» Topic List
	7.1 Guiding Principles, ESP/ESSP 2004/08
	7.2 ESP/ESSP 2004/08, Strategic Review Frameworks     7.2.1 ESP 2004/08 Screening Process     7.2.2 ESSP 2004/08 Screening Process

7.1 Guiding Principles, ESP/ESSP 2004/08 » Up

A key objective of the ESSP review process for 2004 will be to use the various sector performance reports for 2002 - 2004 as a basis for reviewing the Ministry's draft ESP 2004/08.

The main strategic revisions incorporated in the ESP 2004/08 can be summarised as; a) additional strategies to further reduce cost-barriers to basic education access, b) new approaches to addressing student progression and drop-out, incorporating re-entry programs, c) well-defined access and quality improvement strategies for higher education, d) further measures to ensure pro-poor financing by Government and its development partners, e) new measures to ensure education staff performance and efficient deployment and f) new legislative and regulatory frameworks to underpin education decentralization and associated institutional reform.

The Ministry is also issuing an ESSP 2004/08 framework document, which is designed to provide broad principles and parameters within which detailed priority programs will be designed over the coming months. The ESSP review 2004 provides an initial opportunity to mutually discuss a) program priorities, including new innovations, b) program budget allocations and c) essential management and implementation capacity assessments and future arrangements.

7.2 ESP/ESSP 2004/08, Strategic Review Frameworks 7.2.1 ESP 2004/08 Screening Process » Up

The Ministry considers the ESSP review 2004 as an opportunity to jointly review key screening and selection criteria for the ESP 2004/08. Key questions for taskforces and working groups include:

» How well does the ESP 2004/08 provide strategies that allow reorientation of education and training to ensure an optimum contribution to broader poverty reduction and economic and social objectives?

» Does ESP 2004/08 require additional education and training policies and strategies or can the existing ones be implemented more effectively?

» Within the context of EFA, are targets for expanding post-basic education services sufficient and realistic and what should be the role of Government?

» Does the ESP 2004/08 articulate effective strategies for improving the relevance, quality and standards of education services, including the role of governance and regulation?

» Does the ESP 2004/08 financing and institutional framework provide effective measures to ensure that education spending has maximum impact and reassure stakeholders of results and value for money?

» What kind of external assistance modalities are likely to be most effective in helping to achieve ESP 2004/08 reform objectives and targets?

It is proposed that this ESP 2004/08 screening also reviews a) management and implementation capacity and timetables and b) risk mitigation and management strategies.

7.2.2 ESSP 2004/08 Screening Process » Up

The ESSP review 2004 also provides an opportunity for a joint review of indicative recurrent and capital programs and principles set out in ESP 2004/08 and the ESSP 2004/08 framework document. Key issues include:

» Do ESP/ESSP indicative programs effectively enable achievement of broader Government development objectives, especially NPRS and SEDP goals and targets (e.g. systemic versus targeted interventions)?

» Is the overall ESP/ESSP programme framework consistent with broader education policies, especially harmonized EFA and ESP goals and targets?

» Are the individual indicative programmes technically sound and which components may need further design and appraisal, especially for pro-poor and disadvantaged group targeting?

» Which systemic and targeted interventions will result in additional costs or cost savings and how best can external assistance support implementation?

» Is the management and technical capacity available and are associated institutional reforms and capacity building programs feasible?

» What are the major opportunities and risks and how best can they be optimised and managed?

» What shall be the role of Government and other alternative agencies in program implementation and how can stakeholder involvement be best developed?

It is anticipated that ESSP review working groups will adopt a SWOT analysis approach in addressing these issues.

7.3 Strengthening Education Partnerships » Up

The revised ESP/ESSP 2004/08 provides an opportunity to review education partnership arrangements, including:

» How might partnership processes further development to assist ESP/ESSP 2004/08 implementation?

» Review of the current common policy action matrix and targets to accommodate revised ESP 2004/08 policies and strategies?

» A planning timetable for joint review of the volume and potential shortfalls in external assistance and its modalities, in response to ESP/ESSP revisions?

It is anticipated that ESP/ESSP review 2004 reports will address these issues, as part of guidance to the Joint ESSP Review and Appraisal Coordination Group.

» Topic List
	7.1 Guiding Principles, ESP/ESSP 2004/08
	7.2 ESP/ESSP 2004/08, Strategic Review Frameworks     7.2.1 ESP 2004/08 Screening Process     7.2.2 ESSP 2004/08 Screening Process