The HEART Helpdesk is a rapid response research service synthesising relevant evidence to address specific policy questions. Our reports provide a brief literature review, including summaries and comments from subject experts.
We run a prepaid service for DFID advisers and can offer a tailored service to other organisations and institutes. Please email info@heart-resources.org for more information.
Key findings include: Sector budget support has generated some impressive results in the health field in the East Africa context (The Independent Commission for Aid Impact, 2012). A previous helpdesk review (Holley, 2012) finds evidence showing the benefits of budget support and deeming it cost effective. An ODI evaluation (Tavakoli, H. & Hedger, E., 2010) [...]
This helpdesk report is on the topic of “attracting and retaining teachers” and aims to address what works to attract competent people into the teaching profession and how to retain teachers and ensure that they attend school regularly and teach effectively. The report is structured into sections covering the issues of teacher recruitment, retention, attendance [...]
These helpdesks were designed to enable an extensive search for evidence on various methods for improving learning. There are a series of six similar reports, each is based on an edit of a literature search for their chosen method. After the initial search had been done the search fields were expanded to include further search [...]
These helpdesks were designed to enable an extensive search for evidence on various methods for improving learning. There are a series of six similar reports, each is based on an edit of a literature search for their chosen method. After the initial search had been done the search fields were expanded to include further search [...]
A rights-based, child-friendly school has two basic characteristics: it is child-seeking and child-centred. Teachers are the single most important factor in creating an effective and inclusive classroom. Child-friendly schools aim to develop a learning environment in which children are motivated and able to learn. Staff members are friendly and welcoming to children and attend to [...]
This report focuses on third party verification of the delivery of education goods and services and how this verification can be implemented. Information on verification for aid delivery in general is included in section 2. A key feature of Cash on Delivery Aid is independent verification. It is also discussed in relation to Results-based Financing. In [...]
Evidence for this report is split in to two sections depending on whether it was published before or after 2005. The more recent evidence is less positive than earlier research. Some findings from included studies: No average impact of textbooks on student scores, although a positive impact for students at the top of the socioeconomic [...]
On charter schools this report includes: case studies, research on working conditions and teacher turnover, studies on accountability, information extracted from the US department of education, and key organisations. Some background is given on academies in the UK. Information is provided on transfer of staff under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. Some [...]
It was difficult to find research where effectiveness in terms of attainment was reported. The goal of inclusive education often seems to be inclusion itself or attendance rather than completion or graded learning outcomes. Outcomes of inclusive education are often illusive and difficult to measure. The World Bank suggest that tests of content knowledge provide [...]
Malaria remains a leading cause of global ill health, causing an estimated 216 million cases of clinical malaria and 655 thousand deaths in 2010, of which more than 85% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Across the Sahel sub-region of sub-Saharan Africa, most childhood malaria mortality and morbidity occurs [...]
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