EdData II Data for Education Programming in Asia and Middle East Nepal Education Sector Early Grade Reading Assessment Report DEP/AME EdData II Technical and Managerial Assistance, Task Number 15 Contract Number AID-OAA-BC-11-00001 June 2012 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by RTI International. Data for Education Programming in Asia and Middle East Nepal Education Sector Early Grade Reading Assessment Report DEP/AME EdData II Task Order No. 15 Finalized July 15, 2012 Prepared for USAID/Nepal Mitch Kirby, Senior Education Advisor Prepared by RTI International 3040 Cornwallis Road Post Office Box 12194 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194 RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute. The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. EdData II, Task 15, for USAID/Nepal’s Education Sector Early Grade Reading Assessment Report Table of Contents Page List of Figures ...........................................................................................................................iii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................iii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. ES-1 1 Context/Background and Introduction ..................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and Assessment Objectives ..................................................... 1 1.2 Assessment Methodology ............................................................................ 1 1.3 USAID’s Education Strategy ....................................................................... 1 1.4 Research on Improving Reading Outcomes and Decentralization .............. 2 1.5 School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP 2009–2015) .......................................... 2 1.6 The Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) ........................................................... 2 1.7 Recent Developments in the Education Sector ............................................ 3 1.7.1 Private Education ........................................................................... 3 2 Institutional Mapping and Capacity Assessment ..................................................... 4 2.1 Overview of Institutions .............................................................................. 4 2.1.1 Central Government Organizations ................................................ 4 2.1.2 Local Government Organizations .................................................. 5 2.1.3 Development Partners .................................................................... 6 2.1.4 International NGOs ........................................................................ 7 2.1.5 Public-Private Partnerships ............................................................ 8 2.1.6 Research Organizations .................................................................. 8 2.2 Institutional Assessment .............................................................................. 8 3 Critical Issues ........................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Language ...................................................................................................... 9 3.1.1 The Role of Language in the Nepali Education System ................ 9 3.1.2 Strengths of Existing Language Environment .............................. 10 3.1.3 Weaknesses of the Existing Language Environment ................... 10 3.2 Curriculum and Materials .......................................................................... 10 3.2.1 Organizational Structure for Curricula and Materials .................. 10 3.2.2 Strengths of the Existing Organizational Structure ...................... 10 3.2.3 Weaknesses of the Existing Organizational Structure ................. 11 3.3 Teaching and Teachers .............................................................................. 11 3.3.1 Teacher Training .......................................................................... 11 3.3.2 Strengths of the Teacher Training System ................................... 13 3.3.3 Weaknesses of the Teacher Training System ............................... 13 3.4 Assessment ................................................................................................. 13 3.4.1 Current state of assessments and assessment systems.................. 13 3.4.2 Strengths ....................................................................................... 14 3.4.3 Weaknesses .................................................................................. 15 3.5 Elements of Demand .................................................................................. 15 3.5.1 Horizontal and Vertical Accountability ....................................... 15 3.5.2 The planning and budgeting process ............................................ 16 3.5.3 Lower-level spending ................................................................... 16 ES-i EdData II, Task 15, for USAID/Nepal’s Education Sector Early Grade Reading Assessment Report 3.5.4 Assessment of Horizontal and Vertical Accountability ............... 17 3.5.5 Accountability for Results ............................................................ 18 3.5.6 Data Systems and Data Use .......................................................... 18 3.5.7 Reform Support ............................................................................ 19 3.6 Cost Analysis ............................................................................................. 19 3.6.1 Strengths of the System ................................................................ 20 3.6.2 Weaknesses of the System ........................................................... 20 4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 20 4.1 Recommendations ...................................................................................... 21 4.1.1 Language ...................................................................................... 21 4.1.2 Curriculum and Materials ............................................................. 21 4.1.3 Teachers and Teacher Training .................................................... 21 4.1.4 Assessment ................................................................................... 22 4.1.5 Elements of Demand .................................................................... 22 4.1.6 Costs and Finance ......................................................................... 22 4.2 Key Leverage Points .................................................................................. 23 4.2.1 Furthering Demand for Improved Reading .................................. 23 4.2.2 Evidence-Based Decision Making ............................................... 23 4.2.3 Potential of Decentralized System ............................................... 24 Annex A. Terms of Reference ................................................................................................ 25 Annex B. Nepal Assessment Protocol Questions................................................................... 28 Annex C. Schedule and Contacts ........................................................................................... 38 Annex D. Private Education Enrollment Data Private Education Enrollment Data .............. 40 Annex E. Additional International Nongovernmental Organizations Assisting with Education Efforts in Nepal..................................................................................... 53 Annex F. EMIS Data Collection Forms................................................................................. 62 Annex G. List of References and Endnotes............................................................................ 63 ES-ii EdData II, Task 15, for USAID/Nepal’s Education Sector Early Grade Reading Assessment Report List of Figures Figure 1. Management, governance, and finance structures of the Nepali Education system .................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 2. Textbook Availability vs. Textbook Use.................................................................. 23 List of Tables Table 1. Reading Systems Diagnostic Map ............................................................................... 2 Table 2. Early Grade Reading Studies ....................................................................................... 3 Table 3. Accountability Linkages ............................................................................................ 15 Table 4. SSRP 2011/12 Budget Analysis (NRs 000) ............................................................... 19 ES-iii EdData II, Task 15, for USAID/Nepal’s Education Sector Early Grade Reading Assessment Report List of Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank ASER Annual Status of Education Report ASIP Annual Strategic Implementation Plan AusAID Australian Agency for International Development BASE Backward Society Education BES Backwardness Eradication