PGDEPA Advance Course in Educational Planning 2025-26

PGDEPA Course No. 907: Advanced Course in Educational Planning

Course Credit: 04

Total Sessions: 40

Course Convenors:
Dr. N. K. Mohanty
Dr. Suman Negi

Associated Faculty:
Prof. P. Geetha Rani
Prof. K. Biswal

Course Introduction

Educational planning is a critical instrument for achieving equity, efficiency, and quality in education systems, particularly in contexts characterised by demographic diversity, resource constraints, and uneven educational outcomes. Rigorous empirical analysis of the education sector drawing upon quantitative techniques as well as participatory and field-based approaches is therefore essential for informed decision-making and sustainable educational development.

In recent decades, the increasing emphasis on decentralised governance and evidence-based policymaking has significantly enhanced the relevance of educational planning at sub-national and local levels. Districts, blocks, Gram Panchayats, and individual schools have emerged as important units of planning and implementation, necessitating the systematic use of diagnostic tools, projection techniques, school mapping, micro-planning, and institutional development planning. Techniques such as student flow analysis, internal efficiency measurement, enrolment and teacher projections, and financial analysis have become indispensable for identifying sectoral gaps, anticipating future needs, and formulating realistic and context-sensitive development plans.

The Advanced Course in Educational Planning is designed to equip participants with an in-depth and applied understanding of these planning techniques. Moving beyond introductory and theoretical treatments, the course emphasises the practical application of planning tools within real-world educational settings. The focus is on enabling participants to critically analyse educational data, interpret planning indicators, and translate analytical insights into actionable plans relevant to the Indian education system.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The overarching objective of the course is to strengthen participants’ analytical and practical capacities in educational planning, with a particular focus on district and local-level planning processes.

On successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key concepts, frameworks, and methodologies used in education sector diagnosis and planning at district and sub-district levels;
2. Apply a range of educational planning techniques—including diagnostic analysis, projections, school mapping, and financial planning—using real data and simulation-based tools;
3. Critically assess issues of access, equity, efficiency, and resource allocation within school education systems;
4. Develop institutionally grounded planning interventions such as school improvement plans and micro-level educational development strategies; and
5. Acquire specialised expertise in at least two selected areas of district-level educational planning through sustained project-based engagement.

Course Structure and Unit-wise Focus

The course is organised into four interrelated units, each addressing a critical dimension of educational planning:

Unit I: Techniques of Education Sector Diagnosis: This unit focuses on analytical frameworks and tools used to assess the status and performance of the education sector. Key themes include educational indicators, student flow analysis, internal efficiency, identification of sectoral gaps, and diagnosis of systemic constraints affecting access, retention, and learning outcomes.

Unit II: School Improvement Planning: This unit examines the concept and practice of institutional development planning, with a particular focus on schools. It covers the processes of school self-evaluation, priority setting, stakeholder participation, preparation of school improvement plans, and monitoring of implementation outcomes.

Unit III: School Mapping: This unit introduces spatial and demographic approaches to educational planning. Topics include school location planning, catchment area analysis, norms and standards for school provision, and the use of mapping techniques to improve access and rationalise educational infrastructure.

Unit IV: Financing of Education Cost Analysis for Educational Planning: This unit addresses financial dimensions of educational planning, including resource mobilisation, allocation, budgeting, expenditure analysis, and efficiency considerations. Participants are exposed to tools for analysing education finance data and linking financial planning with educational priorities.

Choice of Units and Specialisation

Participants are required to opt for any two units based on their academic interests and professional experience. While all participants are introduced to the four units during the initial phase of the course, in-depth engagement and assessment are concentrated in the two selected units. This structure allows for both breadth of exposure and depth of specialisation.

Each selected unit emphasises not only conceptual understanding but also the application of techniques through simulations or real data analysis. Participants may work with datasets at different administrative levels, including districts, blocks, Gram Panchayats, or individual school catchment areas.

Assessment Framework and Expected Outcomes

Assessment in this course is designed to evaluate participants’ analytical competence, practical application skills, and depth of engagement with planning techniques. Each participant is required to complete two major assignments, corresponding to the two units chosen for specialisation. These assignments may take the form of:

• Project-based analytical studies,
• Simulation-based planning exercises, or
• A combination of both approaches.

Academic guidance and feedback are provided by NIEPA faculty through online platforms, ensuring continuous mentoring and scholarly engagement.

Successful completion of the course ensures that each participant acquires demonstrable expertise in at least two core areas of district-level educational planning. The course thus prepares participants for professional roles in educational planning, policy analysis, programme implementation, and academic research within government, research institutions, and development organisations.