Decentralization of Education: The Affective Role of Fiscal Decentralization in Pakistani Education System(s)

Nasrullah; Rooh Ul  Amin; Kamal Soomro

Authors

Nasrullah University of Wah
Rooh Ul Amin Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences University of Sialkot
Ahmed Institute of Business Management (IoBM), Karachi

Abstract

Abstract

Fiscal decentralization is the devolution of financial decisions to the lowest level of administration. The financial decisions include revenue generation and expenditures on public services. This study qualitatively explored fiscal decentralization as a factor affecting decentralization of education in Pakistan. Data were collected from educational leaders (six DEOs and six high school principals) and six political leaders through interviews. The KP Local Government Act 2013 and the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan were also used as data. The participants reported inefficiency of the centralized fiscal system. All the participants associated hopes for positive and effective reforms through the aforementioned federal and provincial level legislation because they changed the way resources were distributed among social services departments district-wise. However, they showed great concerns over only ten percent revenue generation powers given to the provinces because that might lead to low fiscal powers of district governments. The study revealed that the process of fiscal decentralization in the province is very slow and therefore very slow progress in the decentralization of education was observed. The low fiscal power affect education expenditures as the local governments have low or no capacity to handle budgetary matters of the public school locally. The prevailing process of decentralization in education is mainly political and administrative as the provincial governments still approve the budgets for education. The study concludes with the recommendations that that fiscal decentralization be focused and schools be given the opportunity to get funds from the local governments and community. The local leaders may be trained and empowered to make fiscal decisions in the best interest of the institution(s).

Keywords: Fiscal Decentralization; Education Expenditures; Education Budgets; Local Governments’ Empowerment

Author Biographies

Nasrullah, University of Wah

Dr. Nasrullah is Assistant Professor in the department of education University of Wah. He has done Ph D in educational adminstration and leadership from Dowling College New York.

Rooh Ul Amin, Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences University of Sialkot

Dr. Rooh Ul Amin is Associate Professor in University of Sialkot. He is Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences University of Sialkot. He has done Ph D in Linguistics from University of Memphis USA

Ahmed, Institute of Business Management (IoBM), Karachi

Dr. Kamal Ahmad Somro is Assiatnt Professor in the department of educatio. He has done Ph D in instructional technology from university of West Virgenia USA.