The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. The Asia Foundation in the Philippines is working with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) to conduct research and propose policies on key governance and finance issues. This research is supported by the Australian Government under Reform-Ed: Realizing Efficient Governance and Streamlined Reforms in Education.
Background of the Study
In 2022, EDCOM II was formed by the Philippine Congress to comprehensively evaluate the education sector and propose transformative policies that will address the country’s learning crisis, made evident by the country’s inadequate performance in local and international assessments. EDCOM II, in its Year One Report, concluded that the education system failed to provide quality services to Filipino students, in part due to decades of poor governance and financing of education. These issues are prominent in basic education, managed by the Department of Education, the government’s largest bureaucracy responsible for educating twenty-eight million learners.
EDCOM II’s Governance and Finance Committee indicated the need to decentralize and improve education governance for enhanced agility, participation, innovation, and responsiveness. Even prior to the creation of EDCOM II, proposals to restructure and decentralize education governance have been raised, which include deconcentration, devolution, and optimizing private delivery of education. However, given existing policies that provide for decentralization and historical challenges in devolution, there is a need to surface the issues that hindered implementation to ensure that succeeding recommendations will be implementable and sustainable.
Given the political, administrative, and financial risks of restructuring and decentralizing the governance of basic education, there is a need to conduct thorough research and examination on the most effective governance structure. Thus, The Asia Foundation and EDCOM II will be conducting a study to:
- Analyze basic education governance, policies, and implementation issues
- Propose policy options to improve governance with consideration for the feasibility and impact of options
The findings will be part of a Policy Note published with EDCOM II.
Scope of Work
During this consultancy, the research consultants will work on the following:
- Policy Audit: Review of relevant laws and policies on education organizational structure, financing, and administration to map the intended governance and coordination of education at the national and local levels and specify which functions, whether financial or administrative, have been delegated at different levels.
- Implementation Review: Identify governance issues, including informal processes and rules that affect implementation, through a review of existing studies and conduct of key informant interviews and focus group discussions with education agency officials.
- International benchmarks: Desk review of education governance in countries with contexts similar to the Philippines will be undertaken to surface different practices in engaging the private sector and local governments and increasing the efficiency of government services.
- Local proposals: Review of local proposals to improve governance will be conducted to specify which governance issues, policies, and processes each proposal intends to address, surfacing converging ideas, if any. The review will be done through key informant interviews and consultations with central and local offices, including DepEd field offices and local government units.
- Recommendations: Analyze local proposals and international practices to improve governance based on equity and impact, absorptive capacity of institutions, and scalability/replicability. Scenarios built along the different options to restructure governance will be supported by an initial execution plan, including the necessary monitoring and oversight mechanisms that must be in place.
Reporting Structure
Research consultants will be working closely with The Asia Foundation’s Education Program Officers under the supervision of the Deputy Country Representative. Research activities and presentations will be conducted in coordination with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).
Research Consultants Composition and Qualifications
The Research consultants will be composed of an Education Governance Advisor, a Lead Researcher, and an Associate Researcher. Kindly note that applications are open for one (1) Lead Researcher and one (1) Associate Researcher.
The tasks of the Education Governance Advisor are provided for reference.
Education Governance Advisor
Tasks for reference:
- Provide strategic project direction on research coverage and deliverables within the timeframe
- Lead the research team in the development of a research framework and content outline
- Lead in the analysis of data
- Convene and facilitate discussions focused on research findings and analysis in coordination with The Asia Foundation and EDCOM II Team
- Supervise writing tasks based on agreed-upon outline and timeline
- Provide feedback and edits as necessary on working drafts produced by researchers
- Attend alignment meetings with the team on a weekly or biweekly basis as necessary based on the activities due in the project timeline
- Conduct revisions together with writers after an external program review of the working paper draft
Lead Researcher
Tasks
- Lead in collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data and research findings through interviews, focus group discussions, etc.
- Lead in the writing and submission of drafts based on the research framework, outline, and timeline
- Lead facilitation of external discussions and consultations for data analysis
- Lead data quality assurance of all documents, information, and materials
- Attend alignment meetings with the research team on a weekly or biweekly basis as necessary based on the activities due in the project timeline
- Conduct revisions and address comments after program review of the working paper draft
Qualifications
- At least seven (7) years of research experience in education or public policy
- Undergraduate degree in education, political science, public administration, or related fields required. A graduate degree is a plus.
- Strong research writing and presentation skills with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Strong interview and communication skills, especially with external stakeholders and other key informants
- Understanding of the Philippine basic education system and policy landscape, including current events and political developments
- Experience working with international development or donor organizations for research projects or reports is a plus
Research Associate
Tasks
- Assist in the writing and submission of drafts based on the research framework, outline, and timeline
- Assist in coordinating with research respondents for interviews, consultations, or focus group discussions
- Assist team with compilation of relevant research and policies
- Assist in referencing, footnotes, and citation
- Assist in data gathering through interviews, focus group discussions, etc.
- Assist in roundtable discussions and external consultations for data analysis
- Attend alignment meetings with the research team on a weekly or biweekly basis as necessary based on the activities due in the project timeline
- Conduct revisions and address comments after program review of the working paper
Qualifications
- At least three (3) years of research experience in education or public policy
- Undergraduate degree in education, political science, public administration, or related fields
- Strong research writing and presentation skills with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Strong interview and communication skills, especially with external stakeholders and other key informants
- Understanding of the Philippine basic education system and policy landscape, including current events and political developments
Period of Engagement
The consultancy is expected to run for five (5) months, from April 2024- September 2024, with a possibility of extension depending on the project scope of work and deliverables.
How to apply
Interested applicants must submit the following documents to consultancyPH@asiafoundation.org by April 23, Tuesday 2024:
- TAF Application Form https://tinyurl.com/TAFApplicationReqs
- EBD Form https://tinyurl.com/TAFApplicationReqs
- Expression of Interest
- Sample of written works