Decentralization in education: overcoming challenges and achieving success: the Kenyan experience

Languages
English, French
Series
IIEP research brief
Year
2014
Pages
4 p.
Country

Online version

About the publication

Many countries have embarked over the past two decades on the path of educational decentralization, with the objective of achieving quality education and a more efficient system. Decentralization entails the central government ceding some powers and functions to lower levels so as to allow them greater autonomy. The UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) has been conducting research over the last ten years on this policy in Kenya and other countries in Africa and South-East Asia, in collaboration with Ministries of Education, national research institutions, and partners like UNICEF. This research has focused on two areas: the role of the DEO, and the management of the school grant. It aims to arrive at some valuable lessons that could inform policy recommendations for better practices. This brief discusses the study's findings in Kenya and identifies key suggestions for policy.