Education Sector Annual Review (ESAR) 2008 Plenary Session

1. Education Sector Annual Review (ESAR) 2008Plenary Session Progress on Last year’s Review Recommendation Quality Education, Quality Life

2. Background and Purpose • The Education Sector Annual Review (ESAR) is held each year for the Ministry, DPs and other stakeholders • The purpose of the Annual Review is to assess progress in the education sector, as well as to discuss issues and the way forward

3. Format • Technical group meetings: first two days – objective is to discuss the main issues pertaining to the five focus areas (access, quality, management, finance and science, technology and TVET). • Issues identified in advance in order to keep the discussion focused • Groups to come up with no more than FIVE recommendations each • Plenary session: third day – all groups discuss their findings with all stakeholders in the sector • Aide Memoire: signed by the Ministry, GES etc. and DPs – agreement of way forward for next year

4. Performance Report • Main document under discussion at the review • Takes into account the information from district and regional reviews • Assesses past performance and analyzes issues faced by the sector • Each chapter: • Begins by identifying the key issues to be discussed • Outlines all the information for discussion • Ends with a guideline for the discussion to take place on the issues during the group meetings

5. ESAR 2007 • First year that an Aide Memoire was signed • The Aide Memoire contained all the recommendations from the review • The Aide Memoire was monitored on a quarterly basis • This monitoring was a recommendation of the Management group at the 2007 review

6. Recommendations – Access • Refer to p. 33 of Performance Report. • KG methodologies to be incorporated into TTC curriculum – in process, will be incorporated by September. • School mapping and establishment of satellite KGs – no progress. • Complementary basic education policy – completed and submitted to Chief Director. • Increase support to NFLP – no progress (not clearly defined). • Increase needy fund (SHS) - no progress (not clearly defined).

7. Recommendations – Quality • Refer to p. 33 of Performance Report. • Staff rationalisation exercise – two models developed, one analyzed, none implemented. • INSET units established in all districts – established in ten districts, guidelines produced. • Reactivation of SPAM – no progress. • Harmonization of pre-service and in-service training – include information from Victor

8. Recommendations – Quality • Streamline recruitment from UTTBE – include information from Victor. • Block salaries of absentee teachers – no progress. • Motivation of teachers in TTC curriculum – chapter to be included. • DEOs to regulate school hours – circular sent to all Districts, no verification as yet. • Silent hours to be introduced – circular sent to all districts, no verification as yet.

9. Recommendations – Management • Refer to p. 34 of the Performance Report • Decentralisation (identification of functions, capacity building, sensitisation, mobilization of resources) – functions identified by Decentralisation Committee, submitted to management.

10. Recommendations – Management • ESAR recommendations to be monitored – 2007 recommendations monitored quarterly. Limited success – some not clearly defined, monitoring method not widely accepted. • EMIS data to be disseminated to districts – discussions on design (format, content) of a ‘School Report Card’ held. • Reactivate district support teams – no progress.

11. Recommendations – Finance • Refer to p. 35 of the Performance Report. • Allocation of resources better aligned to MDGs and reform – costing work undertaken by consultant to allocate resources to reform. • 10% of PE allocated to non-salary recurrent – no progress (management decision required). • Primary and JHS PTR norms revised upwards – no progress. • Review cost of study leave – no progress. • Evaluation of disadvantaged criteria formula – Study undertaken.

12. Recommendations – Finance • Training and capacity development in districts – Training of all district and regional officers undertaken, Performance Agreements signed with all District Directors. • District finances to be pooled – no progress (management decision required). • Evaluate capitation grant and increase it – evaluation done (results mixed), no increase envisaged. • Harmonize ESP with Education Reforms – six consultants have completed initial work. Reports on policy options for 2009 (including TVET), costing for the 2009 budget and a Desk Review completed.

13. Recommendations – S&T, TVET • Refer to p. 37 of the Performance Report • Inauguration of COTVET and ICT policy – COTVET inaugurated Oct. 31, 2007 and recruitment under way. ICT policy developed but not yet approved. • Provision of adequate budget lines for ICT, TVET – costing work undertaken for TVET and budget lines included in GETFund and EdSeP in addition to GoG budget.

14. Recommendations – S&T, TVET • Capacity development in ICT and TVET – 600 teachers trained in ICTs, training for principals and two TOTs of the 26 TTIs undertaken. • Costing of ICTs and apprenticeship scheme – total cost of ownership in ICT deployment undertaken. Costing for apprenticeship undertaken and undergoing revision. • Promotion of PPPs – ICTEU working with Microsoft and Cisco, 16 TVET course curricula developed in collaboration with industry.

15. Summary • Recommendations need to be better defined • Recommendations need to be reviewed thoroughly during the signing of the Aide Memoire • Recommendations need to be more broadly disseminated and integrated with other processes in the Ministry (ex: discussion at monthly meetings of GES, Directors, DPs) • Generally reasonable progress overall with the recommendations, good first step