Kaizen supported reforms in school management in Sindh to combat poor quality of education, teacher absenteeism, and low student retention.
The Sindh education sector is plagued by poor quality of education, teacher absenteeism, and low student retention, especially among girls. USAID developed the education management organization (EMO) policy reform in partnership with the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department to foster partnerships and leverage private-sector efficiencies to improve public-sector school management, student retention, and student learning outcomes. The EMO model is based on private management of public schools. EMOs are private-sector (for-profit, not-for-profit, or a consortium of both) organizations with proven expertise in the education sector. They are selected through competitive bidding to partner with the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department to manage select government schools. Key performance indicators—related to school management, learning achievement, attendance and enrollment, professional development of staff, and health and hygiene practices—measure EMO performance to ensure improved school quality.
Highlights
- Developed requests for proposals to procure EMOs for 25 schools
- Evaluated bidders’ technical and financial proposals
- Executed concession agreements with EMOs for 25 schools
- Organized public events to showcase EMO agreements and openings
The Government of Sindh established a public-private partnership node responsible for the procurement, management, and monitoring of concession agreements with EMOs. USAID has been funding the construction of 106 schools in Sindh since 2015 and assisting the Government of Sindh in procuring EMOs to manage the new schools. Kaizen was tasked with pairing the final 25 schools—completed in June 2023—with EMOs. Kaizen deployed two consultants to support the public-private partnership node in procuring EMOs and showcasing their engagement through public events. The Kaizen team assisted in developing requests for proposals, facilitating pre-bid meetings with stakeholders, evaluating the technical and financial bids, drafting concession agreements with EMOs, advising the Government of Sindh on contract management of EMOs, and supporting organizing public events to showcase the activity.
Kaizen’s work ensured concession agreements were awarded in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority and Sindh Public Private Partnership Act 2010. The activity advanced key cross-cutting priorities under the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy, promoting public-private partnerships as well as gender advancement by improving the quality of basic education for vulnerable children, especially girls. More than 80,000 girls and boys will benefit from the improvements achieved at the 106 new schools under EMO management.
At a glance
Client
Status
Past
Location
Sindh
Services
Education
