Browsing by Subject "ownership"

This thesis studies national and local ownership of Namibia’s education and training sector improvement programme ETSIP. ETSIP is a 15-year programme implemented during 2005-2015 following a sector-wide approach. The aim of the programme is to facilitate the transition of Namibia into a knowledge-based economy. This study aims to provide insight into how ownership of the ETSIP policy process is realised nationally and locally, in particular how regional officials in the Namibian education sector view the ETSIP policy process, how they see their role in it and to which degree to they have been able to influence and control the process. The approach in this study is qualitative and the viewpoint constructionist looking at reality constructed through people’s perceptions, interpretations and actions. The data consists of interviews and informal discussions with regional and national education officials, newspaper articles and ETSIP policy documents. The study highlights that national ownership is a vague term due to many actors and views within a country. It confirms Castel-Branco’s argument that ownership has to be understood in context, in a contested and changing environment. A new strategic plan for the Ministry of Education is being prepared and this might affect ownership to ETSIP. The rhetoric of ownership in ETSIP policy documents follows international commitments of increasing aid effectiveness but the documents lack a comprehensive analysis of how national and local ownership would be realised. The documents reflect a narrow understanding of ownership as commitment to predetermined policy choices. Whitfield’s and Frazer’s distinction of narrow and broad definitions of ownership is found in the interviews. Commitment to ETSIP is regarded essential but insufficient for ownership. Local commitment to ETSIP principles and aims is realised fairly well but if ownership is viewed broadly, as influence and control, then ownership is weak. There has been little influence from regional level in the ETSIP planning process and there is lack of control over the implementation of ETSIP, in particular lack of control over financial resources. Tujan’s notion of democratic ownership highlights the need to change and broaden the ownership agenda to consider the local level. This study suggests that an enabling environment for local ownership would require changes in institutional culture and the strengthening of institutional legitimacy. It would require political leadership, trust, a culture of responsibility and accountability, enhanced information sharing, broad participation, dialogue and collaboration. Most importantly there is a need and demand for local control over decision-making and resources.