“Good governance is always lean governance. To fully implement decentralization, lean management and efficient service provision when reforming educational administration, it is necessary to first evaluate and detect efficiencies in the current power structure among education authorities,” said Zhou Hongyu, NPC representative and professor at the Central China Normal University at the Beijing Changjiang Education Forum 2019 held on March 3rd. Arguing that decentralization when applied as a guiding principle should not be interpreted as a totally hands-off approach, Prof. Zhou suggested implementing a “three-list” system to further reforms in educational administration.

The first of the lists would be a  “power list” that sets the scope of the powers of education authorities; the second would be a  “responsibility list” that establishes accountability with regards to relevant mandates. Zhou believed that these lists could be safeguards against interest dealing, abuse of power, and sloth-like administration. The third would be a  “negative list” clarifying the limited number of areas that needed educational authority approval to proceed. He was confident that this list would help simplify procedures for schools when they implemented programs, by reducing the discretionary powers of educational authorities, thereby unleashing vitality and creativity among grass-roots educational establishments.

“Governing bodies must take the initiative to streamline administration through decentralization and cut bureaucracy, with a view to improving efficiency and effectiveness. They should focus on giving proper policy guidance and direction, let schools implement education programs, and allow the general public to assess how the programs are carried through,” he added.