A Generalizable Model for Educational Policy Research in Developing Countries

The Southern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ) is a network of fifteen Ministries of Education that undertake educational policy research focused on providing information that will lead to improved decisions concerning planning the quality of education. This article describes SACMEQ'S philosophical foundations, objectives, structural mechanisms, and some of SACMEQ'S research results

SACMEQ'S initial educational policy research project, SACMEQ-1, collected data in seven Southern Africa countries from over 20,000 pupils and some 2,000 teachers in 1,000 schools (Kariuki, Guantai, & Nzomo, in press; Kulpoo, 1998; Machingaidze, Pfukani, & Shumba, 1998; Chimombo & Milner in press; Nassor, 1998; Nkamba & Kanyika, 1998; Voigts, 1998b). Five national SACMEQ-1 policy reports have already been published and another two are in preparation. These reports have all figured prominently in debates concerning policy on improving the quality of education in the Southern Africa sub-region. The article illustrates the innovative and effective "working style" that has been adopted by SACMEQ, and suggests that this approach could be transferred to educational development and capacity building projects in other regions of the world.