Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) AFRICA | Gambia, The | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2014 | Seq No: 4 | ARCHIVED on 23-Dec-2015 | ISR21950 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date:06-Mar-2014 Effectiveness Date:25-Apr-2014 Planned Mid Term Review Date:05-Dec-2015 Actual Mid-Term Review Date:05-Dec-2015 Original Closing Date:28-Feb-2018 Revised Closing Date:28-Feb-2018 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To increase access to basic education, improve quality of teaching and learning in lower basic schools, and strengthen education systems. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No PHRPDODEL Components Name Component 1: Increase access to basic education:(Cost $13.20 M) Component 2: Improve quality of teaching and learning:(Cost $10.80 M) Component 3: Technical and Institutional Support:(Cost $7.20 M) Component 4: Strengthening the education system with a focus on governance and management results:(Cost $3.60 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO  Satisfactory  Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP)  Satisfactory  Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating  Substantial  Substantial 12/23/2015 Page 1 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) Implementation Status and Key Decisions Component 1: Increase access to basic education- Civil works: Lower Basic Schools (LBS): The construction of 40 multi-grade schools in the remote regions 3, 4, 5 and 6 is nearly finished. Out of 40, 17 schools (34 classrooms) were built and handed over to MOBSE and students have been enrolled. The construction of remaining schools are currently 95-97% completed. Early Childhood Development (ECD): Originally it was planned to build 40 community based ECD structures under the project. However, since the ECD evaluation showed a greater positive impact where ECDs were attached to LBS (Annexed ECD), the MoBSE decided to build two schools under the READ project with three classrooms each (two multi-grade classrooms and one ECD classroom) because the cost of building 40 community based ECD structures would be the same as building 2 schools with three classrooms each, staff quarters and a toilet block. The communities where the schools will be built were selected based on three criteria - (i) high out of school rate, (ii) no LBS within 3 km from communities, and (iii) a large population between the ages of 0 and 6. Component 2: Improve quality of teaching and learning 1. Classroom observation tool: The classroom observation tool, designed to support the development of good pedagogical practices, has been developed and in use. Sample based data will be collected between January and March 2016 and will be analyzed. 2. Enhancing teacher training: The consultants were identified to review Gambia College program’s existing content, assessments and standards, and to redesign the Gambia College program to focus on relevant subject content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and relevant use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The contract will be signed in December 2015. 3. Early Literacy in National Language (ELINL) and Reading strategy: “Gambia Reads” training: The Gambia has decided to have one literacy approach in which children start to learn letters through national languages in ECD, and learn literacy through national languages and English in parallel in grades 1-3. The MoBSE has developed a single unified approach to literacy teaching which was introduced in all schools from September 2015 from ECD to grade 3. LBS teachers teaching Grades 1 -3 had received training on the integrated reading strategy. 4. Learn, Education, Activities, and Resources Network (LEARNET) – ICT UBS and SSS: This subcomponent intended to provide broadband, electricity and curriculum-linked e-content to all public upper basic schools (UBS) and senior secondary schools (SSS). However, since initial set-up costs and recurrent costs of broadband are extremely expensive and would not be sustainable, it was decided the provision of broadband would be dropped. This subcomponent now will provide solar electricity to 24 public UBS and SSS. Also, the New Jersey Center of Teaching (CTL) is currently developing the digital content for Grades 7-12 English, Math and Science. Component 3: Technical and Institutional Support 1. Development and implementation of a strong communications strategy: A consultant who will develop a communication strategy has been identified. The contract will be signed in December 2015. 2. Institutional support and capacity building: All activities are going well: (i) Standardized and classroom based assessments have been conducted in a regular basis, (ii) the provision of support to Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has been continuously happening by providing necessary equipment and financially supporting the exams, (iii) linking the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and Human Resources (HR) data will be completed in March 2016, (iv) a national qualification framework for higher education has been completed, (v) Project Coordination Unit (PCU) salaries have been paid on time, (vi) MoBSE staff has participated in statistical training program, and (vii) data collection on student and teacher absenteeism using the mobile phone system is ongoing. Component 4: Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs): There are a total of 9 DLIs in the project. The targets of 4 DLIs have been met. The verification of other 2 DLIs (DLI #4 and 7) will be conducted soon, while the targets of the remaining 2 DLIs (#5 and #8) were not met. These indicators were: “Average attendance by students in public schools in NAT for grade 3, 5, 8 for two full days” with 93% as the YEAR 1 target (DLI#5) and 95% as the YEAR 2 target (DLI#8). However, the MoBSE conducted thorough sensitization to increase NAT attendance and it was significantly improved. Update on the last 1 DLI: DLI #9 "70% of LBS improved school development plans in response to NAT results approved by the Regional directorates using the agreed upon checklist". Regional Planners, Cluster Monitors, and head teachers were trained to do basic analysis of NAT results. Step by step approaches were discussed during the mission with the Assessment unit, Standards Quality Assurance Directorate (SQAD), and Planning Directorate in order to meet the DLI. 12/23/2015 Page 2 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance  --  Moderate  Moderate Macroeconomic  --  High  High Sector Strategies and Policies  --  Moderate  Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program  --  High  High Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability  --  High  High Fiduciary  --  Moderate  Moderate Environment and Social  --  Moderate  Moderate Stakeholders  --  Moderate  Moderate Other  --  --  -- Overall  --  Substantial  Substantial Results Project Development Objective Indicators PHINDPDOTBL  Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 288373.00 326062.00 290000.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 20-May-2015 09-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments The target will be revised to 330,000 at the restructuring. PHINDPDOTBL  Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Core Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 50.00 51.40 50.00 12/23/2015 Page 3 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDPDOTBL  Additional students in public ECD, LBS and UBS (Total) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 40191.00 40191.00 35000.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 09-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments The target will be revised to 41,000 at the restructuring. PHINDPDOTBL  Mean scores in (English) in grade 3 in National Assessment Test (NAT) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 41.50 -- -- 46.00 Date 31-Jul-2012 27-May-2015 09-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments There is only end target and no intermediary target because the test items of 2012 and 2017 will be linked to find out if students learning outcomes have improved last 5 years. The government continues to place significant emphasis on reading and work towards this objective, but the target will be revised to 43% to cater for the very significant increase in LBS student population after the abolishing of school fees. The enrolment of Grade 1 students increased by 10% from 2012 to 2013 and by 14% from 2013 to 2014, which could suggest considerable change in the demographics of 2012 and 2017 Grade 3 students, as the system has attracted a large proportion of students who are likely to be from the more disadvantaged social and economic background. PHINDPDOTBL  Teachers in grades 1-3 showing good teaching performance as observed through the new classroom observation tool (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 15-Apr-2015 09-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments Annual sample of 15% of public LBS will randomly selected by MOBSE Planning Directorate in December 2015. The data collection of all classroom observation tool forms from the selected schools will be conducted between January and March 2016. 12/23/2015 Page 4 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDPDOTBL  Head Teachers in lower basic schools adjusting School Development Plans in response to NAT results and approved by Regional Directorates using an agreed upon check list (DLI year 3) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 09-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments Teachers have been trained but School Development Plans have not been adjusted and approved. Overall Comments Intermediate Results Indicators PHINDIRITBL  Stationery packages provided to students in lower basic schools in hardship areas (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 25068.00 35633.00 36500.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 15-Apr-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 PHINDIRITBL  Number of additional classrooms built or rehabilitated at the primary level resulting from project interventions. (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 34.00 34.00 80.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 15-Apr-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 12/23/2015 Page 5 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDIRITBL  Communities with > 3 km to nearest lower basic school in Region 3,4,5,6 (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 17.00 6.00 12.50 14.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments It was reculcuated by Planning unit. Progress calculation is based on 2003 census data with projections. Achievement may change when the calculation becomes based on the data from 2013 census. PHINDIRITBL  Number of additional qualified primary teachers resulting from project interventions. (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 753.00 994.00 1750.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 30-Apr-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments It is likely to meet the target by the end of the project. PHINDIRITBL  Student teachers enrolled in revised PTC program (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 900.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments This is still 0 because the PTC program has not been revised. The issue was that it was difficult to find a competent consultant who can review and revise the Gambia College PTC program. Now the consultancy firm has been identified and the work will resume very soon. However, now it means that there is only one year left to enroll additional students after the program is revised. Therefore, the target will be reduced from 900 to 250 at the project restructuring. 