Abstract

A number of basic education projects began in the 1990s supported by international agencies with the clear focus of promoting decentralisation in the realm of educational governance. Examples of this include the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) or Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) schemes and the institutionalisation of School Management Committees (SMCs) as part of the Right to Education 2009. As part of the movement towards effective decentralisation, these initiatives emphasised the involvement of community groups in educational governance, hoping to augment participation by involving members of womens’ groups, PRI members and other similarly prominent members of communities.

This report gauges the extent of decentralisation and devolution of powers to community bodies in educational governance in particular regions of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. The broad objective of the study is to determine whether there is any disconnect between what is envisaged and what is practiced, examining institutional structures, devolution of powers and outcomes due to the same, existing and potential dimensions of school-community linkage and potential for further strengthening for the same. The report identifies room for improvement in multiple areas, such as need for greater willingness and accountability to be taken by SMC members, the need for greater congruence between local governing bodies, school planners and political ministries and for greater investment in SMC members, in terms of financial allotment and training.

Jha, J., Ghatak, N., Chandrasekharan, S., Veigas, S., & Prasad, GVR. (2014). A study on community engagement with schools in five states. Bengaluru, India: Centre for Budget & Policy Studies.