Education, Social Cohesion and Anomie

This paper examines Basic Social Services and Social Cohesion from an in-depth perspective of CEPA’s own research, advocacy and policy. The services assessed under ‘basic services’ include education, health, transport, social protection, water, and waste treatment. These are evaluated in terms of access, quality, experience and outcomes. Inequality in accessing essential services is indeed a violation of rights of the people. CEPA defines ‘social cohesion’ as an essential requisite that keeps society from falling apart, reducing disparities in wealth and income and empowerment of people by creating a sense that they are engaged in a community enterprise as equal members. The papers compiled in this publication, supported by GIZ, provide insights and lessons learnt in formulating and implementing policy reform especially in education. They demonstrate the intimate link between education, basic services and social cohesion filling a lacuna left unaddressed in this area. CEPA believes that this publication will help sensitise and enhance the capacity of stakeholders in the service delivery sector to critically engage with issues specific to the region, and to develop a clear grasp of root causes that need to be addressed. It is hoped that this publication will help develop stronger policy prescriptions that will serve the goal of poverty eradication, as a part of the multi-faceted programs of CEPA.