Toolbox 1.2: Policy Decision on Duration, Guiding Principles/Regulatory Framework, Scope and Alignment

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The Planning Team begins its work by discussing the parameters of the ICT in Education Masterplan. These parameters include the following: duration of the masterplan; guiding principles or regulatory frameworks to consider in the masterplan; scope of the masterplan; and alignment with the different levels or sub-sectors in education.

After specifying these planning parameters, the Planning Team submits their outputs to the policymaker or Steering Committee for approval. Once the planning parameters are defined, this information can be shared to other people, specifically to those who will participate in the planning meetings. This set of information minimizes confusion and immediately clarifies the direction of the masterplan.

Duration

The duration and period of the masterplan usually follows the major plans of the government such as national development plan or the national education plan. It is also possible to follow the term of the current administration, allowing the next administration to develop their own plans. The usual duration of many masterplans is four to six years (see list below) although a few countries (e.g. Bangladesh and Malaysia) opted for longer period of ten years.

Guiding principles/ regulatory framework

The masterplan adhere to certain ideals important to the government. These ideals are often in the guiding principles or regulatory frameworks found in the national development plan, if not in the agenda of the government’s policymakers.

For example, these four pillars guided the development of Agenda Uruguay Digital 2020:

Four pillars guided the development of Agenda Uruguay Digital 2020

Social Policy and Inclusion: Using digital technologies to transform opportunity structures
Sustainable Economic Development: Building a competitive digital economy
Government Management: Innovating in the relationship between citizens and the State
Government for the Information Society: An enabling framework to favour its social take-up

For some policymakers, it is important to be in-step with global trends by being consistent international agreements or declarations. See Incheon Declaration and Qingdao Declaration.

For others, certain regulatory frameworks are important such General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which is now a major consideration for many countries and organizations; e-waste management, and open licensing.

Scope

The ICT in Education Masterplan can be national in scope but it can also be developed for specific sub-national contexts. It can be a regional plan, a provincial plan or a district plan. It is also possible to develop an institutional ICT plan. The Planning Team can use the toolkit and apply the same planning process for schools, universities, and teacher education institutions with minor adjustments to take into account the difference in the planning environment.

Alignment

Education systems around the world have different configurations. Some countries have only one ministry of education responsible for the entire education sector. Other countries have divided the responsibility of managing education to several ministries. So it is possible some countries have an an education-sector wide plan, while in others it is specific to an education level, area or beneficiaries.

Activities

The Planning Team needs to discuss the planning parameters:

Duration or period of the masterplan;
Existing guiding principles or regulatory frameworks in their country important to consider in the ICT in Education Masterplan.
Scope (national, provincial, institutional)
Alignment (sector-wide or specific segment of education only)

If there are no such frameworks but there is an interest to adopt them in the future, the Planning Team may include this as possible agenda in the masterplan. This means using the masterplan to support the formal adoption of a regulatory framework.

Policy Decision on Duration, Guiding Principles/Regulatory Framework, Scope and Alignment