System coherence for learning: applications of the RISE education systems framework

Abstract

In recent decades, education systems in most low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) have rapidly expanded access to schooling, but learning has lagged behind. There are many reasons for low learning in LMICs. Proximate determinants (such as insufficient financing or poor school management) receive much attention, but focus on these often ignores underlying system drivers. In this paper, we use a systems approach to describe underlying system dynamics that drive learning outcomes. To do so, we first describe the RISE education systems framework and then apply it to two cases. In the case of Sobral, Brazil, the systems framework illustrates how a coherent package of reforms, improving upon multiple system components, produced positive outcomes. In the case of Indonesia, a reform that increased teacher pay, but did not change underlying system dynamics, had no impact on learning. The paper shows how a systems approach can help to understand success, diagnose failure, and inform action to bring about improvements to children's learning.

Improving School Management in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review

“…For example, Ganimian and Freel (2020) note that small effect sizes on student learning may reflect the long path from the intervention to student learning, and de Hoyos et al (2020,2021) hypothesize that management interventions take a long time to translate into performance gains. The structure of school accountability to support principals-including parents, school management committees, inspectors, and ministries of education-may also need to be aligned to promote learning (Mbiti, 2016;Kaffenberger and Spivack, 2023). Without changes filtering down to classrooms, either through personnel changes or engaging existing teachers to improve instruction, changes in management practices alone are unlikely to improve student performance.…”

Systems Thinking in International Education and Development

“…A small but growing body of evidence suggests that a key to achieving large improvements in learning is the clear delegation of explicit learning goals by the leadership in an education system, establishing a common purpose and driving other elements of the system to align around the learning goals (Kaffenberger, 2021;London, 2021). The RISE systems framework can be applied to better understand and analyse the sources and processes of such success.…”