Results based M&E: Experiences of school level education in Nepal

1. Results based M&E: Experiences of school level education in Nepal Teertha Dhakal Joint Secretary Government of Nepal

2. Presentation outline • Context- National M&E system (PMAS) • Educational planning • Results-based M&E in education • M&E design of School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP) • Lessons learnt and Issues

3. Nepal

4. Context • Despite difficult political situation Nepal has been institutionalizing MfDR in planning, budgeting and M&E with • Broad-based interventions • Piloting in key agencies • The country is in the process of • restructuring the state building new constitution, and • expedite development efforts focusing on results • This presentation includes efforts to institutionalize results based M&E in education sector in Nepal

5. MfDR Practices in Nepal

6. MfDR- piloting in some agencies • Piloted in some ministries under ADB TA- Education, Local Development, Roads, Drinking Water) • Readiness assessment done and Business Plan refined • Results matrix prepared • Internal capacities enhanced • Piloted in 4 districts- awareness and capacity enhanced • ADB TA 7158- NEP: Strengthening capacity for MfDR under implementation (RBB, capacity building) • Other initiatives e.g. performance contracts

7. Context Education budget as share of public budget: 17% Primary edu budget as share of edu budget- 60%; as share of GDP- 2.22% Primary education free by law Primary NER: 89.1% (GPI: 0.98) Home to school distance (half an hour walk): 91% hhs High repetition & dropout rates– 29% repetition; 15% drop out in grade1 Survival rate in Grade 5- 81.1 % Reforms Efforts made to improve educational governance Community mgmt of schools Increased public investment in education Per capita funding to schools Moving towards universal completion of basic education (grade 1-8) Capacity devt at different levels Shift from project approach to SWAp Focus on results Primary Education in Nepal 7

8. Education Planning

9. Poverty Monitoring and Analysis System (PMAS)(A national level Results-based M&E system)

10. Why Poverty Monitoring and Analysis System (PMAS)? • PMAS aims to- • support the implementation of the national plan • coordinate monitoring the national plan and tracking the MDGs • communicate results as feedback into policy making process • make central M&E system results-based

11. Components of the PMAS Inputs Performance-based budget release PMAS- Major Components Implementation Monitoring Processes Outputs Outcome Monitoring Communication/Advocacy PMIS Outcomes Impacts Impact Analysis PRSP progress report

12. Education indicators in PMAS

13. Sources of information for M&E PRSP Sectoral Targets MTEF/Budget allocation EMIS, Flash reports, PETS, Social audit, client satisfaction survey Release/Disbursement of allocated budget Outputs HH Surveys (NLSS, NDHS), Impact Analysis Outcomes Impact

14. Results based education M&E • Logic models in educational planning, programming and design of projects • Business plan and MTEF in the education sector • Linkages between national and sectoral monitoring • Education M&E in National Poverty Monitoring & Analysis System (PMAS) • SWAp in primary level has contributed to harmonize M&E system

15. Results based education M&E … • Streamlined and strengthened survey systems- Separate education modules in; • Nepal Living Standards Survey (5 yrs) • Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (5 yrs) • Nepal Labour Force Survey (5 yrs) • Periodic reviews inviting multiple actors/ stakeholders • Formative research institutionalized in school education • Learning achievement tests introduced • Focused on capacity building

16. EMIS and Flash Report System • The EMIS gathers school level educational performance data from all schools twice a year • Flash I- snapshot of data at the beginning of the school year • Flash II- focuses on end of school year data • The national flash report is prepared based on district flash reports • The reports cover enrolment, pass rates, repetition & survival rates, training status of teachers, supply of textbooks and learning materials • Te reports also show participation of SMCs/ PTAs in various activities of schools

17. M&E of School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP)

18. M&E in SSRP • The SSRP is the school sector SWAp in Nepal which is funded by more than 10 devt partners in addition to government funding • The M&E aims to improve education services through informed decisions tracking achievements at each level of service delivery • M&E functions based on performance indicators include; • Assessing compliance with acts and regulations • Measuring progress against milestones and targets • Evaluating the impact of policies/strategies • Utilizes a decentralized monitoring system, use flash reports data, social audit, and provisions an external evaluation of outcomes • Education Review Office conducts external audits of agencies based on norms and standards and submits annual reports to the Education Policy Committee

19. Key education indicators in SWAp

20. Summary of key results of M&E activities

21. Summary of key results of M&E activities

22. Lessons learnt • SWAp contributory to institutionalize MfDR • Participatory design of M&E system crucial • Commitment and capacity key to success- focus lower levels and retain talents in the M&E function • Link incentives with credible M&E/ MIS data • Triangulation of methods/tools for data reliability • Strengthen the system rather re-inventing it • Make multi-party review meetings results- based • Produce data what is needed and usable

23. Challenges/ Issues • Make the system functional and effective • Cascading results approaches to lower levels- • capacity issues, • cost incurred • Data issues • frequency and reliability (survey vs. MIS) • disaggregated data- diverse social groups • Harmonize TA funding for capacity development • Frequent changes in leadership and key staff • Use of M&E data in managerial decision making

24. Discussion • Promote country level capacities monitoring education MDGs and EFA agenda through regional capacity building initiatives • Use of VLN of COP- MfDR to further build capacities through exchanging ideas

25. Thankyou