1 August 2017

PRESS RELEASE (Nairobi, Kampala, Monrovia, Johannesburg, 1 August 2017)

174 civil society organisations from around the world, including the Right to Education Initiative, have today released a statement calling on investors to cease support for Bridge International Academies, a US-based company running over 500 commercial private schools in the ‘global south’ with the support of international donors and investors.  

Coming just two years after a previous statement addressed to the World Bank, this statement has been signed by a broad range of organisations from 50 different countries. These include human rights, development, community- and faith-based organisations, and trade unions, which demonstrates the growing and wide ranging concerns relating to how Bridge International Academies (‘Bridge’) operates.

The statement sets out the mounting evidence and analysis published in the last two years, including enquiries by independent journalists that raise grave concerns over Bridge’s transparency, relationships with governments, working conditions, and breaches of educational standards. It highlights the cases of Uganda and Kenya where Bridge has not only operated schools illegally but also failed to adhere to national education standards. Authorities in both countries have ordered the closure of Bridge schools.

‘The quality of Bridge schools has not been independently assessed. In any case, any claimed gains in learning outcomes could never justify the shocking practices that have been documented in this statement. What can justify, for instance, [...] unlicensed, unregistered teachers being denied a living wage while working over 60 hours [...] per week?’, reacted Linda Oduor-Noah, of the East African Centre for Human Rights, in Kenya.

Also outlined in the statement is how Bridge does not merely fail to reach the most disadvantaged - the very population it claims to serve - due to high costs, but also negatively impacts families who are accessing the schools. For example, one study found that, as a result of high school fees, between 69 and 83 percent of parents sending their children to Bridge schools had difficulty paying rent, providing food, or accessing healthcare.

Rather than the 6 USD per month, as claimed by the company, the total cost to attend a Bridge school is closer to 20 USD per month. Not only are such costs unaffordable by a large part of the population of our countries where Bridge operates, but their announced fee is misleading’, said Salima Namusobya, of the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights, in Uganda.

The document also underscores Bridge’s resistance to public scrutiny and its attempts to limit transparency, building on the UK Parliament’s International Development Committee’s recent letter to the Secretary of State, which raised this issue.

We’ve seen how in Liberia, Bridge, which is part of a public-private partnership arrangement with the state, has operated in total secrecy, challenging public procurement rules and undermining independent assessment of its operation by civil society. This confirms the trend in other countries, where Bridge has been involved in the arrest of independent teachers, the silencing of unions, resistance to assessment, and more. This is a global education company shrouded in secrecy and hiding, and this is extremely worrying’, added Anderson Miamen, from the Liberia Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education.

The organisations signing the statement are therefore calling on investors and donors to fully discharge their due diligence obligations and cease support for Bridge. Set out in the statement are also a number of other recommendations relating to compliance with national laws and standards, transparency, accountability, treatment of civil society and the redirection of funds to programmes promoting equity in education.

‘It is important to recognise that most investors are genuinely seeking to make a difference in the lives of children living in poverty. We share these concerns and recognise the need for major improvements in education. However, there is now significant evidence that investing in Bridge is not an effective way to improve access, equity and quality in education which should be the aim of any education initiative targeting the most disadvantaged. We would welcome an opportunity to explore alternatives with donors and investors, to identify more effective ways to invest sustainably in providing quality education for all children living in poverty;’ concluded Chikezie Anyanwu, from the Global Campaign for Education.

This latest statement follows persistent concern over the rapid and unregulated growth of certain private education providers, in particular commercial schools, such as Bridge. In May 2015, 116 organisations published a statement expressing alarm over misleading information regarding the cost and quality of Bridge schools. Since then, evidence from various sources, as presented in the statement and which include the UN, a UK parliamentary report, and independent research and media reports, have attested to those concerns, and warned of the dangers inherrent in the gulf between what Bridge promises and the reality of their practices.

Notes to editors

Contacts

  • Salima Namusobya, Executive Director, Initiative for Economic and Social Rights (ISER), Uganda: snamusobya@gmail.com / +256 414581041
  • Anderson Miamen, National Coordinator, Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education (COTAE), Liberia: admiamen2@gmail.com / +231 776 391 481
  • Linda Oduor-Noah, Project Manager, East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights), Kenya: linda.oduornoah@gmail.com / +254701670090
  • Chikezie Anyanwu, Global Co-ordinator, Global Campaign for Education: chikezie@campaignforeducation.org / +27 11 447 4111

List of signatories

Organisation

Country

  1. Action Contre la Pauvreté (ACP)

Burundi

  1. Action Jeunesse et Environnement (AJE)

international

  1. ActionAid International

International

  1. ActionAid International

South Africa

  1. ActionAid Liberia

Liberia

  1. ActionAid Uganda

Uganda

  1. Africa Network Campaign on Education For All (ANCEFA)

International

  1. Aide et Action

International

  1. AKS

Austria

  1. Amnesty International

International

  1. Amnesty International Kenya

Kenya

  1. Amnesty International Sénégal

Senegal

  1. Antarctic

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Appel pour une école démocratique (Aped)

