Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet s5

INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC3414

Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 02/21/2008

I. BASIC INFORMATION

A. Basic Project Data

Country: Kazakhstan Project ID: P102177 Project Name: Education Task Team Leader: Ernesto P. Cuadra Estimated Appraisal Date: May 30, 2008 Estimated Board Date: October 30, 2008 Managing Unit: ECSHD Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Vocational training (40%);Tertiary education (40%);General education sector (20%) Theme: Education for the knowledge economy (P) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 15.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: Borrower 15 .00 15.00

B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN] The proposed Bank project will aim to restructure and rebuild the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) system in order to (i) increase youth employability and capabilities for continuous skills upgrading, and (ii) offer business a trained workforce with the skills and competencies that will enable them to compete in the global economy.

The proposed Bank project will achieve this objective by: (a) streamlining the secondary and post-secondary TVE network of institutions and programs of study; (b) introducing a competency based-curricula and teaching practices that prepare youth for continuous learning and equip them with high level foundational skills, and broad workplace and technical skills and competencies for high productivity, professional flexibility in the workplace, for acquisition of new skills and for on-the-job training; and (c) introducing governance and management practices that make the TVE system more accountable, flexible and efficient. Progress towards the achievement of this objective will be measured through the following indicators:

• Youth employability, measured as time to first job after graduation. • Participation of graduates from TVE programs in retraining or other type of continuous education programs. • Employers’ satisfaction with skills and competencies of graduates of TVE programs.

C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN] The Technical and Vocational Education Restructuring Program seeks to rebuild and to improve the efficiency of the current TVE system by transforming it from a supply-driven system into a demand-driven system that has the capacity to offer programs that are responsive to the learning and skills development needs of students and business in a cost effective manner. The proposed project will consist of two main components:

Component 1: Improve quality and relevance of TVE by reforming the structure and programs of study of TVE at the secondary and post-secondary level. The main objectives of this component are to (i) rebuild the programs of study of secondary TVE by promoting a full integration of general and TVE secondary education programs and institutions; (ii) restructure and streamline the current network of post-secondary technical and vocational education institutions and programs of studies, including the introduction of a credit system, to make it more responsive to the demands of graduates from secondary education and the needs of the local economy.

The proposed project would fund technical assistance for: (i) the development of a standard set of occupational “concentrations” or families that would be offered to all secondary school youth; (ii) the establishment of a new outcome based system for attestation and certification of skills and competencies; and (iii) conducting background studies and stakeholder consultation to guide the consolidation of institutions. It would also finance the development and provision of new programs of study, development, printing and distribution of new textbooks and teaching materials, training of teachers, management training of education administrators at all levels of the system and provision of equipment and upgrade of workshops.

Component 2: Improve system efficiency and accountability through reform of governance and financing. By and large the aim of this component is to upgrade management and governance capacity throughout the TVE system and to rationalize funding allocation mechanisms so that the allocation of resources is done using transparent criteria based on real demand and results. This will be done through the following set of interrelated interventions. (i) Introduction of a national qualification framework to help guide the integration of programs, the introduction of the credit and a competency-based system for the accreditation of skills and competencies. (ii) Develop a reliable system for attestation and certification of skills and competencies. This system will make available a transparent signaling system that would help students market their skill and would guide employers’ hiring decisions. (iii) Introduction of quality management practices at all levels of the system, including capacity to monitor and evaluate the performance of the TVE institutions and the quality of TVE programs, as well as capacity for collecting, analyzing and using information for the systematic identification of skills development needs of individuals and enterprises, for assessing and monitoring the performance of the system, and for allocating resources based on demands, needs and results. (iv) Introduction of funding mechanisms that allocate resources based on needs and results using a per-capita budgeting mechanism that is transparent and easy to monitor.

The proposed project would fund technical assistance for the establishment on of a national qualification system, for the introduction of new funding mechanisms and for all the related management training required for the successful implementation of these changes. It would also finance the purchase of equipment and software required for the establishment of a management information system.

D. Project location (if known) Nationwide

E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] n/a

F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Ms Agnes I. Kiss (ECAVP)

II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Category C Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X

Environmental Category: C - Not Required

III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN

A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: 04/23/2008

B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: N/A C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. N/A

IV. APPROVALS

Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Mr Ernesto P. Cuadra 02/07/2008 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Ms Agnes I. Kiss 02/07/2008 Comments: Sector Manager: Ms Maureen Anne McLaughlin 02/20/2008 Comments:

1 Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons.