Decentralised Instructional Materials Procurement (DIMP) Phase 4

Abstract

ii) Introduction This Management Handbook has been written to provide all basic information required by schools, School Management Committees (SMC) Districts and Official Textbook Suppliers (OTS) in order to implement Decentralized Instructional Materials Procurement (DIMP). It is very important that everyone involved with DIMP should read this Handbook carefully and be completely familiar with all procedures and requirements. DIMP is a continuation of current government and MOES policies, which are intended to move steadily towards a decentralized education system. This will give schools and communities much greater responsibility for school management and decision making over operational budgets. DIMP was piloted in 4 Districts (Lira, Kumi, Rakai and Masindi) from September 2001 until early 2003. The results of the pilot project were successful and schools received better services and had greater control over their spending. Since 2003, DIMP schools have been provided with a Local Purchase Order (LPO) for new curriculum textbooks and teachers' guides and a second LPO for Supplementary Reading Materials (SRMS). All textbook/SRM purchases must be made from one of the Official Textbook Suppliers, selected and approved by the district level DIMP Steering Committees (DIMPSCs) and located within the district. DIMP schools then pass on their orders to their Official Textbook Supplier (OTS). OTS check orders, identify mistakes and refer the orders back to the school, after correction, for authorization. OTS submit their consolidated orders to the publishers, following a time frame given by the Ministry. Full training in the objectives, procedures and requirements of DIMP will be provided by the MOES to all district, county, sub-county and cluster level education staff and to all school heads, deputy headteachers, teacher librarians, SMC Chairs, County Inspectors of Schools (CIS) and Coordinating Centre Tutors (CCT) This training will be completed by March 2006. The district DIMP Steering Committees (DIMPSCs) will provide full details of the training to schools in good time. Any queries concerning the program should be addressed in the first instance to CCTs or to county or sub-county inspectors. Otherwise, the normal contact for information and assistance will be District Inspector of Schools (DIS). At the national level the DIMP will be managed, monitored and evaluated by the instructional Materials Unit (IMU) of the MOES. The contact address and telephone numbers are as follows: Ministry of education and Sports Instructional Materials Unit (IMU) P.O. Box 7063, Kampala 3rd Floor, UDC Building, Room 3.13 Parliamentary Avenue Office Phone Number: (041) 344 394 Officers: Mr. Simon Peter Tukei (AC/IMU) 077-640361 Mr. Deus Monday (SEO Monitoring & Training) 078-916564 The results of DIMP will have a genuinely national significance. Comments and ideas for the development and improvement of DIMP will be welcomed from all participants at district, cluster and school level.