The Practice of Decentralized Education Service Delivery An Impact Assessment (The Case of Ganta-Afeshum Woreda- Eastern Zone of Tigray State)

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the impacts of decentralization on education servicedelivery in Ganta-Afeshum Woreda of Tigray National Regional State. Descriptiveresearch design with mixed research technique was employed. An in-depth interviewwith zonal and Woreda officials and focus group discussion with teachers and students were held. The data collected from various sources was thoroughly organized,triangulated and narrated. The study revealed that the Woreda Education Office has been empowered to plan and implement annual school plan, to hire and fire teachers, and tobuild new schools through mobilizing the community to support the school. There are community based local institutions like Kebele Education Training Board and ParentTeacher Student Association that play important role for effective function of the school.These can link the school with the community and represent the people surrounding.They can mobilize the community so that they contribute in kind, cash and labor in fillfinancial gap of the Woreda. This brought room for community participation in planning,constructing and managing the school. Nevertheless, the study revealed that community participations via local institutions are hampered because of lack of knowledge and skillsabout their responsibilities and how to implement annual school plans as well as lack of commitment and interest to attend regular meetings. Inadequate finance, classroom,manpower, little involvement and concern of the community in their children’s learning,and little interest of the learners in their education are the common challenges of WEO.