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1. Analysis of the Book Supply Chain for Early Grade Reading in Senegal

Thu, April 18, 11:45am to 1:15pm, Hyatt Regency, Floor: Pacific Concourse (Level -1), Pacific O

Proposal

This paper presents the results of a recent analysis of Senegal’s textbook chain. As applied research, the objective of this study is to help Senegal’s Ministry of National Education and its partners, particularly USAID’s Lecture Pour Tous, to better understand policy and technical issues to improve the system in close discussions with relevant private sector entities. As a systematic case study of the textbook chain designed for immediate application to improve policy and practice, this analysis contributes to the field of comparative education and to other ministries of education and partners that support them to achieve significant early grade reading gains.

Through key informant interviews, document analysis, and secondary data analysis, the study finds that Senegal’s textbook provision systems is strong, thanks to a diverse and professional local publishing scene. This was achieved over several years through careful and open collaboration between private publishers, the government and development partners. Adapted from the Canadian model, the Senegalese TLM bidding system provides a certain degree of fairness, transparency and balance in the way textbooks are evaluated and selected. While it may be overly complex and could be refreshed more frequently, the system is the closest to “international best practices” found in francophone Africa.

The study then offers suggestions to streamline this system, particularly given the needs for early grade reading. This begins with improving the formal textbook policy framework in Senegal, which includes developing:
• The profile for a minimum package of affordable teaching and learning materials, based on the international evidence base of cost-effectiveness to get children reading
• An action plan that covers 5 years of TLM development, publishing, distribution and funding.
• Technical and human resource capacity of private publishers to produce materials in national languages and with the required technicity.
• A sustainable financing system funded by the government, donors and parents.
• Updated policies on evaluation, approvals, procurement and competition.

Once the policy framework is updated, the study identifies technical aspects to improve:
• The TLM provision system, which allow materials to be written and published at the right prices. In Senegal, students enjoy quality textbooks, but a simpler bidding system would lead to better pricing, timely and recurrent provision.
• Expansion of the remit of the division currently handling most of the links of the textbook chain
• Methods to find the right balance between feasible logistics and delivering the books as close as possible to the school (ideally to the school itself), introducing a track and trace system.
• Efforts to maintain and manage stock securely in schools, with minimum damage and loss and maximum accessibility to teachers and students.
• Oversight efforts to ensure that materials are used effectively in the classroom.

The presentation will conclude with an update on how study findings are being applied in Senegal and further recommendations for how this experience can benefit others seeking to improve book supply chains for early grade reading.

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