Community Schools in Africa

Over the past decade, community schools similar to those supported by Save the Children have been established in many developing countries, and especially in sub-Saharan Africa. As large numbers of children attend schools started and managed by their own communities and/or by nongovernmental organizations, questions have come up about the impact of such schools at large scale: "Can village-based or community schools have a national impact on access to education, spur improved long-term development strategies and education policy, or achieve or influence Education for All? This book explores these and related questions, drawing on Save the Children's experience with community-based schooling in four countries: Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, and Uganda. The literature on community schools in Africa tends to be sparse, repetitive and highly descriptive with little or no sustained critique of practice. This book fills asubstantial gap in the education literature and is particularly timely, given the current emphasis on decentralization and community involvement in education.