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The potential and limits of performance management: Improving basic education in the Western Cape

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  • Robert Cameron
  • Brian Levy

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on the management and governance of education at provincial level – specifically on efforts to introduce performance management into education by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), and their impact. Post-1994 the WCED inherited a bureaucracy that was well placed to manage the province’s large public education system. Subsequently, irrespective of which political party has been in power, the WCED consistently has sought to implement performance management. This paper explores to what extent determined, top-down efforts, led by the public sector, can improve dismal educational performance. The paper concludes that the WCED is (and long has been) a relatively well-run public bureaucracy. However, the sustained, determined efforts to strengthen the operation of the WCED’s bureaucracy have not translated into systematic improvements in schools in poorer areas. One possible implication is that efforts to strengthen hierarchy might usefully be complemented with additional effort to support more horizontal, peer-to-peer governance at the school level.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Cameron & Brian Levy, 2016. "The potential and limits of performance management: Improving basic education in the Western Cape," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-062-16, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    • Handle: RePEc:bwp:bwppap:esid-062-16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brian Levy & Michael Walton, 2013. "Institutions, incentives and service provision: Bringing politics back in," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-018-13, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    2. Levy, Brian, 2014. "Working with the Grain: Integrating Governance and Growth in Development Strategies," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199363810.
    3. Andrews,Matt, 2013. "The Limits of Institutional Reform in Development," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107016330.
    4. Brian Levy & Alan Hirsch & Ingrid Woolard, 2015. "Governance and inequality: Benchmarking and interpreting South Africa’s evolving political settlement," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-051-15, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    5. North,Douglass C. & Wallis,John Joseph & Webb,Steven B. & Weingast,Barry R. (ed.), 2013. "In the Shadow of Violence," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107014213.
    6. Wills, Gabrielle, 2016. "Principal leadership changes and their consequences for school performance in South Africa," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 108-124.
    7. Gabrielle Wills, 2016. "Principal leadership changes in South Africa: Investigating their consequences for school performance," Working Papers 01/2016, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    8. North,Douglass C. & Wallis,John Joseph & Weingast,Barry R., 2013. "Violence and Social Orders," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107646995.
    9. North,Douglass C. & Wallis,John Joseph & Webb,Steven B. & Weingast,Barry R. (ed.), 2013. "In the Shadow of Violence," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107684911.
    10. Barbara Bruns & Deon Filmer & Harry Anthony Patrinos, 2011. "Making Schools Work : New Evidence on Accountability Reforms," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2270, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Cameron & Vinothan Naidoo, 2016. "When a ‘ruling alliance’ and public sector governance meet: Managing for performance in South African basic education," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-060-16, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    2. Gabrielle Wills & Debra Shepherd & Janeli Kotze, 2016. "Interrogating a Paradox of Performance in the WCED: A Provincial and Regional Comparison of Student Learning," Working Papers 14/2016, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    3. Ursula Hoadley & Brian Levy & Lawule Shumane & Shelly Wilburn, 2016. "Leadership, stakeholders and learner performance in four Western Cape schools," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-061-16, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    4. Brian Levy & Robert Cameron & Ursula Hoadley & Vinothan Naidoo, 2016. "The politics and governance of basic education: A tale of two South African provinces," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-067-16, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    5. Brian Levy & Lawule Shumane, 2017. "School governance in a fragmented political and bureaucratic environment: Case studies from South Africa’s Eastern Cape province," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-084-17, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    6. Zukiswa Kota & Monica Hendricks & Eric Matambo & Vinothan Naidoo, 2017. "The governance of basic education in the Eastern Cape," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-083-17, GDI, The University of Manchester.

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