Local education reform efforts in the Philippines

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Local education reform efforts in the Philippines

• A situationer

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Outline

• Synergeia and local education reform (movement)
• Reinventing local school boards (strategy)
• The Naga School Board project (case)
• The way forward

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Conceptually
Education reform is taking place in a dynamic
environment where the box is getting bigger
Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda

• Public education policy
• RA 9155
• DepEd Orders and Memos

RA 7160, RA 5445, EFA Directions

• Reinventing LSBs
• Selective Devolution, National Voucher System

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Where we are today
Muddling along Top-down (BESRA) Bottom-up (LSB-anchored)
The more you try to change things, the more they remain the same Nationally initiated Central control remains Stronger local divisions School-based management Locally initiated. Inspired by 1991 LGC Leverages SEF to push reforms Highly negotiated process Lacks predictability due to weak policy grounding
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Where we are today
Muddling along Top-down (BESRA) Bottom-up (LSB-anchored)
The most durable scenario Outcome maintain status quo DepEd continues to be a welfare agency for 400,000 workforce (and growing) Underprovision of public education continues STRENGTH Has force of national policy WEAKNESSES Questions on sustainability Exacting accountability on performance remains problematic Skirts local accountability issues re SEF STRENGTH Demand-driven, hence high level of sustainability WEAKNESSES Scaling up depends heavily on quality of local leaders General ambivalence of most LCEs. Education is DepEds responsibility
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The way forward
National voucher system Selective devolution of public education
Expands GASTPE STRENGTHS Taps unused capacities in private schools. Empowers parental choice Strong accountability. Non-performers will be penalized WEAKNESS Will limit access to basic education Local control of public education where demanded and feasible STRENGTHS Faster pace of change. Greater local flexibility Clearer public accountability Optimal use of public education funds (national local community) DepEd can focus on a smaller constituency WEAKNESSES Mixed results of Philippine devolution Politicization