DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING

AND MANAGEMENT

Presenter: Muhammed Kedir HIkoDate: 15/12/2014

DECENTRALIZED EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

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Course objectivesAt the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand about the concepts of decentralization Describe the difference between centralization and decentralization Explain the types of decentralization Elaborate the rationale for educational decentralization List out the factors that influences the success of educational decentralization Explain decentralization of educational management in Ethiopia

By: Muhammed Kedir Hiko 3

CHAPTERS IN THE COURSE

This course includes three major and wider

chapters:

CHAPTER ONE: Basic Concepts of

Decentralization

CHAPTER TWO: Educational Decentralization

CHAPTER THREE: Educational Decentralization

in Ethiopia

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Chapter OneBasic Concepts of Decentralization

1.1. Definition of Decentralization What is decentralization? Decentralization: Is the transfer of authority and responsibility for

public functions from the central government to subordinate or quasi-independent government organizations and/or the private sector.

Is the process in which subordinate levels of a hierarchy are authorized by a higher body to take decisions about the use of the organization’s recourses.

The transfer of political power, decision-making capacity and resources from central to sub-national levels of government.

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1.2. Centralization and Decentralization

They are commonly used to refer to the concentration or dispersion of employees, physical facilities, and decision-making power.

They are meaningful in relative sense. Appropriate balance of centralization and

decentralization is essential to the effective and efficient functioning.

An organization could not operate on a completely decentralized basis, as it would lack the coordination that ensures operating efficiency. A complete centralization, on the other hand, would lack the needed flexibility and responsiveness to get a variety of jobs done.

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Advantages of centralization It permits greater uniformity of policies, practices,

and decisions. It promotes full utilization of the main office It minimizes duplication of functions. It develops strongly coordinated top management

team and control systems. Few and highly qualified specialists can be utilized. It reduces the danger of action drifting and getting

off course.

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Challenges contributed for failures of Centralization

Geographical distance of central government Lack of information on local needs and problems

Psychological distance of the central government Representatives even reached the local in the

context of the central government policy and procedure

The poor performance at the local levelsExample: why some parents prefer private

school than public school

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1.3. Reasons for Decentralization

Some of the reasons for decentralization • Alternative governance structure to provide local

government services• The need to improve service delivery to large

populations and the recognition of the limitations of central administration

• For public participation in government decision making • More flexible administration b/se it adopts its service

to differences• More effective administration to easily integrate

isolated societies• Political stability and national unity • Ease the financial strain by collecting fees and charges

for the services they provide.

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…………continued• A first step to more transparency in government• Create opportunities for a more accountable

government• Enable the participants to monitor and evaluate the

government’s compliance with the decisions madeThe major objectives/values for decentralization • Increase of democracy (grass-root democracy),• Protection of freedom and human rights (vertical

check-and balance),• Increase of efficiency through delegation of

responsibility,• Higher quality of services,• Enhancement of social and economic

development.

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1.4. The Decentralization Argument: Grounds for the Movement of Decentralization

The most important reasons for the movement to give more authority to lower levels of government

The greater efficiency and accountability of local governments More accessible, more sympathetic and quicker to

respond to local needs The close relationship between citizens and

government at the local level fosters accountability Both the availability of information necessary for

taking proper actions and the potentially higher degree of accountability will lead to a better use of available resources

Decentralization helps to reduce costs

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………..continuedThe positive effect such authority-shifts

have on local development Removes institutional and legal obstacles to self-

help Encourages innovative forms of solutions for local

problems Enhances the sense of ownership and responsibility

for the projects & programs Make development activities more sustainable by

involving the people

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The enhancement of democracy and protection of liberty that local governance has on the citizens Gives democracy a clearly local dimension Local self-government promotes democracy and

individual liberties Builds a sense of community and permits

meaningful participation in self-government Allows political power sharing which in turn

contributes to political stability

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• The greater ability to protect the rights and values of minority populations

–Potential to protect ethnic and other traditional

minorities

–Can provide a means of accommodating

problems arising from ethnic diversity; and

–By guaranteeing local autonomy

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The Feature of Decentralization Process

The process of decentralization carries out the following to happen:

Disperses power, both geographically and institutionally

Creates new responsibilities for inexperienced actors

Can disperse scale economies/expertise groups

Introduces more levels into the state

Creates a tension between local autonomy and national

standards

Can increase administrative costs

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1.5. Dimension of Decentralization

A. Geographic Decentralization Dividing the territory of a state into smaller

areas and assigning official powers to make decisions and judgments among them.

B. Functional decentralization Distribution of state’s authority and responsibility

among different functional entities of government

C. Political decentralization Shifts decision-making powers to lower levels

of government, encouraging citizens and their elected representatives to participate in decision-making processes.

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D. Administrative decentralization Seeks to redistribute authority, responsibility and

financial resources for providing public services among different levels of government

Some generic administrative roles are executive leadership, policy innovation, planning, financial management, operational management, and regulation and oversight

In public education, for example, sub-national governments may perform any one or more of the following services: curriculum design and teaching methods, textbook production and distribution, teacher recruitment and promotion, school building construction and maintenance, and payment of teachers’ salaries