Belgium

  1. Ashroy Foundation

Bangladesh

  1. ASO EPT Niger

Niger

  1. Associação Nacional de Pesquisadores em Financiamento da Educação (Fineduca)

Brazil

  1. Association AMONTANA

Madagascar

  1. Association Camerounaise Pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme des Libertés et du bien être (ACADEHLIB)

Cameroon

  1. Association d'Aide et de Protection des Personnes vulnerables

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Association des Amis du Belvédère

Tunisia

  1. Association des Personnes Handicapées Motivées de Tône (APHMOTO)

Togo

  1. Association femmes pour l’ egalité et la démocratie

Morocco

  1. Association Française Pour un Enseignement Ambitieux et Humaniste (AFPEAH)

France

  1. Association graine de paix

Algeria

  1. Association Initiative Urbaine

Morocco

  1. Association Rechida pour l"environnementet développement

Morocco

  1. Association Tunisienne des Jeunes et Développement

Tunisia

  1. Ayuda en Acción

International

  1. Both ENDS

International

  1. Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education

Brazil

  1. Bretton Woods Project

United Kingdom

  1. Cameroon Education For All Network

Cameroon

  1. Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE)

Bangladesh

  1. Campaña Argentina por el Derecho a la Educación (CADE)

Argentina

  1. Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación (CLADE)

International

  1. Campaña Peruana por el Derecho a la Educación (CPDE)

Peru

  1. Campanha Brasileira pelo Direito à Educação

Brazil

  1. Carrefour de la famille marocaine

Morocco

  1. CEMEA Sénégal

Senegal

  1. Centre d'Actions pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Durable (CASAD-Bénin)

Benin

  1. Centre d'Encadrement des personnes opprimées

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Centre for Education Rights and Transformation

South Africa

  1. Centre for Equity and Quality in Universal Education

India

  1. Centres d'Entrainement aux Méthodes d'Education Active (CEMEA)

France

  1. Centro de Defesa da Criança e do Adolescente (CEDECA/Ceará)

Brazil

  1. Centro de Estudos Educação e Sociedade (CEDES – Unicamp)

Brazil

  1. Centro de Investigación, Planeación y Evaluación (CIPE Consultores)

Honduras

  1. Child Rights International Network (CRIN)

International

  1. Civil Society Action on Education for All (CSACEFA)

Nigeria

  1. Civil Society and Trade Union Institutions of Liberia (CTIL)

Liberia

  1. Coalición Española de la Campaña Mundial por la Educación

Spain

  1. Coalition des organisations en synergie pour la défense de l’éducation publique (COSYDEP)

Senegal

  1. Coalition des organisations mauritaniennes pour l'éducation (COMEDUC)

Mauritania

  1. Coalition Education

France

  1. Coalition Education Pour Tous BAFASHEBIGE

Burundi

  1. Coalition for Educational Developpment

Sri Lanka

  1. Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education

Liberia

  1. Coalition Nationale de l'Education Pour Tous en République Démocratique du Congo (CONEPT RDC)

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Coalition nationale de Madagascar pour l'éducation accessible et inclusive (CONAMEPT)

Madagascar

  1. Coalition Nationale pour l’Education Pour Tous - Burkina Faso (CN-EPT/BURKINA)

Burkina Faso

  1. Comité National de Développement des Réseaux pour l'Education en Afrique de l'Ouest (CNDREAO)

Senegal

  1. Comité Syndical Francophone de l'Education et de la Formation (CSFEF)

International

  1. Construisons Ensemble le Monde

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Corner House

United Kingdom

  1. Counter Balance

Belgium

  1. CSC-Enseignement

Belgium

  1. Défense des enfants International Belgique

International

  1. DEL PEP 21

France

  1. East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights)

Kenya

  1. Economic & Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii)

Kenya

  1. Edugestion Cameroun

Cameroon

  1. Environnement et Progrès ASBL

Belgium

  1. Equal Education Law Centre

South Africa

  1. Fédération Camerounaise des Syndicats de l'Education (FECASE)

Cameroon

  1. Femmes unies pour le développement

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Fonds voor OntwikkelingsSamenwerking (FOS)

International

  1. Foro Dakar Honduras

Honduras

  1. Foro por el Derecho a la Educación de Chile

Chile

  1. Foundation For Environmental Rights,Advocacy & Development FENRAD-NIGERIA

Nigeria

  1. Franciscans International

International

  1. Fundación Manatí para el Fomento de Ciudadanía A.C.

Mexico

  1. Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition

Ghana

  1. Global Campaign for Education

International

  1. Global Campaign for Education - US

United States

  1. Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR)

International

  1. Global Justice Now

United Kingdom

  1. Global Peace and Development Organization

Liberia

  1. Government Teachers' Union

île Maurice

  1. Grupo de Estudio Sobre Educación en Cárceles (GESEC)

Argentina

  1. Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Política Educacional (GREPPE)

Brazil

  1. Homabay county education network

Kenya

  1. Homabay county paralegal

Kenya

  1. Human Dignity

International

  1. Idealoga, Intervención Comunitaria S.Coop.Mad

Spain

  1. Incidencia Civil en Educación (ICE)

Mexico

  1. Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER)

