The Role of Faith-based Organizations in Building Democratic Process: Achieving Universal Primary Education in Sierra Leone
This paper aims to argue that religion and Faith-based
Organizations (FBOs) contribute to building democratic process
through the provision of education in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone
experienced a civil war from 1991 to 2002 and about 70 percent of the
population lives in poverty. While the government has been in the
process of rebuilding the nation, many forms of Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs), including FBOs, have played a significant role
in promoting social development. Education plays an important role in
supporting people-s democratic movements through knowledge
acquisition, spiritual enlightenment and empowerment. This paper
discusses religious tolerance in Sierra Leone and how FBOs have
contributed to the provision of primary education in Sierra Leone. This
study is based on the author-s field research, which involved
interviews with teachers and development stakeholders, notably
government officials, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and
FBOs, as well as questionnaires completed by pupils, parents and
teachers.
[1] UNECOSOC, Commission on Population and Development Thirtyeighth
session 4-8 April 2005 World Demographic Trends, 2004.
[2] S. Silue, Education, Literacy and Development in Africa. Cape Town:
Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society, 2000.
[3] E. Hannum & C. Buchmann, "Global Educational Expansion and
Socio-economic Development: An Assessment of Findings from the
Social Sciences," World Development, 33 (3), pp. 333-354, 2005.
[4] P. Rose, Supporting Non-state Providers in Basic Education Service
Delivery. Sussex: University of Sussex Centre for International
Education. Retrieved 10 October 2007 from Consortium for Research on
Educational Access, Transitions and Equity (CREATE), 2007. Available:
http://www.create-rpc.org/pdf%20documents/PTA4.pdf
[5] C. Harber, Education, Democracy and Political Development in Africa.
Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 1997.
[6] UNDP, Human Development Report 1993, People's Participation.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.
[7] C. Harber, "Education, Democracy and Poverty Reduction in Africa."
Comparative Education 38(3), p. 267-276, 2002.
[8] C. Ake, The marginalization of Africa: Notes on a productive
confusion. Lagos State: Malthouse Press Ltd, 1996.
[9] A. Lind, Education, Democracy and Human Rights. Stockholm: SIDA,
2005.
[10] D. Hulme, & M. Edwards, NGOs, States and Donors Too Close for
Comfort?. London: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997.
[11] D. Belshaw, R. Calderisi, & C. Sugden, Faith Development: Partnership
between the World Bank and the Churches of Africa, Regnum Books
International, Oxford, 2001.
[12] D. Belshaw, "Enhancing the Development Capability of Civil Society
Organisations, with Particular Reference to Christian Faith-based
Organisations (FBOs)." In Reclaiming Development: Assessing the
Contributions of Non-Governmental Organisations to Development
Alternatives, Economic and Social Research Council Global Poverty
Research Group, 2005.
[13] N. Rao & I. Smyth, Partnerships for Girls' Education. Oxford: Oxfam,
2005.
[14] J. L. Hirsch, Sierra Leone: Diamonds and the Struggle for Democracy.
London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc, 2001.
[15] UNICEF, The State of the World-s Children 2006. Retrieved December
10, 2006, from The United Nations Children-s Fund, 2005.
Available:http://www.unicef.org/sowc06/pdfs/sowc06_fullreport.pdf
[16] Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper,
February 2005. Retrieved November 27, 2006, from IMF.
Available:http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/cr05191.pdf
[17] P. Bennell, J. Harding, & S. Rogers-Wright, PRSP Education Sector
Review. Freetown: British Council Sierra Leone, 2004.
[18] Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), Sierra Leone
Education Sector Plan: A Road Map to a Better Future, 2007. Retrieved
30 October 2007 from UNESCO. Available:
http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Sierra%20Leone/Sierra_Leone_
ESP.pdf
[19] M. Nishimuko, "Problems behind Education for All (EFA): The Case of
Sierra Leone." Educate^, 7 (2), pp.19-29, 2007.
[20] A. C. Hudock, NGOs and Civil Society: Democracy by Proxy?.
Cambridge: Polity Press, 1999.
[21] I. Smillie, & H. Helmich (eds.), Stakeholders: Government - NGO
Partnerships for International Development. London: Earthscan
Publication Ltd, 1999.
[1] UNECOSOC, Commission on Population and Development Thirtyeighth
session 4-8 April 2005 World Demographic Trends, 2004.
