The limits of joint intergovernmental education: the case of a public investment project in Julcán

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study that aimed to identify how intergovernmental joints develop, on the basis of the experience of a public investment project (PIP) to improve learning processes in basic education in the Julcán district, in the context of decentralized education management. The district of Julcán was selected as a case because it has a three-year PIP, an innovative initiative to meet the district’s educational problems, which articulates management bodies and different levels of government. The information was gathered through semi-structured interviews aimed at local and regional actors, documentary analysis, and field observations. The research findings show that while there has been specific intergovernmental coordination at the horizontal level (within the same level of government and sector), there are many limitations to creating mechanisms and channels that enable the development and institutionalization of this joint, primarily between the local and the regional levels. Locally, the joint basically takes place in administrative or financial topics. However, the study shows offers some insights to define the possibilities for articulation while identifying what the critical points are.