EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The following report focuses on the governance deficits that have been identified in state primary schools in Cameroon based on survey of key stakeholders and actors. Governance deficits are The following report focuses on athe governance deficits that have been identified in state primary structured around the based four indicators of transparency, integrity, accountability and participation. The schools in Cameroon on a survey of key stakeholders and actors. Governance deficits are perception of corruption was also measured. structured around the four indicators of transparency, integrity, accountability and participation. The perception of corruption was also measured. The results and recommendations are based on the responses of more than 1400 school staff, households, andrecommendations regional and divisional delegates toresponses questionnaires distributed to 48 schools The results and are based on the of more than 1400 school staff,in three regions.and The findingsand also draw ondelegates data obtained through school information cards and on households, regional divisional to questionnaires distributed to 48 schools in focus group interviews with also teachers, and school councils. Taken together, this and information three regions. The findings draw students on data obtained through school information cards on has been used to produce a governance and corruption risk map to identify potential governance focus group interviews with teachers, students and school councils. Taken together, this information gaps alongused withtothe perceived levels of corruption. The results on to governance and corruption were has been produce a governance and corruption risk map identify potential governance grouped in categories based onlevels a scale going fromThe veryresults low risk very high risk. the samewere gaps along with the perceived of corruption. ontogovernance andIncorruption manner, findings related to performance were from measured andrisk analysed. grouped in categories based on a scale going very low to very high risk. In the same manner, findings related to performance were measured and analysed. The absence of good governance practices in Cameroon leads to risks of corruption and the potential mismanagement of vital resources that are needed to educate a new generation of The absence of good governance practices in Cameroon leads to risks of corruption and the Cameroonians. potential mismanagement of vital resources that are needed to educate a new generation of Cameroonians. The key findings for Cameroon show: The key findings for Cameroon show:
Medium to high governance deficits exist between local level educational officials and school
head masters. gaps primarily concern compliance witheducational the laws and procedures in force Medium to highThese governance deficits exist between local level officials and school and the need for financial reporting and accountability, particularly in regards to head masters. These gapsmanagement primarily concern compliance with the laws and procedures in force the management of the minimum package minimum) ofparticularly resources (comprised of andpoor the need for financial management reporting(paquet and accountability, in regards to educational materials and operational that(paquet is provided to schools. In these(comprised instances, of the the poor management of the minimumfunds) package minimum) of resources minimum package is either inadequate, arrives late is managed non-transparently at all the educational materials and operational funds) that is or provided to schools. In these instances, levels. minimum package is either inadequate, arrives late or is managed non-transparently at all
The system of transfers to schools is not transparent and, at the end of the distribution chain, levels.
headmasters do not theisrationale behind decisions concerning budget.chain, This is The system ofoften transfers to know schools not transparent and, at the end of thetheir distribution partially due tooften legaldo loopholes imprecise official texts. concerning their budget. This is headmasters not knowand the to rationale behind decisions
At the level school, medium observed. One-third of parents partially dueoftothe legal loopholes andgovernance to imprecisedeficits officialare texts.
surveyed in of thethe study believe that school decisions areare taken without One-third any previous consultation At the level school, medium governance deficits observed. of parents with them.inSome of the problems mainly due to are a lack of or inadequate knowledge about surveyed the study believe that are school decisions taken without any previous consultation applicable compliance study finds that parents are with them. rules Someand of the problemswith are them. mainlyFor dueexample, to a lackthe of or inadequate knowledge about sometimes asked to compliance pay membership fees to parent-teacher (PTAs) although applicable rules and with them. For example, the associations study finds that parents are mandatory have been abolished by law. sometimes fees asked to pay membership fees to parent-teacher associations (PTAs) although mandatory fees have been abolished by law.
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