[2] S. Silue, Education, Literacy and Development in Africa. Cape Town:
Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society, 2000.
[3] E. Hannum & C. Buchmann, "Global Educational Expansion and
Socio-economic Development: An Assessment of Findings from the
Social Sciences," World Development, 33 (3), pp. 333-354, 2005.
[4] P. Rose, Supporting Non-state Providers in Basic Education Service
Delivery. Sussex: University of Sussex Centre for International
Education. Retrieved 10 October 2007 from Consortium for Research on
Educational Access, Transitions and Equity (CREATE), 2007. Available:
http://www.create-rpc.org/pdf%20documents/PTA4.pdf
[5] C. Harber, Education, Democracy and Political Development in Africa.
Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 1997.
[6] UNDP, Human Development Report 1993, People's Participation.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.
[7] C. Harber, "Education, Democracy and Poverty Reduction in Africa."
Comparative Education 38(3), p. 267-276, 2002.
[8] C. Ake, The marginalization of Africa: Notes on a productive
confusion. Lagos State: Malthouse Press Ltd, 1996.
[9] A. Lind, Education, Democracy and Human Rights. Stockholm: SIDA,
2005.
[10] D. Hulme, & M. Edwards, NGOs, States and Donors Too Close for
Comfort?. London: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997.
[11] D. Belshaw, R. Calderisi, & C. Sugden, Faith Development: Partnership
between the World Bank and the Churches of Africa, Regnum Books
International, Oxford, 2001.
[12] D. Belshaw, "Enhancing the Development Capability of Civil Society
Organisations, with Particular Reference to Christian Faith-based
Organisations (FBOs)." In Reclaiming Development: Assessing the
Contributions of Non-Governmental Organisations to Development
Alternatives, Economic and Social Research Council Global Poverty
Research Group, 2005.
[13] N. Rao & I. Smyth, Partnerships for Girls' Education. Oxford: Oxfam,
2005.
[14] J. L. Hirsch, Sierra Leone: Diamonds and the Struggle for Democracy.
London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc, 2001.
[15] UNICEF, The State of the World-s Children 2006. Retrieved December
10, 2006, from The United Nations Children-s Fund, 2005.
Available:http://www.unicef.org/sowc06/pdfs/sowc06_fullreport.pdf
[16] Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper,
February 2005. Retrieved November 27, 2006, from IMF.
Available:http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/cr05191.pdf
[17] P. Bennell, J. Harding, & S. Rogers-Wright, PRSP Education Sector
Review. Freetown: British Council Sierra Leone, 2004.
[18] Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), Sierra Leone
Education Sector Plan: A Road Map to a Better Future, 2007. Retrieved
30 October 2007 from UNESCO. Available:
http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Sierra%20Leone/Sierra_Leone_
ESP.pdf
[19] M. Nishimuko, "Problems behind Education for All (EFA): The Case of
Sierra Leone." Educate^, 7 (2), pp.19-29, 2007.
[20] A. C. Hudock, NGOs and Civil Society: Democracy by Proxy?.
Cambridge: Polity Press, 1999.
[21] I. Smillie, & H. Helmich (eds.), Stakeholders: Government - NGO
Partnerships for International Development. London: Earthscan
Publication Ltd, 1999.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:53749", author = "Mikako Nishimuko", title = "The Role of Faith-based Organizations in Building Democratic Process: Achieving Universal Primary Education in Sierra Leone", abstract = "This paper aims to argue that religion and Faith-based
Organizations (FBOs) contribute to building democratic process
through the provision of education in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone
experienced a civil war from 1991 to 2002 and about 70 percent of the
population lives in poverty. While the government has been in the
process of rebuilding the nation, many forms of Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs), including FBOs, have played a significant role
in promoting social development. Education plays an important role in
supporting people-s democratic movements through knowledge
acquisition, spiritual enlightenment and empowerment. This paper
discusses religious tolerance in Sierra Leone and how FBOs have
contributed to the provision of primary education in Sierra Leone. This
study is based on the author-s field research, which involved
interviews with teachers and development stakeholders, notably
government officials, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and
FBOs, as well as questionnaires completed by pupils, parents and
teachers.", keywords = "Civil society, democracy, faith-based organizations (FBOs), religious tolerance, universal primary education (UPE)", volume = "2", number = "8", pages = "845-8", }