The long-term EFA plan is informed by Government's broader Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan (PRSP) and second Socio Economic Development Plan (SEDPII) being finalised over the period 2001/3. The broad policy thrust in this respect is to reduce the cost barriers on access to high quality basic education for all through a combination of systemic developments (e.g. abolition of informal payments) and a number of poverty targeted interventions (e.g. incentives for the poor, ethnic minority groups and girls to attend school).

The long-term EFA plan is also integrated with the current medium-term Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) formulated by the Government in 2001, with plans and programs covering the period 2001/06. These strategies and programs are based on a sector-wide approach (SWAp) to education reform whereby strategies, programs and financing are adjusted on an annual basis taking account of annual impact surveys and the findings of a joint annual ESSP review by Government, donors and NGOs.

The current education reform process, which will be incorporated into the longer term EFA planning process, incorporates specific partnership arrangements and principles between MoEYS and its education partners. Key milestones in this partnership process and the linkage between education and broader Government reforms are summarised below:

Key Milestones of Education Reform Process, 2000/2002

» Design and implementation of PAP for primary education, focusing on reducing cost burden on the poor and promotion of improved internal efficiency in early 2000

» Formulation of preliminary education policy and strategic framework, as part of interim PRSP in mid-2000

» MOEYS hosting of Government, donor and NGO seminars on international experiences of sector wide approach to education reform in mid/late 2000

» Formal agreement to education partnership principles by MOEYS, donor, NGO consultative group in early 2001, alongside revitalisation of donor education sector working group

» Joint review and appraisal of ESP and ESSP, culminating in joint ESSP appraisal report and collaborative forward plan and high level education round table in mid 2001

» Design and implementation of mixed modality education sector support program and complementary capacity building assistance program by key donor allies in early 2002

» MOEYS and donor/NGO preparation of poverty impact, sector performance, revised ESSP and donor/NGO report as part of first ESSP performance review in late 2002

» Formulation of preliminary PRSP and MTEF, drawing on the policy and strategic directions set out in the revised ESSP 2002/6 in late 2002

» Establishment of an official Gender Secretariat to advocate for gender issues within MoEYS as well as Government support of numerous pilots to keep girls in school.