The Challenges Hindering the National Center for Educational Research and Development (NCERD) Participation in Educational Policy Making in Egypt and Proposed Mechanisms for Coping with them from View Point of NCERD Researchers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Policy Formulation, National Center for Educational Research and Development

2 المرکز القومی للبحوث التربویة والتنمیة

Abstract

Research centers play a crucial role in the progress and prosperity of all nations, mainly through the support they give to policy making, development, reforms and problem solving. The National Center for Educational Research and Development (NCERD) in Egypt is supposed to play this role in the field of pre-university education since its establishment in 1973. Yet, there are challenges that hinder NCERD's participation in educational policy making. The present study aims at determining these challenges and developing mechanisms for coping with these challenges. The descriptive research method was used, with a questionnaire composed of 36 closed questions in four categories of challenges and two open questions in each category, was applied to a sample of 79 NCERD researchers. Results showed that challenges arising from the ministry of education's (ME) attitude toward NCEDR came in the first rank among the challenge categories (high rating, M = 4.05); followed by challenges arising from access capabilities (high rating, M = 4.02); then challenges arising from NCERD researchers and their abilities and attitude toward ME (high rating, M = 3.75); and finally challenges arising from the quality of NCERD research products (moderate rating, M = 3.38). In light of the above results, the study presented a number of mechanisms for coping with these challenges in four categories: mechanisms pertaining to NCERD structure, management and processes; mechanisms pertaining to NCERD role, its relationship with ME and its access to the public opinion; mechanisms pertaining to the quality of NCERD research products; and finally mechanisms pertaining to NCERD's researchers and research processes. Finally, further research was suggested.

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References

 
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