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ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Public sector governance

A regional education department is accountable upward to a minister through strict output targets (exam pass rates), but parents, teachers and local employers say their needs are not reflected. The department responds by setting up local advisory panels whose views must be formally reported and answered in the annual report. Which statement best evaluates this response?

The response strengthens downward and horizontal accountability to parents, teachers and employers by requiring formal reporting and replies. However, advisory panels lacking genuine influence risk being tokenistic, and stakeholder conflicts and upward accountability to the minister remain, so it is an improvement but not a complete solution.

  1. AIt strengthens downward and horizontal accountability, but panels without real influence risk being tokenisticCorrect
  2. BIt removes all conflicts between stakeholders because every view is now heard
  3. CIt replaces the need for upward accountability to the minister
  4. DIt is unnecessary because exam pass rates fully capture public value

Explanation

Advisory panels with a duty to report and respond extend accountability beyond the minister to service users and the community. However, advisory status alone gives no power, so tokenism is possible, and stakeholder conflicts remain. Upward accountability is still required, and pass rates alone do not capture the broader public value.

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