Strengthening education planning in developing countries: An analysis of 42 education plans

Education sector plans are strategic policy instruments that articulate a country’s long-term vision for their education system and specify a realistic and coherent set of strategies to achieve it. They have become a... [ view full abstract ]

Education sector plans are strategic policy instruments that articulate a country’s long-term vision for their education system and specify a realistic and coherent set of strategies to achieve it. They have become a powerful tool for mobilizing resources and aligning stakeholders’ efforts under a common framework. This paper investigates the extent to which plans have succeeded in developing credible strategies capable of reaching their objectives. It analyses a sample of 42 plans from developing countries that were endorsed between 2010 and 2013, and uses two separate frameworks to assess plans from relatively stable countries and those from fragile and/or conflict-affected countries. The frameworks are organized around three dimensions that assess the degree to which plans are sound, sustainable, relevant and coherent. Two dimensions, soundness and relevance/coherence, are presented in this paper, covering the following topics: sector analysis, key strategies, action plan, and financial framework. The frameworks did not assess the planning process, particularly whether it was country-led or participatory. Results point to several areas that need be strengthened in education plans. The paper finds that the evidence base informing national policies was weak and that many plans were missing elements critical to effective operationalization. Nearly a quarter of the plans also had a problem with the coherence of their strategies, revealing serious capacity issues in certain countries.