Impact of Decentralization in Education on Universalization of Primary Education.

The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of decentralization in education on the enrolment and dropouts at primary school level in the province and its low literacy and high literacy districts. Two districts, one from the low literacy category and the other from the high literacy category were selected randomly. A complete cohort of students from grade 1 to grade 5, separately for the pre-devolution period (1997-2002) and post-devolution period (2003- 2007) were followed using data from Education Management Information System Punjab (EMIS) for the former and Program Monitoring and Implementation Unit (PMIU) for the later period. A significant increase in enrolment and decline in dropout was observed during the post-devolution period. The less developed, low literacy district responded in a more positive way. Thus the findings support the argument that decentralization will help in expanding access to education and controlling dropouts which may lead to early attainment of universal primary education in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]