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Decentralisation and teacher accountability: How the political settlement shapes governance in the education sector at sub-national levels in Ghana

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  • Edward Ampratwum
  • Mohammed Awal
  • Franklin Oduro

Abstract

Despite a series of reforms designed to improve the education system in Ghana, the quality of education remains low. This paper uses a political settlements analysis to explore why this is the case. Focusing on the issue of teacher accountability and performance, we argue that a key reform – decentralisation – remains a highly contested process. The current system generates insufficient incentives, from either a top-down or bottom-up direction, for effective forms of policy implementation and accountability to emerge at scale. In practice, educational quality differs significantly between districts. An explanation for the variation observed is the significant negative impact that intense party political competition can have in reducing the capacity of local actors to cooperate and to facilitate difficult reforms. The evidence suggests that improving educational quality depends on reform-minded coalitions made up of state and non-state actors at both district and school levels, and a stable political settlement at the district level. We conclude that where good practice is observed, it is as a result of efforts by these coalitions to devise and enforce local-level solutions to local problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward Ampratwum & Mohammed Awal & Franklin Oduro, 2018. "Decentralisation and teacher accountability: How the political settlement shapes governance in the education sector at sub-national levels in Ghana," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-102-18, GDI, The University of Manchester.
  • Handle: RePEc:bwp:bwppap:esid-102-18
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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.
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    3. Crook,Richard C. & Manor,James, 1998. "Democracy and Decentralisation in South Asia and West Africa," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521631570, October.
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    5. Whitfield,Lindsay & Therkildsen,Ole & Buur,Lars & Kjær,Anne Mette, 2015. "The Politics of African Industrial Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107105317, October.
    6. David Stasavage, 2005. "Democracy and Education Spending in Africa," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 49(2), pages 343-358, April.
    7. Giles Mohan & Kojo Pumpuni Asante, 2015. "Transnational capital and the political settlement of Ghana’s oil economy," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-049-15, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    8. Franklin Oduro & Mohammed Awal & Maxwell Agyei Ashon, 2014. "A dynamic mapping of the political settlement in Ghana," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-028-14, GDI, The University of Manchester.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Stoecker, 2021. "Partisan Alignment and Political Corruption: Evidence from a New Democracy," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 192-21, Universität Siegen, Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Wirtschaftsinformatik und Wirtschaftsrecht.
    2. Stoecker, Alexander, 2022. "Partisan alignment and political corruption: Evidence from a new democracy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    3. Alexander Stoecker, 2021. "Partisan Alignment and Political Corruption: Evidence from a New Democracy," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202101, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).

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