Improving the quality of basic education for children in Africa is the essence
of President Bush’s $200 million multi-year Africa Education Initiative (AEI)
announced June 2002. The Africa Education Initiative (AEI) is designed to
improve educational opportunities for Africa's children so that they may lead
happier, healthier lives, and become more productive members of society.
Building on USAID Basic Education programs and the Education for Development
and Democracy Initiative, the AEI is a $200 million multi-year initiative that
focuses on increasing access to quality basic educational opportunities in
Africa through three main programs: Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Program,
Teacher Training, Textbooks and Other Learning Tools.
The Education Division of the Office of Sustainable Development in USAID’s
Bureau for Africa (AFR/SD/ED) is responsible for the implementation of the two
presidential education initiatives, EDDI and AEI. AFR/SD/ED will be responsible
for overseeing AEI-AGSP implementation.
AMBASSADOR’S GIRLS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The objective of the program is to support the goal of the President’s AEI, for
the retention of girls in school who would otherwise have no means of staying
in school. This is being done through the awarding of scholarships and
complementary mentoring programs which will inspire and encourage the girls in
their educational pursuits. Over the next four years, 250,000 scholarships will
be awarded.
In Africa, girls account for 60 percent of over 40 million children who are
often kept out of school because of adverse economic circumstances or other
hardship. AEI-AGSP will provide scholarships at the primary level, and on rare
occasions, at the secondary level, for girls. Scholarships will be given to
motivated yet disadvantaged girls, so that they receive financial assistance
for the advancement of their education. Examples of recipients are girls from
economically poor households, those who are handicapped, orphaned or adversely
affected by HIV/AIDS. The scholarship assistance is intended to support girls
selected through a multiple-year period.
Two important elements, HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation and the involvement
of communities and parents in education systems, are being included in all
aspects of the AEI. In the case of scholarships, this is accomplished through
the involvement of community, parents, and teachers in key activities. They
participate in the selection of scholarship recipients and the development and
perhaps implementation of mentoring programs for the recipients.
