The aim of this research project is to identify the progress made by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDE) in advancing systemic and institutional changes in its provincial structures, districts and within the schools in the province. With the Eastern Cape province used as a case study, this research project seeks to enable various stakeholders, ranging from national and provincial government departments, educational institutes to policy makers, to have a better understanding of how the past twenty years have shaped educational change in South Africa and also to identify lessons that can inform policy and programmes on changing complex educational systems.

The colloquium will be addressed by the book contributors under the following sub-themes:

• Part 1: Where are we?  Setting the context shaping change
• Part 2: Why are we here?  The possibilities and constraints of change
• Part 3: Where are we going?  Re-imagining the future