The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA | Croatia | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2022 | Seq No: 5 | ARCHIVED on 18-Feb-2024 | ISR59530 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Science and Education, Republic of Croatia Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 30-Nov-2021 Effectiveness Date: 20-Apr-2022 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 20-Sep-2024 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: Original Closing Date: 30-Jun-2026 Revised Closing Date: 30-Jun-2026 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To improve the learning environment in select schools under the Whole Day School (WDS) system and to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Science and Education to scale up the WDS system and implement sector reforms. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1: Ensure that more hours translate into more student learning:(Cost $3.81 M) Component 2: Design and demonstrate infrastructure solutions for WDS:(Cost $18.15 M) Component 3: Strengthen the MSE’s capacity to implement reforms:(Cost $6.94 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Ministry of Science and Education (MSE) launched the Whole Day School (WDS) Experimental program in 62 schools in September 2023. Teacher trainings on the implementation of the WDS have been conducted for all participating schools. The infrastructure works are planned to be finalized by the beginning of the new school year (2024/25). The communication with stakeholders on the WDS model is underway, and the importance of continuous and transparent communication among stakeholders has been emphasized both by the MSE and Bank teams as the key for the success of the WDS reform. The Evaluation and Monitoring strategy has also been the object of extensive conversations between the MSE and the Bank, and there is now an agreement on the identification strategy and the main outcomes. 2/18/2024 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Moderate Moderate Macroeconomic Moderate Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies Low Low Low Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Moderate Moderate Moderate Sustainability Fiduciary Moderate Moderate Moderate Environment and Social Moderate Substantial Substantial Stakeholders Substantial Substantial Substantial Other Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Moderate Moderate Moderate Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Improve the learning environment in selected schools under the WDS system IN01388789 ►Students benefiting from the WDS pedagogical model (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 12,021.00 32,500.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator describes the total number of students benefiting from the WDS pedagogical model. Comments: IN01388791 ►Teachers in WDS demonstration schools receiving training from learning counselors (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 1,000.00 1,250.00 2/18/2024 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the number of teachers in WDS demonstration schools that will receive training and support from learning counselors who will be education experts from higher education and education Comments: institutes. IN01388793 ►Schools with improved physical environment according to WDS standards (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator indicates the number of demonstration schools that will be refurbished or rehabilitated according to WDS standards that will be designed through the project. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). Strengthen the capacity of the MSE to scale up the WDS and implement sector reforms IN01388790 ►MSE staff and school founders preparing cost-effective school network plans to scale up the WDS system (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 0% of MSE staff and 0% of MSE staff and 0% of MSE staff and 75% of MSE staff and school founders school founders school founders school founders preparing cost-effective preparing cost-effective preparing cost- preparing cost- Value school network plans to school network plans to effective school effective school scale up the WDS scale up the WDS network plans to scale network plans to scale system. system. up the WDS system. up the WDS system. Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the increased capacity of the MSE and school founders to implement complex reform, through successful preparation of documentation for investments in school infrastructure using cost-effective options to scale up the WDS system. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388792 ►MSE staff participating in training on designing and implementing reforms (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator identifies the percentage of MSE staff participating in training on designing and implementing reforms to carry out the WDS reform as well as other educational initiatives. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). Intermediate Results Indicators by Components 2/18/2024 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) Component 1: Ensure that more hours translate into more student learning IN01388794 ►Legislation on teacher and staff norms revised (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures whether the legislation regarding staff and teacher norms to implement WDS Comments: reform have been revised. IN01388797 ►Pedagogical model documentation designed for WDS (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 21-Dec-2022 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 Target achieved. This indicator measures whether the pedagogical model required for the introduction of Comments: the WDS system has been designed. IN01388800 ►Labor supply of mothers with children aged 6-14 benefiting from WDS (hours willing to work per day and hours of childcare per day) (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 20% increase in Baseline measured at Baseline measured at the Baseline measured at average hours Value the beginning of school beginning of school Year the beginning of 20% decrease in Year 1 1 school Year 1 average hours of childcare Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the labor supply of mothers with children aged 6-14 benefitting from WDS. The indicator will take the values 0 to 8 and will be derived from a questionnaire asking, specifically, “How many hours per day would you be willing to work?” and “How many hours per day do you spend on Comments: childcare activities?" The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388804 ►Number of principals in low-performing WDS demonstration schools participating in peer mentoring program (cumulative) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the number of principals from schools with below average academic performance Comments: that receive mentoring to implement the WDS system (Cumulative). 