Uganda

  1. Initiative For Women  Empowerement & Development(IWED)

Nigeria

  1. International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF)

International

  1. Jeunes et Femmes pour les droits de l'homme et la paix (J.F.D.HO.P).

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Jeunesse et Emplois Verts pour une Economie Verte (ONG JEVEV)

Bénin

  1. Just Fair

United Kingdom

  1. Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)

Kenya

  1. Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT)

Kenya

  1. Kisora

Kenya

  1. Kisumu county education network

Kenya

  1. Labour,Health and Human Rights Development Centre

Nigeria

  1. Les Anges Du Ciel

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Ligue des Droits de l'Enfant

Belgium

  1. Lumiere Synergie pour le Développement

Senegal

  1. Mathare Association

Kenya

  1. Migori county education network

Kenya

  1. Mouvement Anfass Démocratique

Morocco

  1. Mouvement politique des objecteurs de croissance

Belgium

  1. Movimento de Educação para Todos (MEPT – Moçambique)

Mozambique

  1. Nadi Ghati Morcha

India

  1. Nadi Ghati Morcha

India

  1. National Campaign for Education Nepal

Nepal

  1. National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL)

Liberia

  1. Natural Resources Alliance of Kenya

Kenya

  1. Nepal National Teachers Association

Nepal

  1. Network for Public Education

United States

  1. Network for Public Education

USA

  1. NGO Education Partnership

Cambodia

  1. Organisation Democratique du Travail

Morocco

  1. Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)

International

  1. Oxford Human Rights Hub

United Kingdom

  1. Pakistan Coalition for Education

Pakistan

  1. Planète Urgence

International

  1. PNG Education Advocacy Network (PEAN)

Papua New Guinea

  1. Prayatn Sanstha

India

  1. Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy

United States

  1. Public Services International

International

  1. Red de Educación Popular Entre Mujeres de Latinoamérica y el Caribe (REPEM)

Latin America and Caribbean

  1. Rede Angolana da Sociedade Civil de Educação para Todos (Rede EPT-Angola)

Angola

  1. Rede da Campanha de Educação para Todos – Guiné-Bissau (RECEPT-GB)

Guiné-Bissau

  1. Rede Nacional da Campanha de Educação para Todos de São Tomé e Príncipe (RNEPT-STP)

São Tomé and Príncipe

  1. ReLus - Lusophone Network for the Right to Education

International

  1. Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l'Homme (RPDH)

Republic of Congo

  1. Réseau des Acteurs de Développement de l’Education au Bénin (ONG RADEB)

Benin

  1. Réseau des Organisations pour le Développement de l'Education au Burkina (RODEB)

Burkina Faso

  1. Réseau Ivoirien Pour la Promotion de l'Education Pour tous

Cote d'Ivoire

  1. Réseau Marocain pour la Defense du Droit à la Santé - Droit à la vie

Morocco

  1. Réseau Pour le Développement de l'Education au Niger (RESDEN)

Niger

  1. Réseau progrès et développement humanitaire du Niger (ONG REPRODEVH NIGER)

Niger

  1. RESULTS Education Fund

International

  1. Right to Education Forum (India)

India

  1. Right to Education Forum Jharkhand

India

  1. Right to Education Initiative

International

  1. Shala Mitra sangh

India

  1. Siaya county education network

Kenya

  1. Sikshasandhan

India

  1. Society for International Development (SID)

International

  1. Society for People's Awareness (SPAN)

India

  1. Solidarité Laïque

France  (international )

  1. SOLIDARITE-UNAFETPCI (Union Nationale des Formateurs de l'Enseignement Technique et Professionnel de Côte d'Ivoire)

Côte d'Ivoire

  1. Star of the lake CBO

Kenya

  1. StopTFF

France

  1. Sudanese Coalition for Education for All

Sudan

  1. Sustaining Continuity in Education Foundation

Nigeria

  1. Syndicat des Enseignants Romands

Switzerland

  1. Syndicat des Travailleurs des Etablissements Privés du Cameroun (SYNTESPRIC)

Cameroon

  1. Syndicat général de l'éducation nationale - Fédération (Sgen-CFDT)

France

  1. Syndicat général de l'enseignement de base (SGEB)

Tunisia

  1. Syndicat National Autonome de l'Enseignement Secondaire

Cameroon

  1. Syndicat national de l'enseignement supérieur Fédération syndicale unitaire (SNESUP-FSU)

France

  1. Syndicat National des Agents de la Formation et de l'Education du Niger (SYNAFEN -NIGER)

Niger

  1. Syndicat National des Formateurs de l'Enseignement Technique et de la Formation Progessionnelle (SYNAFETP-CI)

Côte d'Ivoire

  1. The Kairos Center for Relgions, Rights and Social Justice

United States

  1. Union Nationale des Normaliens/Normaliennes et Educateurs/Educatrices d'Haïti (UNNOEH)

Haiti

  1. UNISON

United Kingdom

  1. Unnati Institute for Social and Educational Change

India

  1. Yemeni Coalition for Education for All

Yemen

  1. Youth Progressive Association in Taraba

Nigeria