Education Regulatory Reform and Governance for Decentralization

Location

Cambodia

Duration

2005 - 2006

Donor

Asian Development Bank

Budget

495.000 USD

Description and Deliverables

The broad goal will be to assist the design of forward education reform plans and programs within the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) that will enable poverty reduction through improved strategies and plans for better governance and management at provincial, commune and institutional levels. The purpose will be to assist forward ESP and ESSP plans and programs by preparing capacity building plans for improved information collection, management and dissemination at central, district, commune council levels, as part of both improved education governance systems and sector and program monitoring. The proposed objectives and scope of the advisory Technical Assistance (TA) are as follows:

to enable approval of the new education law and preparation of key regulations related to improved institution and financial governance with a target of enabling legislation and selective regulations from early 2005;
to improve transparency in use of parental and private contributions to schools and other institutions, through new guidelines on accounting and management of these contributions, with a target of implementing the guidelines from early 2005;
improved governance of schools and postsecondary institutions, through the issuance of guidelines that set out powers and responsibilities of education authorities, parents and community associations with a target of issuing the guidelines by early 2005.

In addition, new financial regulations will be needed to underpin anticipated education staff pay reform strategy.

review of progress made on strengthening capacity building for decentralization, at provincial, district, commune and institutional levels;
review of priority regulations and operational guidelines needed to underpin the institutional framework for greater delegated authority and decentralization;
preparation of a policy and strategic framework for improved governance and monitoring systems at various levels, taking account of legislation and regulations for education and commune council development;
preparation of a capacity building plan and program for improved education governance, through commune councils and education institutional governing bodies;
design of an information, education, communication strategy and plan for the dissemination of education sector and program performance across all stakeholders;
formulation of governance and information management strategies and plans to be incorporated into forward education reform policies and plans, as part of the annual ESSP review exercise.
outputs incorporated into ESDP II, including the program policy matrix and covenants