Towards Greater Accountability: Challenges and Policy Recommendations presented by: Harry Anthony Patrinos Lead Education Economist World Bank Round-table

Towards Greater Accountability:Challenges and Policy Recommendations

presented by:Harry Anthony PatrinosLead Education EconomistWorld Bank

Round-table Discussion on Achievements and Challenges of the Bulgaria School Autonomy Reforms

Sofia, September 13, 2010

Accountability: Outstanding ChallengesAccountability: Outstanding Challenges

• Relationships of accountability for education results are underdeveloped and not sufficiently aligned with school autonomy framework

• Participation of parents did not increase with reforms

• Weak sense of municipal ownership over the school network

Relationships of Accountability: Relationships of Accountability: School Principals - ParentsSchool Principals - Parents

Relationships of Accountability

between

Efficiency in use of Financial Resources

Increased Learning Outcomes

School Principals -Parents

Currently non-existent in a formal way

Parents have no formal ways to hold School Principals accountable for learning outcomes

School Principals - Municipalities

School Principals are accountable to municipal authorities for use of financial resources

Municipalities have no formal ways to hold School Principals accountable for improvements in school environment or in learning outcomes

School Principals - REIs Non-applicable

REIs few formal ways to hold School Principals for improvements in school environment or in learning outcomes

Parental participation through school boardsParental participation through school boards

• Further reforms should lead to strong relationships of accountability between principals and parents

• New School Education Act retains school boards statute of voluntary organization

• Roles and responsibilities of the school boards should be designed to stimulate quality and relevance of education

Parental Participation: International ExperienceParental Participation: International Experience

• Lessons from the OECD: Decentralized Decision-Making Can Improve School Quality

– Netherlands: A Strong Version of School-Based Management

– England: The Statutory Position on the role of Governing Bodies

– Mexico: Reform to Increase Parental Participation

Recommendations: School BoardsRecommendations: School Boards

• Clear guidelines for the role of school boards in school-level decisions

• Formal procedures for parents communication with principals and municipalities on school matters

• Guidelines and tools for information dissemination to parents

• Building adequate capacity of school boards by providing training and awareness campaigns

Relationships of Accountability: Relationships of Accountability: School Principals - MunicipalitiesSchool Principals - Municipalities


between











Outstanding Challenges:Outstanding Challenges: Insufficient Accountability Instruments for Insufficient Accountability Instruments for

MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

• With reforms, decision-making powers were transferred from municipalities to schools without providing sufficient accountability tools for the local governments

• Tensions between central and local governments affect adversely delivery of education services

Municipal Role: International ExperienceMunicipal Role: International Experience

• England: Significant powers of school governing bodies and Local Authorities

• Netherlands: Supervision and Employment of Principals within the jurisdiction of Municipalities or the competent authority

Policy options to eliminate the disconnect Policy options to eliminate the disconnect between funding and management of schoolsbetween funding and management of schools• Option 1: Empower the council of the school

boards to appoint the school principal• Option 2: Empower municipalities to appoint

school principals• Option 3: Keep current distribution while

boosting municipal accountability tools– 1st step: Implement decentralization program of

government, envisioning equal participation of REIs, municipalities and school boards in selecting principals

Recommendations for strengthening Recommendations for strengthening school based managementschool based management

• Strengthening school leadership through robust school principal certification process

• Raising the capacity of School Boards

Relationships of Accountability: Relationships of Accountability: School Principals - InspectoratesSchool Principals - Inspectorates


between











Outstanding challenges: functions of Outstanding challenges: functions of the Regional Inspectorates the Regional Inspectorates

• Political influence• Wide ranging responsibilities, limited number

of staff• Many legally defined responsibilities are

either formally or simply not implemented

Recommendations for the National Recommendations for the National Inspectorate on EducationInspectorate on Education

• Independence from agencies defining education policies (MEYS)

• Coordination between agencies in charge of common objective of monitoring and assuring quality of education

• Consultation with different stakeholders in definition of functions for institutions that are in charge of assuring quality

• Establish mechanisms of accountability for agencies that are in charge of assuring quality

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Harry Anthony PatrinosLead Education Economist, World Bank, Human Development Network

[email protected]

Documents

Towards Greater Accountability: Challenges and Policy Recommendations presented by: Harry Anthony Patrinos Lead Education Economist World Bank Round-table