Who We Are

The Centre for Education Management and Development (CEMD) is a not-for-profit institution established in 1992. CEMD helps build management capacities through research and trainings to improve the quality of education in schools and school systems.

Vision

We are committed to quality education to enrich the life of every child.

Mission

Our mission is to facilitate change in the mainstream system of school education towards providing quality education especially for disadvantaged children.

Objectives

The objective of CEMD is to bring about quality education through systemic reforms at all levels of school education to impact student learning by focusing on individual educators, institutions, chains of schools and the state system.

Elevator statement

CEMD's Core Strategies are Institutional Development: This involves professional development building the capacity of systems through professional development, contextual solutions, support, research and publications and advocacy.

Approach and Processes

CEMD has developed and trialled several projects in the education sector to address specific needs. The methodology used in all cases ensures that the innovation is contextual and need-based, since it is generated in the field using participatory processes. Engagement of the field partner in the process ensures ownership and builds capacity for reflective practice, so that the innovation can continue to be refined after the withdrawal of CEMD as a partner.

All of CEMD’s trainings and courses are based on principles of adult learning. They are participative and interactive, based on experiential learning theories. The collaborative learning experience aims at demonstrating principles and processes of Facilitative Leadership, based on the ‘consensus decision-making’ model incorporating the principles of Kurt Lewin. The model allows people with different viewpoints, beliefs and values to become collaborative advocates for consensus solutions. Divergent and opposing viewpoints are encouraged, which adds richness to the final decision. It is much more than a group’s verbal commitment; it is a behaviour that occurs when a group acts to bring about outcomes desired by all members of the group.

CEMD uses these participatory processes to empower professionals within the system to define a shared vision and goals and develop joint strategies for institutional development. At an institutional level the capacity building results in innovations and comprehensive changes to restructure existing systems. Finally, systemic issues are addressed through conducting action research using empirical research based on principles and theories from multi-disciplinary knowledge. The cyclic, on-going processes intertwine and work simultaneously at all levels rather than in a linear direction.

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