Research

Area : Education

Quranic schools and universal primary schooling

Client : Agence Française de Développement (the French Development Agency)

Providing advice on the possible contribution of Koranic schools to universal primary education in West Africa

In view of the large number of children attending Koranic schools in West Africa, the French Development Agency wished to take stock of the potential of Koranic schools to contribute to universal primary education. In 2014, with the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals approaching, Quale carried out a study in Mali, Niger and Senegal which aimed to increase understanding of the realities of Koranic schools in West Africa. To do this, we brought together different elements of analysis to understand how this part of the non-formal education sector interacts with, and could better contribute to, the formal education system in each of these countries

Public policies on arabic/islamic education

Client : UNICEF

Preparatory study to feed strategic thinking 

In the context of an international initiative to address the problem of out-of-school children in West and Central Africa, UNICEF wished to make a regional inventory of the educational offer in the Koranic/Arabic/Islamic education sector, and of the regulatory framework governing the sector. Quale thus carried out a study of the sector across 14 countries. Bringing together a team of around 20 regional experts, Quale conducted documentary research and field surveys with stakeholders in the sector. We produced a regional mapping of the sector, as well as reports for each of the countries considered, in order to provide in-depth background information and recommendations for UNICEF and other public policymakers working in the area of education.

Client : UNION EUROPÉENNE

An exploratory study of the demand for education in Conakry in Guinea

The demand for education in West Africa has been little studied. To fill the data gap and to inform Guinean government authorities and stakeholders in the field of Arabic/Islamic education, Quale carried out an exploratory study in the Conakry area of Guinea. The study sought to understand parents’ perceptions of the different types of schools on offer (secular and denominational), as well as their expectations in regard to education. We focused in particular on understanding families’ demands and perspectives concerning religious education, and its relationship to secular education.

The integration of arabic/islamic education in education systems

Client : UNICEF

Leading a strategic thinking seminar on possible support from UNICEF in the area of Arabic/Islamic education

In the context of its desire to formulate a regional strategy concerning the relationship between the Arabic/Islamic education sector and national education systems, the regional office of UNICEF for West and Central Africa asked Quale to lead a seminar on the subject, based on its earlier regional study (see above). The strategic seminar, facilitated by Quale, brought together executives from UNICEF country offices involved in the topic and subject matter experts to analyze the data collected during the earlier study and to deepen understanding of the topic.