The UNESCO GEQAF is structured around key elements that are proven to interactively and iteratively work together to enable the system to optimally provide quality education and effective learning experiences. These elements pertain to the development goals that guide the key outcomes of an education system, desired outcomes of an education system, the core processes and core resources that produce those outcomes and support mechanisms that enable the production of outcomes.
Detailed elements are elaborated in the diagram below and are translated into a total of 15 analytical tools that together constitute the GEQAF. On the web-based application the diagram serves as an organizing heuristic or schema to navigate through the GEQAF during application. The various elements appear sequentially for schematic purposes, but in reality they are nested, interactive, iterative and integrated. Each Analytical Tool elaborates critical questions that need to be raised during the analysis of the adequacy of each element of the GEQAF to contribute to quality and learning effectiveness. For instance, the treatment of teachers as a critical element entails questions pertaining to: their choice of the profession, admission criteria, pre and in-service training, recruitment, working conditions, management and utilization, salaries and incentives, retention and retirement. A treatment of learners includes their status at entry –socio-economic background, learning readiness, health conditions, nutrition– access to health services, access to legal and social protection services, admission criteria, in-school academic and pastoral services and other support services. Questions on fiscal resources pertain to their sources, adequacy, allocation, equity, management, utilization, efficiency and sustainability system.
The backbone of the GEQAF is a set of key questions that are meant to facilitate the diagnostic process. Each of the analytical tools will be hyperlinked to a virtual Library of Resource Materials that includes Technical Notes and examples of promising practices that support the diagnosis and analysis. This Library of Resources will be continuously updated with new promising practices and new knowledge. Questions on core elements of the GEQAF are cross-referenced to each other, when such cross-references are critical for understanding the system as a system. The analytical tools that constitute the GEQAF are generic and are not tailor made to any specific country. The starting point for any country or regional block to use this Framework is adapting it to the specific local or regional context
