Some research issues and findings concerning funding policy for science and mathematics education in South Africa

This paper considers the outcomes of a sector study on science and mathematics education (Kahn, 1993) carried out in order to develop funding policy for a major donor. The first part of the paper sets the background to donor involvement in mitigating the effects of the apartheid education system. Next the difficulties in carrying out the sector study are discussed: the problems faced, the methodology and methods employed, how the outcomes were arrived at, and in particular how the conflicts of interest among various stakeholders were dealt with. The final part presents outcomes and teases out the policy implications of these for donors, deliverers and future departments of education.