PRODEGE

The Educational Program for Equatorial Guinea seeks to transform the educational system in Equatorial Guinea, focusing on primary education and providing boys, girls and youth with the competencies needed for success. During the first five years of the program we will train hundreds of teachers, distribute school materials and help educators in Equatorial Guinea develop and adapt modern training methods to serve the needs of their schools.

This program is the result of an agreement between His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, and John B. Hess, President of Hess Corporation, to accelerate educational development in primary schools in all the country. Hess Corporation entrusted the Academy for Educational Development (AED) with working with the Ministry of Education, Sciences and Sports (MECD) in implementing an educational quality program for Equatoguinean children. Additionally, AED will provide technical leadership for the program and will manage its implementation.

Ten Year Strategic Vision

The initial analysis of the educational system in Equatorial Guinea conducted by AED reached the conclusion that the priorities to improve education were teacher education and improved learning for girls and boys. Therefore, the program is focused mainly on teacher training and model schools that apply the active learning approach. The program's first five years constitute the initial stage in a ten-year quality in education strategy for Equatorial Guinea. The plan for the following five years will expand to a national level the successful experiences, in order that they be applied throughout the country's schools. Additionally, achievements in primary school will be extended to post-primary education and youth development. In ten years, this strategy for improving education quality will change the quality of learning of boys, girls and youth in classrooms, schools and communities, and will improve the statistical and policies of the education system.

The Five-Year Action Plan

The goal for the first five years of the program is to kick off the transformation of the educational system in the country, focusing on primary education as the basis for the development of new generations, educated in the skills needed for life and national development. Hundreds of teachers and educators will be trained, and active learning materials and learning processes will be adapted for use in classrooms.

The elements in the Five Year Action Plan are:

1. An active learning program based on Equatoguineans' specific needs and aspirations.
2. Forty model primary schools in which teachers use active learning approaches in their classrooms and in which academic performance improves among girls and boys. The schools will be remodeled and equiped with adequate teaching materials.
3. A teacher training program that enhances the quality of education for teachers who have not received formal initial training.
4. Two National Quality Labs established in the University Schools for Teacher Training in Malabo and Bata. These labs will focus on developing practical and effective teaching skills.
5. Twelve hundred teachers in service will learn the principles and methods of active learning and will apply these in their classrooms.

6. Strengthening of the MECD, including an Education Policy Forum that provides leadership in quality policy using statistical systems to plan future reform initiatives. The Government of Equatorial Guinea will develp programs that can be applied nationally. The Government and Hess Corporation provide support for the program and will ensure its sustainability.