The reform agenda in the education sector draws its raison-de 'etre from the education policies adopted in the past. The new agenda is aimed to address the delivery gap in the education sector and develop human resources for the progress and prosperity of the country. The education sector reforms (ESR) are spread across all sub-sectors of education from early childhood to the tertiary level. There is ample global evidence to suggest that while strategic priorities may shift from one sub-sector to another, the overall approach should remain holistic, sector wide and integrated within the macro framework.

ESR recognizes that the goals of access, equity, efficiency and quality can only be achieved by giving due support and space to the civil society and the private sector. Public private partnership is therefore seen, both as a thrust area and an underpinning for the entire ESR.

The reform agenda as reflected in the ESR encompasses those areas of education where systematic attention is long overdue. There are: rehabilitation of physical facilities, support to multi delivery systems such as formal and non-formal, literacy, teacher training at all levels, assessment and examination reform, professional development of field managers, linking education to skills, research and research incentives, effective decentralization of services, and institutional strengthening.