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ICR Review Report Number ::: ICRRICRR1154311543 Operations Evaluation Department Public Disclosure Authorized 1. Project Data: Date Posted ::: 09/29/2003 PROJ IDID:::: P007832 Appraisal Actual Project Name ::: Pa Basic Education Project Project Costs 58 59.3 (((US$M(US$MUS$M)))) Country::: Panama LoanLoan////CreditCredit (((US$M(US$MUS$M)))) 35 35 SectorSector((((ssss):):):): Board: ED - Primary Cofinancing education (37%), (((US$M(US$MUS$M)))) Secondary education (35%), Central government administration (14%), Pre-primary education (10%), Tertiary education (4%) LLL/L///CC Number::: L3994 Board Approval 97 (((FY(FYFYFY)))) Public Disclosure Authorized Partners involved ::: Closing Date 12/31/2001 10/31/2002 Prepared by ::: Reviewed by ::: Group Manager ::: GroupGroup:::: Helen Abadzi Howard Nial White Alain A. Barbu OEDST 2. Project Objectives and Components aaa.a... Objectives The Basic Education Project was to: (a) improve the quality of basic education in Panama; (b) improve equity of access to pre-school education and basic education for children in rural and poor urban areas; (c) expand the coverage of pre-school education through community operated nonformal administrative models; and (d) strengthen the planning, financial, supervision and policy-making capacity of the Ministry of Education (MOE). bbb.b... Components These were: ( a) Improvement of quality of, and expansion of access to, primary and lower secondary education (US$44.41m 77% of costs), which included: (i) in-service teacher training; (ii) provision of textbooks and teaching materials for the poor; (iii) reorientation of the scholarship program; (iv) development of student assessment system, and (v) rehabilitation of educational infrastructure; (b) expansion of nonformal pre-school education (US$5.69m, 10% of costs) comprising: (i) the Community and Family Public Disclosure Authorized Center for Initial Education program; and (ii) mother-to-mother pilot; and (c) institutional strengthening of the MOE(US$7.9m, 13% of costs) including: (i) development of planning and policy-making capacity; and (ii) development of a management information system (MIS). ccc.c... Comments on Project Cost, Financing and Dates This was the first education loan to Panama. It closed after an extension of one year. 3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives: - Quality of education improvement - satisfactory; poor communities were targeted with teacher training and strategies to make learning more relevant and activity -based. An assessment system was developed and implemented, poor schools received libraries, textbooks, and student guides . Teachers were trained for multigrade teaching, and the existing scholarship program was reoriented towards financial need rather than academic achievement. About 336 schools were rehabilitated or rebuilt in the poorest communities . - Equitable access to school - satisfactory; repetition rate decreased from 10.4% in 1993 to 6.8% in 2001. Though already high, access to the system increased by 31,000 students in 1993-2001. - Preschool education coverage - satisfactory. The project has brought preschool education to the poorest rural areas of the country, benefitting more than 35,220 children ages 4-5, up from 1600 before the project. A mother-to-mother pilot program trained 116 mothers (rather than the expected 300) to establish nonformal preschool centers in poor areas; 40 radio programs with child care messages were developed and transmitted . Public Disclosure Authorized - Financial and supervision capacity - satisfactory. Fewer than the expected training seminars were delivered, but a management information system was implemented, and office equipment was acquired and put to use . 4. Significant Outcomes/Impacts: Despite the country's economic constraints, the government and local stakeholders were committed to implementing the project. Textbooks, school supplies, and improved infrastructure were provided to the poorest schools, including all 2,195 multigrade schools. With emphasis on preschool education, multigrade teacher training and scholarships for the needy, inequities between schools in various socioeconomic areas were reduced . Even though the country had little experience with Bank procurement, the project implementation unit succeeded in implementing this rather complex project. The PIU had continuity, a dedicated director, and interested government officials to supervise . 5. Significant Shortcomings (including non-compliance with safeguard policies): Improved inputs may not yet translate into achievement gains . Achievement results of students in grades 6, 9, and 12 overall showed low performance on language and math tests as well as better performance for urban students . The administrative components involving statistical collection proved more complex than expected . The assessment unit has been closed down, casting doubt on the sustainability of this part of the institutional development impact of the project. 666.6... Ratings::: ICRICRICR OED Review Reason for Disagreement ///Comments /Comments Outcome::: Satisfactory Satisfactory Institutional Dev .:.:.: Substantial Substantial Sustainability ::: Highly Likely Highly Likely Bank Performance ::: Satisfactory Satisfactory Borrower Perf .:.:.: Satisfactory Highly Satisfactory The government seems to have implemented this project with great dedication and few if any shortcomings . Quality of ICR ::: Satisfactory NOTENOTE: ICR rating values flagged with ' * ' don't comply with OP/BP 13.55, but are listed for completeness. 7. Lessons of Broad Applicability: - Continuity of high-quality staff has been repeatedly shown to facilitate project implementation . - Community involvement in the operation of schools adds an important dimension to the effectiveness of publicly provided education by mobilizing local support for the schools and increasing pride in achievement by students and teachers. - Educational inputs do not automatically translate into increased achievement . To do so, they must be used effectively by teachers and students . 8. Assessment Recommended? Yes No Why? This is the first education project to be completed in Panama . 9. Comments on Quality of ICR: The ICR is clear and detailed. However, it could have provided more information regarding the causes of low achievement or reasons why more management -oriented training was not carried out. .