Nafda is supporting an alternative governance system in the education sector, where principals are empowered to lead school transformation and reform. Principals are empowered as “agents for social change and improvement” (Karami-Akkary 2014) to mobilize their school community, including teachers, students, parents and other community members, for them to co-design school transformation programs that improve the school and put it back at the center of the community.
Our overall goal: An alternative governance structure of the school system in Lebanon is developed, where school principals lead school transformation and reform, based on shared values, a common vision and strategy for the sector and a commitment to high quality education
Outcome 1.
Enhanced financial and technical capacity of 1,000 schools to lead school transformation programs by 2025.
1.1 School environment (~30% of block grant)
20 schools have enhanced financial capacity to tackle the immediate crisis in 2022 and meet urgent needs. These may include maintenance, utilities, teacher and staff salaries, textbook and school supplies, transportation costs, scholarships, food rations etc. (target 20 schools, budget ~$15K USD/school)
1.2 Transformation projects (~70% of block grant)
Schools have improved resources and skills to lead their own participatory school transformation programs (see Annex 1 for an example) through decentralized decision-making, peer-led learning and participatory planning in 2022 (target 20 schools, budget ~$35K USD/school)
1.3 Scaling
Pioneering schools have the enhanced resources and leadership to scale their proven innovations to other schools, which will in turn set their 100-day challenges. As a result of Nafda’s School Transformation Program, 1,000 schools will engage their communities by 2025 in school-led community building efforts that are infused with the values of engaged citizenship, good governance, and social justice, demonstrating that an alternative bottom-up value-based governance system is possible (target 100 schools in year 1 to reach 1,000 schools by year 3, budget ~$10K/school).
Outcome 2.
Increased convergence among key stakeholders on the strategic reforms necessary to transition to high quality education through Vision 2025.
Steps to outcome 2:
2.1 Communities of practice
Communities of practice/thematic working groups are formed to develop action plans in key areas including inter alia early childhood education, quality assurance, curriculum development (with focus on skills for the future of work, and civic engagement), school efficiency and management, and equity and inclusion.
2.2 Education 2025
Vision 2025 is developed, establishing a citizen-led strategic plan for the school system, which puts the school community at the heart of the policy process.
2.3 Data
Increased availability of data to inform evidence-based policymaking, including insights emerging from evaluations of school transformation programs led by Nafda.