Manila, May 19, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - An Asian Development Bank (ASX: ATB) technical assistance (TA) project to support management of decentralized education in Indonesia is being expanded through a contribution of Euro4.6 million (US$6 million) from the European Commission (EC).
"The EC is a significant grant provider in Asia. The project represents a milestone in the cofinancing relationship between ADB and EC, as it is the first project that will be implemented under the EC's new expanded procurement eligibility list," says Werner Liepach, Principal Director of ADB's Office of Cofinancing Operations. "The project establishes the basis for ADB and EC's cooperation in the future."
The initial phase of the ADB TA, approved in September 2004, is supported by an ADB grant of $500,000 to assist the Ministry of National Education (MONE) in designing an equitable, effective, and efficient decentralized education system.
The assistance has mapped good practices and developed models for decentralized planning, and designed performance-based management information processes.
"The next phase requires testing of these models in selected districts and developing a framework for expansion and adoption by the Government," says Wendy Duncan, an ADB Senior Project Implementation Specialist.
"With decentralization in Indonesia evolving and a number of ministerial decrees and regulations being finalized, the ministry requires additional support to strengthen policy development in central agencies, develop targeted programs to reduce disparities in access to education, and put in place new management systems."
The EC cofinancing recognizes these needs with the aim of enhancing management processes at central, provincial, and district levels, and ensuring management is consistent with reforms being undertaken on education sector decentralization.
The changes to the TA will help ensure that the mechanisms being put in place are sustainable and will allow expansion of the number of districts to receive assistance from 6 to up to 50.
Contact
Floyd Whaley
Email: fwhaley@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 6848; +63 9717 888 6848
Graham Dwyer
Email: gdwyer@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 5253; +632 898 3413; +63 915 741 4363
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