reach to the Poor in Africa(Taylor and Francis, 2014-03-12)Market share estimates—typically in the 30 percent to 40 percent range—are frequently wielded as the most concrete evidence of faith-inspired activity and impact in the area of health care provision in Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, there are few speeches, reports, or articles that do not make some mention of market share, attaching some percentage to the significance of faith-inspired healthcare provision in the continent as a whole, or in specific countries. Such statements usually appear in the early stages of a text, and are the basis on which a further argument is made, for example that this sector therefore requires further attention or resources from governments and donors. A systematic review of this literature reveals that these statements have currently reached the point of becoming almost indisputable “truth,” as they are now frequently made without any referencing.Publication What Drives the Choice of Faith-Inspired Schools by Households? Qualitative Evidence(Taylor and Francis, 2014-06-10)Why do some parents send their children to faith-inspired schools (FISs), while others choose to rely on public schools? Within FISs, are the motivations to send a child to a Christian school different from those to send a child to an Islamic school? How well are FISs performing—along various dimensions—according to the students’ parents? This article provides tentative answers to those questions using qualitative and small sample data collected in 2010 in Burkina Faso and Ghana.Publication Public, Private, and Faith-Inspired Schools in Ghana : A Comparative Assessment(Taylor and Francis, 2014-06-10)There is no doubt that the contribution of private schools, both faith-inspired and secular, is significant in Africa: private schools fill a gap left by insufficient public education and they provide choice to households. Yet detailed evidence on their market share and characteristics is often not available. How large is the market share of private secular and faith-inspired schools (FISs) in Africa in comparison to public schools? Is it correct to assume that while private secular schools are often affordable only for wealthier families, FISs do reach the poor and provide services at low cost to households? 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