Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) AFRICA | Lesotho | Education Global Practice | Recipient Executed Activities | Investment Project Financing | FY 2017 | Seq No: 4 | ARCHIVED on 12-Jul-2019 | ISR37592 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Training Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date:28-Feb-2017 Effectiveness Date:20-Jul-2017 Original Closing Date:31-Aug-2020 Revised Closing Date:31-Aug-2020 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The proposed project development objective (PDO) is to improve basic education service delivery and student retention in targeted schools. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No PHRPDODEL Components Name Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO  Moderately Satisfactory  Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP)  Moderately Satisfactory  Moderately Satisfactory Implementation Status and Key Decisions This ISR includes findings from the implementation support mission carried out in May-June 2019 together with the IDA funded Lesotho Education Quality for Equality Project (LEQEP). Almost two years after project effectiveness, disbursement is at 38 percent. Progress towards achievement of the Project Development Objective (PDO) continues to be moderately satisfactory. Key activities aiming at reducing the dropout rates supported under the school improvement plan are on track. All key activities at junior secondary schools are also on track. For primary schools, training of teachers and the procurement of some learning materials are delayed. Progress on each of the PDO-level indicators will be continuously monitored closely, and appropriate actions will be taken to ensure the achievement of targets is still feasible. It was 7/12/2019 Page 1 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) agreed that MoET will carry out the endline survey on teacher content knowledge for the 26 LBEIP targeted schools in April 2020, at the latest. Midterm Review of the Project: it was agreed that the proposed restructuring of the Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (LBEIP) would be carried out during the next implementation support mission tentatively scheduled for September/October 2019. Restructuring of the Project: after the December implementation support mission, The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) submitted a request for restructuring of the LBEIP to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on June 4, 2019. The proposed restructuring consists principally of: (i) the cancellation of subcomponent 1.b on Progressive Mathematics Initiative-Progressive Science Initiative (PMI-PSI) as the junior secondary teachers have already been trained on the new curriculum under the state budget, (ii) reallocation of these funds to Component 3 for the training of school principals, and (iii) addition of a contingent emergency response component to address any potential emergency issues including drought that may arise. An official request from the MoF is expected soon. Overall implementation progress rating continues to be moderately satisfactory. All activities under LBEIP are being implemented in conjunction with LEQEP. Like LEQEP, the mission notes the good progress of Component 2 on the school improvement plan. Twenty-five SIPs over the 26 expected SIPs were approved. All these schools received the 50 percent of their grant. Ten schools already spent their money. Learning materials for the 19 pre-schools were procured and distributed. Preschool teachers and caregivers were trained on the utilization of the learning and teaching materials. Risks Overall Risk Rating Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Overall  Substantial  Substantial  Substantial Results Project Development Objective Indicators PHINDPDOTBL Improvement in teacher content knowledge in targeted primary schools (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 38.00 2.00 Date 30-Jun-2017 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 Comments The baseline data on teacher content knowledge were available in end 2018. For LBEIP schools, the teacher content knowledge at primary schools are 47.3 percent for literacy, 28.6 percent for numeracy compared with 51.4 percent and 30 percent, respectively, at national level. The value of the end target should be understood 38+2=40 because the indicator is on improvement by 2 percentage point. 7/12/2019 Page 2 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) PHINDPDOTBL Improvement in teacher content knowledge in targeted junior secondary schools (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 48.70 2.00 Date 30-Jun-2017 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 Comments The baseline data on teacher content knowledge were available in end 2018. The teacher content knowledge at junior secondary schools are 49.1 percent for mathematics, 48.3 percent for science compared with 49.5 percent and 53.4 percent, respectively, at national level. The value of the end target should be understood 48.7+2=50.7 because the indicator is on improvement by 2 percentage point. PHINDPDOTBL Reduction in dropout rate (Grade 1 Grade 6) in targeted primary schools (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 14.00 13.00 13.00 11.00 Date 15-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 PHINDPDOTBL Reduction in dropout rate (Grade 8 Grade 9) in targeted junior secondary schools (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 10.00 12.00 12.00 7.00 Date 15-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 Overall Comments Intermediate Results Indicators 7/12/2019 Page 3 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) PHINDIRITBL Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 5,360.00 5,360.00 5,100.00 Date 30-Jun-2017 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 PHINDIRITBL Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 54.00 51.00 PHINDIRITBL Teachers trained by the project (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 5.00 24.00 173.00 Date 30-Jun-2017 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 Comments This number includes the 5 teachers trained in 2018 + 19 pre-school teachers/care givers trained this year. The training of primary school teachers will start during the school break in end June. PHINDIRITBL School principals and school heads trained by the project (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 Date 30-Jun-2017 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 7/12/2019 Page 4 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) PHINDIRITBL Schools with approved SIPs (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 15.00 25.00 26.00 Date 30-Jun-2017 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 PHINDIRITBL Schools spending 50 percent or more of the total school grant (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 10.00 16.00 Date 15-Dec-2016 25-Jun-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 PHINDIRITBL Management course for school principals (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N N N Y Date 15-Dec-2016 20-Dec-2018 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2020 Comments The management course is planned to start in end August 2019. Overall Comments Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed Disbursed 7/12/2019 Page 5 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Lesotho Basic Education Improvement Project (P160090) P160090 TF-A5372 Effective USD 2.10 2.10 0.00 0.80 1.30 38% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P160090 TF-A5372 Effective 29-Jun-2017 20-Jul-2017 20-Jul-2017 31-Aug-2020 31-Aug-2020 Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 7/12/2019 Page 6 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy