Continuing Education for Early Primary School Leavers. Report of a Technical Working Group Meeting (Chiang Mai, Thailand, October 4-11, 1988).

Overview & Synopsis

This report summarizes discussions of a working group meeting on the continuing education needs of early primary school leavers in Asia and the Pacific. An introduction summarizes the welcoming addresses. Chapter 1 presents highlights of experiences of these countries in providing continuing education to school leavers: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand. Chapter 2 discusses the learning needs of early primary school leavers identified by the meeting: literacy, communication, and post-literacy skills; numeracy or arithmetic skills; occupational, technical, or entrepreneurial skills; values development; citizenship training; thinking skills; self-confidence or self-worth; and primary health care, hygiene, and sanitation. Areas of action to meet the learning needs of dropouts are recommended. Chapter 3 proposes four operational models for continuing education: distance education and community-based instruction model, continuing education model for early primary school leavers, community-centered model, and distance study model. Chapter 4 discusses a 10-step process for instructional materials development. Chapter 5 makes recommendations for follow-up actions at the national and regional levels. Appendixes include the following: "A Conceptual Framework and Proposed Operational Models for Early Primary School Leavers in Asia and the Pacific" (Vichai Tunsiri); opening statement (Leonardo de la Cruz); and participant list. (YLB)