Ownership from the start: how does the government lead reform towards successful learning outcomes?

• In Event: Harmonizing Aid to Improve Literacy Outcomes: Making an impact in Zambian schools

Abstract

Decentralization of education systems based on learner assessment is one of the key reforms that has been gaining ground in Africa. In the case of Zambia, the range of challenges for decentralization and education management with multiple donors has been an evolving issue. Working from political decentralization to strengthening planning and management roles at the local has helped local districts improve their functions as leaders of reform for both government and non-government schools. The panel will focus on issues and challenges of decentralization at two levels – the sub national level and the school-community level. We will use the session as both an opportunity to begin to share strategies that different donors and implementing partners have developed to inform and learn from each other. From annual joint annual reviews with all donors and partners to the use of EMIS tools which are context specific, the panel will reflect on what are the innovative ideas being implemented in Zambia, the type of indicator formats and what evidence has been gathered about the effectiveness in harmonizing aid at the national, sub-national and school level. The paper will help promote discussion and thinking around some of the important challenges and opportunities - an underlying theme of our discussion will be to what extent to which all of the work we do in decentralization supports improved school performance.

Author

• Florence Chikalekale, Ministry of Education Zambia