Beyond inputs to systems

• In Event: A future for systems approaches in education? Part II: Global education funders, the learning crisis and the word ‘system’

Proposal

Laura has led thinking on education systems within the former-DFID education group for the past six years, and in this session will reflect on the highlights and challenges in doing so. She will focus on three sets of activity. First: the FCDO Education Policy commitment to supporting education system strengthening, defined as ‘inputs, processes, people and politics’. She will explain how and why this came to be at the centre of the Education Policy, and what implications this has had for UK support to education in low income countries and fragile states. Second: FCDO’s support to education systems research, particularly the RISE programme which was designed with the not-unambitious goal of ‘shifting the education paradigm’ away from inputs and towards systems. Laura will explain what this means, and reflect on success so far. Third: a series of investments in problem identification through education system diagnostics. Laura will conclude with her thoughts on why conceiving education as a system remains important; why we should all use the word ‘system’ less; and her read on the evidence towards a practical vision of how global actors can support change within education systems towards mass learning gains.

Author

• Laura Savage, DFID