Open Government Partnership (OGP)

Introduction

Open Government Partnership (OGP) is an international mechanism that enables domestic reformers to involve with a process to make their government more transparent, accountable, and responsive to its citizens. Sri Lanka became a member of this process in 2015 and completed its first National Action plan that was implemented under 12 thematic areas where education was recognized as one of the prioritized areas. Under Education Commitments, National Action Plan (NAP) for Ensuring Transparency and Accountability of Teachers Transfer, Recruitment and Appointment Process had been initiated by Viluthu Organization with the partnership of International Youth Alliance for Peace (IYAP).

Who Involved

OGP in Sri Lanka had clearly recognized the importance of assisting the government to enhance the effectiveness of the Teachers’ transfers, recruitments, and appointment process. So, three roundtable discussions and two open forums had been conducted with the participation of Teacher’ Trade Unions, Education Development Organizations, and educationists in Colombo, Jaffna, and Galle with an aim to gather insights for recommendations. The Ministry of Education in Northern Province provided a commendable contribution to these discussions with the participation of Hon. Minister of Education.

Outcome

Throughout these initiatives, provincial data,  procedures, and public feedback on existing policies and conditions had been collected by implementing organizations, where they will soon publish them on www.teacherpolicylk.org website to access every citizen of the country. These discussions also provided a platform for civic participation to lead to an accountable and effective government.