School planning with equal access in mind and geospatial data software in hand: Learning Cycle 2 and the Outcome Case

• In Event: A systemic Approach to Policy Reform through Knowledge and Innovation Exchange: The Case of the Maldives

Proposal

Equitable access to education takes the lead on the global educational policy dialogues and agendas. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 is to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all". To achieve the goal of equitable quality education, school planning plays a key role in every country across the world. To support this global need, KIX EAP learning cycle 2 focused on equitable access to education, with a special focus on the use of geospatial data in educational planning. The program was hosted by NORRAG as proposed by the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) in the framework of the KIX EAP programme. Five national experts from the Maldives participated in the programme. This paper explores how learning cycle 2 on geospatial data resulted in a policy uptake in the Maldives where the national experts conducted school planning exercises with equal access in mind and geospatial data software in hand. Geospatial data was analysed using QGIS software. The findings revealed that some inhabited islands do not have schools and every island providing lower secondary education does not provide higher secondary education. More significantly, there was no higher secondary school in the two atolls; Vaavu and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll when the exercise was conducted in the mid of year 2021. Other than this, the analysis identified an issue of access to higher secondary education based on isochron in the Male’ city and Addu city. There is no public higher secondary school in Hulhumale’ (a reclaimed island as a part of the capital city connected by a bridge). Hence, higher secondary students need to travel to the mainland of Male’ to attend school. Similar issue in the Addu city. Development of Hulhumale’ is a major urban development project undertaken in the Maldives. Thus, similar challenges related to population density, traveling distance and travel time may exist in small island states and urban areas in other country contexts. Based on the findings of this study, the Ministry of Education revised its policy to allow any school with the resources and facilities as well as students who wish to study, to begin higher secondary education. As a result, higher secondary education was commenced in Keyodhoo School of Vaavu Atoll in October 2021, making higher secondary education available in all atolls of the Maldives. This immediate action shows that the government of the Maldives is committed to ensuring equal access to schooling for all residents. The learning cycle on using geospatial data provided tools to map the location of schools and identify bottlenecks in the provision of higher secondary education across the country. Reflecting on this case study, it is crucial to have equal access in mind and use geospatial data in the entire school planning process in other countries. As a result, school construction and rehabilitation in countries will be aligned with equitable access to quality education.

Author

• Ahmed Mohamed, The Maldives National University