Written Question · S3W-13299 · Session 3
How many teachers from Scotland have been supported by the Link Community Development Global Teachers Programme to help schools in Malawi i…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers from Scotland have been supported by the Link Community Development Global Teachers Programme to help schools in Malawi in each of the last three years.
The answer
Over the last three years 42 Scottish teachers have been selected by Link Community Development to take part in their Global Teachers Programme in Malawi (11 in 2005-06; 17 in 2006-07 and 14 in 2007-08). These placements benefitted 55 schools in 2005-06 and 85 in 2006-07. Figures for 2007-08 will not be available until after August 2008.
Link Community Development were awarded £100,000 in 2005-06, £150,000 in 2006-07 and £150,000 2007-08 for the Scotland Malawi School Improvement Project., which supported a number of elements, one of which was the Global Teacher Programme. Link Community Development receives funding from a number of organisations and it is, therefore not possible to provide information on the percentage of funding spent in Malawi specifically from the Scottish Government grant for this programme.
We have reviewed the funding given to Link Community Development to simplify the landscape for teachers. This means that from April this year most Scottish Government funded International CPD opportunities for teachers are being considered as part of the Scottish Continuing International Professional Development (SCIPD) programme for teachers administered by Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS). The SCIPD scheme includes opportunities for teachers to apply for continuous professional development opportunities in Malawi. This part of the programme is managed by the League of Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers.
Other opportunities for teachers to participate in Malawi programmes include the Department for International Development Global Schools Partnerships programme which provides advice and guidance, grants and professional development opportunities for schools wishing to develop partnerships between the UK and Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. This programme is managed by the British Council.
Link Community Development currently receives funding from the International Development Fund which relates specifically to the Scotland Malawi School Improvement Programme in the Dedza District Assembly area of Malawi, which supports the development work that they are doing in Malawi. Any future funding for Link Community Development from the International Development Fund will be based on a satisfactory review of existing grant programmes and on whether future bids meet the relevant funding criteria.
The work that Link Community Development does in the Dedza District of Malawi is supported by the government of Malawi, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The work which teachers are involved in is very highly regarded in Malawi, contributing to raising teaching and learning quality.
There are no plans to publish a register of school links with Africa. As part of their role in promoting International Education in the curriculum, LTS collect data on schools which link with other countries throughout the world including schools linked with Malawi. There are a number of opportunities which currently exist to enable the sharing of good practice between practitioners and this includes the LTS website www.ltscotland.org.uk.
School partnership links with Malawi have opened up a number of wonderful learning opportunities for teachers and young people in both countries. I would expect that the links established by schools should continue to ensure that schools benefit from and build on this established knowledge and learning.
Link Community Development were awarded £100,000 in 2005-06, £150,000 in 2006-07 and £150,000 2007-08 for the Scotland Malawi School Improvement Project., which supported a number of elements, one of which was the Global Teacher Programme. Link Community Development receives funding from a number of organisations and it is, therefore not possible to provide information on the percentage of funding spent in Malawi specifically from the Scottish Government grant for this programme.
We have reviewed the funding given to Link Community Development to simplify the landscape for teachers. This means that from April this year most Scottish Government funded International CPD opportunities for teachers are being considered as part of the Scottish Continuing International Professional Development (SCIPD) programme for teachers administered by Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS). The SCIPD scheme includes opportunities for teachers to apply for continuous professional development opportunities in Malawi. This part of the programme is managed by the League of Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers.
Other opportunities for teachers to participate in Malawi programmes include the Department for International Development Global Schools Partnerships programme which provides advice and guidance, grants and professional development opportunities for schools wishing to develop partnerships between the UK and Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. This programme is managed by the British Council.
Link Community Development currently receives funding from the International Development Fund which relates specifically to the Scotland Malawi School Improvement Programme in the Dedza District Assembly area of Malawi, which supports the development work that they are doing in Malawi. Any future funding for Link Community Development from the International Development Fund will be based on a satisfactory review of existing grant programmes and on whether future bids meet the relevant funding criteria.
The work that Link Community Development does in the Dedza District of Malawi is supported by the government of Malawi, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The work which teachers are involved in is very highly regarded in Malawi, contributing to raising teaching and learning quality.
There are no plans to publish a register of school links with Africa. As part of their role in promoting International Education in the curriculum, LTS collect data on schools which link with other countries throughout the world including schools linked with Malawi. There are a number of opportunities which currently exist to enable the sharing of good practice between practitioners and this includes the LTS website www.ltscotland.org.uk.
School partnership links with Malawi have opened up a number of wonderful learning opportunities for teachers and young people in both countries. I would expect that the links established by schools should continue to ensure that schools benefit from and build on this established knowledge and learning.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-13299 by reference.