12/23/2015 Page 6 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDIRITBL  Externally controlled end-of-year examination in place for students completing second year of revised PTC and HTC programs at Gambia College (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N N N Y Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments This is delayed due to the same reason as the above indicator (Student teachers enrolled in revised PTC program). PHINDIRITBL  Average teachers attendance on time (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 90.00 97.00 97.00 95.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 14-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 PHINDIRITBL  ECD monitoring tool developed by ECD Unit in MOBSE (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N Y Y Y Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 PHINDIRITBL  Public upper basic and senior schools connected to broadband (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 28.00 28.00 0.00 147.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments The baseline was not correct because these 28 schools have either data card or phone line internet, not broadband. This indicator will be revised at the restructuring because the cost of providing broadband is too high and it is not sustainable. 12/23/2015 Page 7 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDIRITBL  Basic Education Sector communication strategy developed by STED (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N N N Y Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments A consultant who will help the MoBSE develop the communication strategy has been identified. PHINDIRITBL  Reading curriculum guidelines developed by Directorate of Curriculum at MOBSE based on evaluation results of early reading strategies (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N Y Y Y Date 15-Aug-2013 24-Apr-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 PHINDIRITBL  HR supplementary data (personnel details, qualifications, promotion and postings history) updated in HR database at Directorate of HR at MOBSE (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N N N Y Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments This is ongoing. It is expected to be done by March 2016. PHINDIRITBL  DLI#4: Annual formal and informal school fees paid by parents to public lower basic schools (DLI year 1) (Amount(USD), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 12.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments Verification survey by a third party consultant will start in January 2016. 12/23/2015 Page 8 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDIRITBL DLI #7: Annual formal and informal school fees paid by parents to public upper basic schools (DLI year 2) (Amount(USD), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 17.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments Verification survey by a third party consultant will start in January 2016. PHINDIRITBL  DLI#2: First tranche (40%) of annual school grants transferred from MOBSE by Sept 15 in year 0 to all public lower basic schools (DLI year 0) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N Y Y Y Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 PHINDIRITBL  DLI #3: First tranche (40%) of annual school grants transferred from MOBSE by Sept 15 in year 1 to all public upper basic schools (DLI year 1) (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N Y Y Y Date 15-Aug-2013 27-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 12/23/2015 Page 9 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDIRITBL  DLI #5 and #8: Average attendance by students in public schools in NAT for grade 3, 5 and 8 for full two days (DLI year 1 and 2) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 88.00 88.40 90.00 95.00 Date 31-Jul-2012 28-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments NAT attendance for two full days (only those who attended for two full days are counted as having "attended", otherwise, their attendance rate is calculated as 0) was 93% for Grade 3 and 87% for Grade 8. There was no Grade 5 NAT in 2015. PHINDIRITBL  Annual training, promotion and postings exercise based on annually updated personnel records in interfaced EMIS and HR systems (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N N N Y Date 15-Aug-2013 28-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments Ongoing. This is expected to be competed in March 2016. PHINDIRITBL DLI #6: Annual School Census data collection carried out including Madrassas and min. 95% response rate and results and analytical report released by May 2014 (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value N Y Y Y Date 15-Aug-2013 28-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 12/23/2015 Page 10 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) PHINDIRITBL  Head Teachers skilled to interpret NAT results (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 95.00 95.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 28-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments 95% of head teachers were trained to interpret NAT skills. PHINDIRITBL  UBS and SSS English teachers benefited from training programs using the newly developed e-curriculum (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value -- 0.00 0.00 200.00 Date 15-Aug-2013 28-May-2015 15-Dec-2015 28-Feb-2018 Comments The e-curriculum is under development now. Overall Comments Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed Disbursed P133079 IDA-H9160 Effective USD 11.90 11.90 0.00 6.95 4.59 58% P133079 TF-16496 Effective USD 6.90 6.90 0.00 3.48 3.42 50% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P133079 IDA-H9160 Effective 06-Mar-2014 09-Apr-2014 25-Apr-2014 28-Feb-2018 28-Feb-2018 P133079 TF-16496 Effective 09-Apr-2014 09-Apr-2014 25-Apr-2014 28-Feb-2018 28-Feb-2018 12/23/2015 Page 11 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report READ: Results for Education Achievement and Development Project (P133079) Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 12/23/2015 Page 12 of 12 Public Disclosure Copy