SALAR’s Efforts in Advancing Educational Decentralisation in Armenia
The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
(SALAR), through its DeaLoG project in Armenia, is supporting changes in the education sector as part of the country’s decentralisation reforms. Supported by Sida, the initiative prioritises building consensus among stakeholders on key principles of educational decentralisation.
By enhancing the capacities of both central and local actors, SALAR equips stakeholders with the tools and knowledge required to manage decentralised educational responsibilities effectively. This approach ensures the creation of a resilient local governance system that can deliver quality education services adapted to community needs.
A foundation of SALAR’s efforts is promoting collaboration between municipalities and schools through the development of structured cooperation frameworks. These frameworks aim to strengthen the school-community nexus, promoting shared responsibility for educational outcomes and local development.
In addition, SALAR supports the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (MoESCS) in formulating a comprehensive decentralisation roadmap. This roadmap incorporates a maturity model designed to evaluate how prepared municipalities are to assume educational responsibilities and a functional review to align educational governance structures with best international practices.
Educational decentralisation offers several key benefits, including responsiveness to local needs, increased accountability, and increased innovation in service delivery. Building on Sweden’s extensive experience, SALAR illustrates how empowered local governments can foster educational equity, improve learning outcomes, and build trust within communities.
Through its strategic initiatives, SALAR is contributing to a governance model in Armenia that supports the sustainable development of the education sector, ensuring all stakeholders work towards the shared goal of inclusive and high-quality education for every child.