The Impact of decentralization on performance management of public employee in education sector in Tanzania

Decentralization is one of the key institution drivers, which have negative or positive impact on civil service performance. According to World Bank (200I) decentralization is the transfer of authority and responsibility for... [ view full abstract ]

Decentralization is one of the key institution drivers, which have negative or positive impact on civil service performance. According to World Bank (200I) decentralization is the transfer of authority and responsibility for public functions from the central government to intermediate local governments or quasi-independent government organizations or the private sector.
Public education in Tanzania is one of the sectors with largest number of employees in public service and the largest item in the education budget. Performance management for the education sector employees (teachers both in primary and secondary education), is a goal which is far from being achieved. This is one of the sectors with many unmotivated public servants; and many claims to government about changing of grade level, and issues of transfer without compensation. On the other side the consumers (parents) who demand high quality education to their children , the claim remain on their children who are incompetent after primary education or secondary education graduation. Given these problems and many other arise in public sector; the government has undertaken performance related reforms on public service, through public service reform program. This study is specifically focus on the employees in public education sector (teachers). The major purpose is to identify negative and positive impact of decentralization on performance management and working conditions of the teachers. The study methodology will be based on literature reviews and the analysis will base on focus group discussion of teachers in four regions in Tanzania. The theoretical frame work of the performance improvement model will be used to show how teachers are evaluated at their different working environment both for urban and rural areas, and the impact of the performance evaluation to their working conditions.