Non state providers of basic education

Ways in which government collaborates with non-state providers of basic education

By: Rose, P
Published by: Consortium for Research on Education access, Transitions and Equity, 2007
Via: Eldis

In many low-income countries basic education continues to be regarded as a state responsibility. Non-state provision of education is seen as complementary to this. However, within the context of the move towards achieving Education for All (EFA), focus on the role of non state providers (NSPs) has intensified recently.

This paper provides insights into the nature of non state providers of basic education services, and the potential for them to contribute to the achievement of the EFA goals and MDGs. It defines different types of NSPs and examines the ways in which they engage with the state in education service delivery. The paper then highlights the issues that surround the interfaces between NGO and government systems with particular attention towards NSPs engaged in service delivery to 'underserved groups'.

Drawing on examples and evidence of government-NSP collaborations across countries, the paper notes that relations between NSPs and the state are not straightforward given the range of different providers involved in education service delivery. There are a number of inter-related conditions influencing the strength of the relationship:

• The extent of mutual dependency of the state and the NSPs-such as NSPs, dependence on government for resources, and government's dependency on the service delivery provided by NSPs to achieve their stated goals-is a significant factor.
• The characteristics of the state such as its capacity, political will and its political and economic ideology determines the extent to which NSPs are encouraged and/or supported.
• The characteristics of civil society influences the extent to which NSPs can develop to deliver services to underserved groups, and have the motivation to do so.
• The extent to which government provision is falling short of achieving EFA and national goals has implications for the types of providers involved in service delivery, which in turn will influence the type of support governments give to NSPs.
  

The paper finds that those serving the better-off tend to dominate engagement with government. This is at the expense of smaller-scale, informal providers aiming to support those otherwise under-served by government provision. There has been limited deliberate intent on the part of the government to support provision to those underserved by the state system. As such, the paper argues that there is a need for ‘real’ on-going dialogue which recognises the diversity amongst NSPs, to ensure collaboration between NSPs and government benefits the underserved and so assists in moving towards the achievement of EFA goals.

(http://www.create-rpc.org/pdf%20documents/pathwaystoaccess4.pdf)