Global Study On Child Poverty And Disparities (PDF) - Social Policy ...

Another issue in Vanuatu is the language of
instruction; bilingualism is enshrined in the
Constitution and the draft National Language
Policy. While maintaining French language
instruction in schools is considered an asset, it is a
challenge to provide instruction in both languages
because of the duplication and inefficiencies in
rural areas and the lack of qualified teachers.
Child outcomes, disparities and
gender equality
Approximately three-quarters (74 per cent) of
primary-school-age children are enrolled; only 63
per cent reach grade 5, and less than 3 per cent
of children who enrol in primary school make it
through to year 13 (ADB 2009a). The literacy rate
is also relatively low, estimated at 74 per cent and
69 per cent in rural areas. Vanuatu also has the
highest proportion of children in the Pacific who
have never attended school. Some areas have
as high as 65 per cent non-attendance rates, and
there are also high rates of drop-outs, withdrawals
and absenteeism. These Figures suggest
Vanuatu has little chance of reaching the MDG of
education for all by 2015 (ADB 2009a).
As Figure 3.8 shows, school attendance rates
differ substantially with differences in mother’s
education and wealth index quintiles. While 61 per
cent of children whose mothers have no education
are attending primary or secondary school, the
rate is nearly 90 per cent for children whose
mothers have secondary or higher education. Net
school attendance increases from 73 per cent in
the poorest wealth quintile to 89 per cent in the
richest wealth quintile.
Figure 3.8: School attendance rates by mother’s
education and wealth quintile (%)
100
89
89
90
81
77
80
73
70
61
60
50
40
30
20
10
0 None Secondary Primary Poorest Middle Lowest
Mother’s Education
Wealth quintile
Source: MICS 2007.
Table 3.8 shows the percentage of children
of primary school age attending primary or
secondary school. Nationally, 80 per cent of boys
and girls attend primary or secondary school. By
region, Tafea has the lowest net attendance rate
at 70 per cent, and Malampa has the highest at
93 per cent.
Table 3.8: School attendance by region and age, 2007
Male Female Total
Background characteristics
% attendance* Number of % attendance* Number of % attendance* # of children
children
children
Region Tafea 71.7 145 68.9 132 70.4 277
Shefa 82.8 122 82.7 104 82.7 226
Malampa 93.1 87 93.2 88 93.1 175
Penama 72.5 131 79.3 87 75.2 218
Sanma 76.8 99 74.4 86 75.7 185
Torba 77.5 138 82.2 146 79.9 284
Port Vila 84.0 256 85.9 206 84.8 462
Luganville 81.7 208 80.7 166 81.3 374
Residence Urban 83.3 464 84.4 372 83.8 836
Rural 79.2 722 80.1 643 79.6 1,365
Age 6 72.6 225 68.2 193 70.6 418
7 78.2 208 79.8 153 78.9 361
8 90.0 205 87.6 160 89.0 365
9 80.9 210 84.6 198 82.7 408
10 78.2 154 85.6 141 81.7 295
Mother’s
education
11 80.9 184 82.4 170 81.6 354
None 59.4 104 62.2 111 60.8 215
Primary 79.4 661 82.1 527 80.6 1,188
Secondary + 89.2 246 89.3 225 89.3 471
Non-standard (*) 7 (*) 2 (*) 9
Mother not in
84.8 168 78.7 147 82.0 315
household
Missing/DK . 0 (*) 3 (*) 3
66