Challenges and opportunities in regulation of non-state schools

• In Event: Fostering effective and enabling regulation of non-state schools

Proposal

This presentation will feature the outcomes of the Enabling Regulation working group, as summarized below.

Challenges in current regulation

• Registration itself can be burdensome and unaffordable, especially when corruption is involved.
• Regulation does not reflect the reality of school operating environments and is often focused on compliance.
• Regulation is often focused on inputs and infrastructure, rather than learning quality how to regulate for safety, quality, and equity.
• Lack of government capacity to oversee and inspect non-state schools.
• Lack of non-state providers’ capacity to meet minimum standards.
• Regulation can be seen as a threat to non-state operators.
• International agency planning guidelines don't adequately address non-state Public-Private Partnerships.
• Resistance from non-state actors to being regulated.

Opportunities for improving regulation

• Setting up a system where learning outcomes are monitored.
• Designing with the right actors around the table, for the relevant country and context.
• Share success stories of countries that regulate well.
• Support regulation with innovative financing towards addressing quality standards around safety.
• Creating a system for grading schools to help understand school improvement needs.
• Building a supply of tools, people, and institutions who can provide good technical assistance.
• Provide financial incentives for registration to ensure regulation and inspection of all schools.
• Regulation can be an opportunity to drive innovation and efficiency.

Resources for more effective and enabling regulation

The working group identified areas where it could contribute value through developing and/or sharing resources. On this basis, a concept is being developed for a project to support governments, donors, and non-state actors to make regulation of non-state schools more effective and enabling. Anticipating that this project will be underway at the time of CIES 2024, it will be presented in the session.

Author

• Aashti Zaidi, Global Schools Forum