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1. Introduction
1.1 Responding to ESP 2004-2008
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In September 2004, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and its partners jointly reviewed and endorsed the revised Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2004-08. This ESSP 2004-08 incorporates the broad ESP 2004-08 priorities and outlines how these priorities will be managed, monitored and implemented through specific programs.
In planning this ESSP 2004-08 the Ministry has ensured, wherever possible, that the prioritisation, phasing and timing of the programs remain consistent with ESP 2004-08 policy targets. As a consequence, this ESSP 2004-08 document should be regarded as a companion volume to the ESP 2004-08. In particular, ESSP is designed to prioritise program strategies and activities focused on the long-term goal of achieving Education for All (EFA), by 2015.
The ESSP document identifies the necessary program activities in reaching equitable access to 9 years of quality basic education by 2015, alongside critical capacity building needs, consistent with the related National EFA Plan approved in June 2003. In addition, this ESSP gives increased focus on a) measures to expand higher education, b) youth and sport development activities and c) expanded legislative, regulatory and governance activity to enable accelerated education decentralisation.
The document also presents the proposed mechanisms for the planning, management and monitoring of ESP/ESSP policies, strategies and programs. The basic principle adopted in the ESSP is that the programs will be planned and implemented through Government and Ministry systems rather than through parallel modalities. The management framework for ESSP places the focus on strengthening appropriate MoEYS directorates and departments at central and provincial levels, including selective delegation of responsibilities to districts, clusters/communes and schools. Revised sector wide planning and management processes are presented in Section 2.
MoEYS recognises that the education reform policy implementation must be realistically sequenced and phased. The priority recurrent program plans set out clear priorities, objectives, targets and measurable outcomes and outputs, alongside proposed management and monitoring mechanisms. In other words, the principle behind the recurrent priority programs is achieving concrete and verifiable results. These revised recurrent programs are detailed in Section 3.
MoEYS is determined that the education facilities capital investment programs are also designed to ensure policy implementation and achievement of education access and quality improvement targets. This revised ESSP features accelerated provision of lower and upper secondary education facilities in currently under-served or un-served districts and communes, consistent with projected capital resources available. The facilities program therefore sets out the overall requirements, costs and medium term priorities. The education facilities program is presented in Section 4.
MoEYS recognises that an effective sector wide management and monitoring approach will necessitate collaborative planning with other key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF), Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Planning (MoP) and the Council for Administrative Reform (CAR). The ESP and ESSP also emphasise the need for improved strategic negotiation and consultation with other development partners, including donors, NGOs and civil society. Proposals for building up these capacities and partnerships for strengthened sector wide management and monitoring, alongside the capacity building required for improved planning and management of the priority programs is set out in Section 5.
Previous ESSP Reviews reaffirmed the importance of a well-defined sector monitoring and reporting system, which is critical for implementing a rolling program of reforms. The monitoring framework and guidelines are summarised in Section 6. It is also recognised that joint agreement with donors and NGOs on key policy actions and performance indicators will facilitate both on-going sector performance monitoring and the annual ESSP Review process. The agreed sector performance indicators are set out in Annex A and an indicative common policy action matrix in Annex B.
1.2 The ESSP Planning and Review Process
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This ESSP revision process has been designed to ensure broad understanding and ownership between key stakeholders. Key activities have included a) consultation with individual MoEYS departments responsible for implementation and management, b) inputs and advice from technical advisers within donors, NGOs and MoEYS and c) review and appraisal by a senior MoEYS technical taskforce directed by Secretaries of State.
It should be noted that the programs detailed in Section 3, 4 and 5 are intended to provide outlines of program activity rather than detailed implementation plans and budgets. These detailed implementation plans for priority action programs, facilities development and capacity development will be prepared by designated MoEYS departments or taskforces in December 2004 and January 2005 as part of results oriented budget execution
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