Mozambique - Second Education Project

 ICRR 10515 Report Number : ICRR10515 ICR Review Operations Evaluation Department 1. Project Data : OEDID : OEDID: C2200 Project ID : P001776 Project Name : Second Education Project Country : Mozambique Sector : Primary Education L/C Number : C2200 Partners involved : UNDP Prepared by : Helen Abadzi, OEDST Reviewed by : George T. K. Pitman Group Manager : Gregory Ingram Date Posted : 08/19/1999 2. Project Objectives, Financing, Costs and Components : Objectives were to: (a) improve the quality and efficiency of primary education through financing of pre-service and in-service training of teachers; providing them with pedagogical support; introduction of distance education as a future means of teacher training; rehabilitation and expansion of schools in Maputo, Dondo, Beria and Nacala; and introduction of five new initiatives to enhance effective learning such as local language instruction, student achievement testing, support for flooding classrooms with reading materials, testing extramural programs, and student health interventions; (b) improve the quality and efficiency of the University Eduardo Mondlan e to address critical areas of manpower shortage in Mozambique, especially in enhancing the university's capacity for strategic management and long-range planning, and strengthening the teaching of physical sciences, engineering and economics; (c) strengthen the management of the education sector, particularly the Ministry of Education's ability to address financial monitoring and contro l, school construction and maintenance capacity . The credit was restructured mid-way and amended to include teacher training and technical training for demobilized soldiers . Financing : The project financed civil works, training, technical assistance, equipment, and educational materials at a time the country was recovering from a civil war . Total project cost was US$58.9 million, and UNDP cofinancing was US$4.7 The project was approved in 1990 and closed in December 1998; a balance of US$1.3 million was cancelled. 3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives : Despite some delays and problems, overall objectives were achieved . Several teacher training activities were carried out, which were to help improve the quality and efficiency of instructional delivery in schools . A distance education program for teachers was launched, and the primary school network was completely rebuilt and rehabilitated to pre-war levels. Most quality initiatives were also completed, albeit with delays; 4.3 million textbooks were procured for grades 3-7, though procurement disputes delayed delivery . The quality of the learning environment at the university improved through the rehabilitation an d refurbishing of basic science, engineering, and economics faculties. 4. Significant Achievements : The project helped meet the chnages in the demand for education and need for access to schools during the post-war period, when there were many displaced families, returning refugees and demobilized soldiers, and a lack of teachers and usable buildings . The project also significantly contributed to an improved donor coordination by helping the government launch its 10-year educaiton development plan and strategic programs in 1999-2000. A pilot on school health was successfully implemented through a national NGO . An educational statistics system was developed for the Ministry of education . 5. Significant Shortcomings : Appraisal did not take into account the lack of implementation capacity and coordination among implementing agencies. There was limited political commitment to the project at times, which created extra difficulties in the post-war implementation environment. Bank conditionalities also exacerbated delays . Though the Bank supervised the project intensely, it did not provide timely advice on important procurement matters, which created lengthy delays. The Ministry of Education was not strengthened institutionally, as envisaged . Staff shortages and lack of familiarity with IDA procurement rules critically impeded implementation . Government will continue to rely on external financing to support its educaitonal system . 6. Ratings : ICR OED Review Reason for Disagreement /Comments Outcome : Satisfactory Satisfactory Institutional Dev .: Partial Modest Sustainability : Likely Likely Bank Performance : Satisfactory Satisfactory Borrower Perf .: Satisfactory Satisfactory Quality of ICR : Satisfactory 7. Lessons of Broad Applicability : - To ensure impact on learning outcomes, project activities should be implemented through line Ministries rather than independent project implementation units . - The Bank must be responsive and flexible in changing project design and allocation of funds according to the evolving needs of a country . Implementation capacity must often be reassessed when political conditions are difficult. - Cross conditionalities used in projects are difficult to manage if the Bnak is not a party to an agreement or in the absence of sector-wide agreements and plans with partners . 8. Audit Recommended? Yes No Why? The project did better than expected under difficult circumstances . 9. Comments on Quality of ICR : It was clear and described project issues in detail .