| Abstract: | THE DECENTRALISATION OF EDUCATION IN WESTERN FRANCOPHONE AFRICA: LOCAL-LEVEL REALITIES AND CHALLENGES – For some years now,
the process of decentralisation has been a popular means of reforming the way that public services are administrated. This
ambitious and complex means of reform has been embraced by a number of very different countries. However, questions have arisen
concerning the ability of the local authorities and schools – two of the main beneficiaries of this reform – to carry out
the administrative duties involved. Many doubt that its impact is far-reaching enough. As a result, the IIEP has coordinated
a research programme in Western Francophone Africa with the aim of gaining greater insight into the challenges facing local
authorities and schools in the context of decentralisation reforms. To a certain extent, the results are discouraging because
they show the limits facing those who attempt to implement a policy of decentralisation, although a number of successful examples
of innovation do give grounds for hope. For this reason, the results enable us to identify several principles for good practice. |
