Educational achievement is an essential driver of development and one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and narrowing the opportunity gap between men and women. Given the impact of education on society, journalists have a strong interest in learning how to use proven case studies and data to expose education challenges and prompt meaningful change. According to the United Nations, enrollment in primary education in the developing world reached 91 percent in 2015, up from 83 percent in 2000. With increasing enrollment, attention is shifting toward improving the quality of education.

How can journalists identify the challenges that schools face in enhancing student learning? How can their investigations motivate the government and schools to take action and maintain accountability? In this webinar, World Bank economist Dave Evans discusses the obstacles to student learning and how impact evaluation is testing new methods for journalists to assess their coverage of schools. This webinar discussion covers how journalists can investigate topics more directly correlated with student learning, such as whether teachers show up, what they do in the classroom and whether raising parental involvement can improve schools’ accountability. (Webinar ran live Nov. 10, 2016) 

Expert: Dave Evans, a senior economist in the Chief Economist's Office for the Africa Region of the World Bank

Moderator: Christopher Conte, former International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Knight Fellow

Full webinar:

Education for Journalists: how to cover schools and learning (1:21:47)

Quick clips:

• 6 tips for reporting on education issues (8:22)
• Why is it important for media to cover education access and quality? (5:50)
• How can journalism make a difference in education policy? (2:05)

About the webinars

SIEF partnered with Code for Africa and the International Center for Journalists to produce a webinar series to improve journalists’ understanding of key development issues being reported on in low-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. These webinars provide journalists with background information to help them more effectively report on education, health, early childhood development and water and sanitation issues, using evidence from impact evaluation research. The webinars provide reporting resources and give participants the opportunity to ask questions.