This joint research by The Asia Foundation and EDCOM II through the support of Australian Aid, examines the significant barriers to achieving genuine shared governance and decentralization in the Philippine basic education system managed by the Department of Education (DepEd). The study finds that despite policies aiming for decentralization, DepEd remains heavily centralized, concentrating decision-making and financial resources at the Central Office and perpetuating a culture of control and over-compliance that stifles local innovation. This structure, along with DepEd’s ballooning responsibilities due to a growing student population, overstretches the bureaucracy and hinders its ability to deliver responsive services. Furthermore, the study concludes that DepEd’s centralization undermines the intent of School-Based Management (SBM), turning it into a compliance exercise rather than a tool for empowering schools due to limited resources, capacity, and excessive requirements. Legal limitations also restrict the extent to which Local Government Units (LGUs) can effectively support education despite existing mechanisms like the Special Education Fund (SEF) and Local School Boards (LSBs). Ultimately, the study asserts that further decentralization is essential to move beyond a top-down approach and address the diverse needs of learners and communities for improved education outcomes.
