In 2012, SurveyMETER conducted a Local Government Capacity Survey (LGCS) from October until mid-December. The Basic Education Capacity-Trust Fund (BEC-TF) Program and The World Bank Jakarta trusted the SurveyMETER to conduct it. The duties assigned to SurveyMETER include managing and collecting field data and preparing implementation reports.

This survey is the endline study of research on the BEC-TF program conducted in 2009. It revisited 50 sample districts/cities in nine provinces in Indonesia to determine the increase in regional capacity after the implementation of the BEC-TF assessment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the BEC-TF program, which aims to build capacity in five key areas: information management systems, management control systems, transparency and accountability, standardization of education services, and efficient use of resources.

The Regional Government Work Units (SKPD) collect data pertaining to the execution of programs. Comprises the Ministry of Religion, the DPRD Education Commission, the Inspectorate, the BAPPEDA, the DPPKAD, the Regional Secretary, and the Education Service. In addition, the study team visited the sampled SD, SMP, MI, and MTs, making there were a total of nine study instruments.

By reorganizing the distribution of education funding to enable better decision-making in the era of decentralization, the Basic Education Capacity Development Program (BEC-TF) seeks to increase regional government commitment to providing sufficient support for the implementation of high-quality basic education.

To implement this, the BEC-TF Program works with district/city governments as partners in improving their skills in using information in planning, management, and supervision of governance and education services. BEC-TF Program support for increasing educational priorities covering key issues, such as:

1. Insufficient accountability and transparency in the financial management system, particularly at the regional level;
2. Development of a regional-based Medium Term Financial Management Framework;
3. Commitment to reforming education which includes management, planning, and financial management of education;
4. The dedication of local governments to furnish adequate backing for the delivery of high-quality primary education; as well as
5. Evaluation of the Financing Allocations for Regional Education.

Additionally, in raising basic education's standard by enhancing educational governance in relation to national education policy priorities stated in the Ministry of National Education's Medium Term Education Strategic Plan (Renstra), the BEC-TF program seeks to support a good governance system in the education sector and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly Education for All.

The BEC-TF Program concentrates on capacity development in five important areas in an attempt to identify this solution:

1. Transparency and Accountability
2. Standardization of Education Services
3. Management Control System
4. Information Management System
5. Effective Utilization of Resources

The Regional Basic Education Capacity Development Grant (Local Basic Education Capacity - L - BEC), Capacity Development Plan (RPK), Analysis of Basic Education Public Expenditures (ABPPD), Local Government Capacity Assessment (KPEDA Assessment, Local Governance Capacity Assessment - LGCA), and national level Thematic Education Dialogue (TED) are just a few of the tools and approaches that the BEC-TF program uses to:

• Identify, prioritize, and decide on regional budget allocations, physical allocations, and personnel allocations;
• Enhancing financial management and accounting, as well as openness, accountability, performance-based budgeting, and financing procedures in local government to improve governance and resource efficiency;
• Enhance stakeholder access to timely and accurate information by fortifying the capabilities of current performance evaluation and information systems.
• Improving resource efficiency (people, money, and time) is one of the goals of the BEC-TF Program. Analyzing financial data from regional governments frequently reveals that the distribution of unabsorbed revenues is one of the primary issues.
• By implementing the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the BEC-TF program seeks to encourage local governments—particularly those that have demonstrated strong performance—to boost the efficiency of resource utilization.
• In nine provinces and fifty district/city governments, the BEC-TF Program worked together until 2012. With funding from the European Commission (17 million euros) and the Royal Netherlands government (22 million euros), the BEC-TF program is a collaboration among the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Religion, and the World Bank. BEC-TF was held between 2008 and 2012.

In respect to certain National Education Standards (SNP) and Minimum Service Standards (SPM), the KPEDA assessment study offers a thorough summary of local government performance. The success and advancement of local governments in the critical area of education service standardization are evaluated by the BEC-TF program using the following metrics. (SM/JF)