This study aims to assess the
effectiveness of the Education
Sector Reforms Action Plan
2001-2005 by calibrating the
extent to which fiscal
decision-making authority has
been devolved to school-based
governance as part of the drive
to empower districts with
development objectives. Since
the aims of the study included
evaluating the quality of
education, it employed a
multi-tiered approach by
surveying government as well as
school officials. The study was
conducted in 2 districts Pishin
in Balochistan and Pakpattan in
Punjab, so as to include a
diverse sample of districts
which are at different levels of
development. Decisions involving
fiscal transfers, delegation of
financial powers and their
subsequent designations as well
as flexibility of need-based
allocations were labeled as
adequate gauges of fiscal
devolution. Since an interim
arrangement of formula-based
fund transfer was active during
the period of the study, the
findings can only reflect the
adequacy of such provisional
measures and advise
improvements. The findings
highlight the inability of
school heads to implement their
decisions, reflecting the lack
of devolution at such levels,
and emphasize a transparent and
equitable delegation of
authority which enables
institutional capacity-building.
