#1fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES CIES 2013 What do secondary education graduates need to know to succeed in an emerging African economy? Study of the Institute of Technology in Equatorial Guinea Sergio Ramírez-Mena FHI 360 March 16, 2013#2Education Sector and Economic Sector: Who's the hare? Who's and tortoise? fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#3Equatorial Guinea Location: Western Africa, between Cameroon and Gabon Area: 28,051 sq km, almost size of Maryland Island and continental regions Population: 670,001 (July 2009 est.) Life 51 years Expectancy: (avg. 77 for high income non-OECD) GDP GNI per Capita Languages: $19B USD (2011) $15,670 (2011 World Bank) (avg. $21K for High Income Non-OECD) Multilingual and multicultural Spanish is official language Resources Discovery of oil and natural gas in 90s has propelled country economic status dramatically fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#4Background FHI 360's EG education work since 2005 Rapid economic expansion bypasses young population without secondary education (SE) 1 in 10 graduates from SE lacking skills to enter work force • Better prepared foreign workers fill vacancies • National Institute of Technology created to supply graduates for one sector only: oil fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#5The Study of the Institute of Technology of EG Sponsored by Hess Corporation in support of the Institute of Technology Provides insight about actual skills required of graduates based on local job market needs Reviews economic and labor force demands across all major sectors, not just oil (i.e. accountants, mechanics, electricians, pipe fitters, etc.) Provides recommendations to make secondary education more responsive to market fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#6EG education system at a glance fh1360 3º Ciclo: 3 años (Doctor) EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR 2º Ciclo: 4 semestres (Máster) 1º Ciclo: 6 semestres (Licenciado) Curso de Orientación Universitaria (COU) Formación Técnica Profesional de grado superior (Oficial Técnico) 2º Ciclo: cursos 1,2 17/18 a 19 años Bachillerato: Cursos 1, 2 Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología, Artes Formación Técnica Profesional de Grado Medio (Auxiliar Técnico) 1º Ciclo: Cursos 1,2 16/17 a 18 años The gap at the end of secondary education EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA Educación Secundaria Básica - ESBA: Cursos 1,2,3,4 13 a 16 años 2º Ciclo: Grados 4,5,6 10 a 12 años EDUCACIÓN PRIMARIA 7* a 9 1º Ciclo: Grados 1*,2,3 años EDUCACIÓN PREESCOLAR 4a6 Educación Parvularia años 1a3 Educación Infantil años 10 years to reach technical vocational training THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#7EG Enrollment Evolution 1 in 10 complete 12th grade, Women participation drops in 11th and 12th grades Limiting pool of applicants to technical education Number of Students 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 52.1% 50.8% 50.0% 49.6% 50.3% 50.0% 51.2% 50.1% 51.1% 52.5% 47.9% 49.2% 50.0% 50.4% 49.7% 50.0% 48.8% 49.9% 48.9% 47.5% 5,000 58.6% 57.3% 41.4% 42.7% 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th Enrolment Male % Female % MEC Statistics 2010-11 fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#8EG Education by Age Enrollment Male & Female 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 6,490 0 1st fh1360 3,380 3 out of 4 are overage 2,222 2,017 1,286 1465 1,033 1,155 960 657 675 396 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th Grade Underage At-age Overage THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#9The Study Survey covered - - Employer survey: 44 companies Tracer Study of Institute graduates: 98 workers Size of Organizations Surveyed Institute Graduates in Oil Sector by Gender 24 2 fh1360 I Large (over 250 employees) 16% Male 18 I Small/Medium (between 10 to 250 employees) Micro (under 10 employees) 84% Female THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#10Key Findings from the Employer Survey fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#11Employer Survey: Findings Number of Employers 18 16 14 12 10 88 9 4 2 0 In your opinion, Local institutions train insufficient number of Poor quality of local training Staff leaving to work in other organizations Emigration of skilled workers students fh1360 Extremely important ■Very important Important ■Slightly important Not important THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#12fhi360 Number of Employers 2 Spanish language skills Employer Survey: Findings What are the basic skills you are looking for in new employees, particularly for jobs you are currently in recruitment? Extremely important Very important Important ■Slightly important Not important 20 18 16 14 12 10 Regional language skills Mathemat (calculatio ics n) skills Computer skills Writing skills Ability to work independe ntly THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#13Employer Survey: Findings 30 25 25 How difficult is it to find skilled labor to fill vacancies in your firm? Very difficult It's more difficult than easy It's more easy than difficult Very easy 20 20 15 45 Number of Employers 10 10 5 0 Highly qualified specialists Average qualification specialists (technicians, average accountants, sale persons, cashiers) fh1360 Skilled workers Unskilled workers (including unskilled support staff like office cleaners, yard- keepers) THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#14Summary What personal and basic skills do enterprises consider most important? Personal skills: punctuality, commitment, honesty, intellectual skill level, and personal appearance Basic skills: communication (including Spanish language), general literacy, customer relation skills, and problem solving. Skills absent from current secondary education, highly dependent on personal background The majority of labor market demand is for jobs requiring secondary school education, and a large proportion with post secondary qualifications fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#15Key Findings from the Tracer Study of Institute Graduates fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#16Education level required to gain admission to the Institute What academic level of education did you have when admitted to the Institute? Post Secondary (Diploma/Intermediate) fh1360 Graduate Secondary Post Graduate 1 Middle 0 Primary 0 6 0 5 10 10 10 16 22 22 15 20 25 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#17Tracer Study: Findings What are the two most important factors to enroll in the Institute? Potential for employment following completion of the training Technical content of the program fitted my interest and aptitude English language training Potential for employment with an international company Allowances and benefits provided during training fh1360 Other 2 9 0 5 10 11 15 Number of Graduates 20 20 25 25 20 25 30 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#18Tracer Study: Findings What would you improve in your training in secondary and technical education? Laboratories, workshops and equipment To prepare courses and programs to continue further training Support services (i.e. library, health and job placement, etc.) Allow more time for individual student use of equipment Teachers knowledge of material Content of curriculum to prepare you for employment and/or self- 8 employment 13 13 21 21 23 36 0 10 20 Number of Graduates 30 40 40 Items not selected by any respondents: Disbursement of allowances; Job placement services; Exams and grading system fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#19Summary Institute picks the “elite” of the public schools Majority of Institute applicants had university degrees Hands on practice and access to laboratory (equipment) seen as key Most see Institute as a key step to continue education specialization, especially overseas ⚫ Institute degree clearly linked to job prospects fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#20Implications for Secondary Education Secondary education is the bridge (or gap) to access advanced degrees, esp. technical training Reduce overage students, reduce repetition National compulsory education through 10th grade Shifting secondary curriculum from prescriptive professional tracks to a core transferable skills Prepare graduates that are life-long learners that know how to leverage technology and communicate in English fh1360 THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#21Future secondary education core skills fh1360 Basic skills: RRR focused on communication Thinking skills: problem solving, independent thinking, reasoning and use of technology Personal skills: responsibility, integrity, sociability, leadership, self- motivation THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES#22Thank you Sergio Ramírez-Mena, MSc. [email protected] 202 884 8811 www.redprodege.org fh1360 FINISH THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVING LIVES