2/18/2024 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388806 ►Percentage of WDS demonstration schools joining the peer-mentoring program (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 20.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the percentage of non-WDS schools joining a “peer-mentoring program” pairing schools with below average academic performance with top-performing schools. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388808 ►Share of primary schools using new education database towards learning (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the percentage of elementary schools that will use new data on student learning to improve learning outcomes and teaching practices. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388810 ►Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number, Corporate) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 12,021.00 32,500.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for Comments: September 2023). Component 2: Design and demonstrate infrastructure solutions for WDS IN01388795 ►Standard designs developed for new modern and energy-efficient (green) schools (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 21-Dec-2022 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 Target achieved. This indicator measures the development of standard designs for new modern and Comments: energy-efficient (green) schools. IN01388798 2/18/2024 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) ►Percentage of school founders receiving financing and guidance to prepare documentation for school infrastructure (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 40.00 70.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the percentage of school founders receiving financing and guidance to prepare documentation for school infrastructure. Comments: IN01388801 ►Mechanism to foster peer-to-peer learning on learning spaces developed and implemented (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the development and implementation of a mechanism to foster peer-to-peer learning on learning spaces. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388802 ►Number of WDS demonstration schools benefiting from infrastructure investments (Cumulative) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator measures the number of schools benefiting from infrastructure investments, including minor rehabilitation and refurbishment of learning environments, informal learning spaces, dining facilities, etc. that will allow an initial group of schools to adopt the WDS model. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). Component 3: Strengthen Ministry’s capacity to implement reforms IN01388796 ►Working Group with the capacity and responsibility to plan and implement reforms in the MSE established (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No Yes Yes Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 21-Dec-2022 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 Target achieved. This indicator monitors the establishment and ongoing functioning of a strategic planning and reform implementation Working Group, which will play a key role from year 1 of implementation to Comments: building capacity of the MSE to plan and implement reforms. IN01388799 2/18/2024 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) ►Comprehensive communication and outreach strategy for the WDS developed (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No Yes Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator refers to the development of an effective nation-wide communication and outreach strategy led by the MSE to inform and engage with all stakeholders and the public about the comprehensive WDS reform. Comments: The Bank team is concerned about the continued lack of appropriate engagement with relevant stakeholders in the sector, such as teachers, school principals, and parents. IN01388803 ►Percentage of project beneficiaries reporting on beneficiary surveys satisfaction with engagement processes in the development and rollout of WDS in demonstration schools (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This is a citizen engagement indicator to measure whether project beneficiaries (students, teachers, principals, parents, school founders, local government, etc.) feel their voices are heard, and therefore engagement processes effective, in the development and roll out of the WDS reform process in Comments: demonstration schools. The Bank team is concerned about the continued lack of engagement with relevant stakeholders in the sector, such as teachers, school principals, and parents. IN01388805 ►Number of school founders benefiting from capacity building and training on network planning and costing (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 40.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 This indicator refers to the number of school founders benefiting from capacity building and training on network planning and costing. To this end, this indicator will measure the needs assessments of school founders, supporting school founders to conduct detailed analyses of their school networks and Comments: simulations; regional workshops; and preparation of local “school network plans for 2030.” The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388807 ►Working Group produces Annual Reports including feedback from school founders on the progress of the WDS implementation (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Working Group Limited capacity of the Limited capacity of the Limited capacity of the elaborates on Annual Ministry to monitor Ministry to monitor Ministry to monitor Reports including Value implementation of the implementation of the implementation of the feedback from school reform and use data for reform and use data for reform and use data founders on decision-making. decision-making. for decision-making. infrastructure and single-shift transition. Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 2/18/2024 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) This indicator measures the capacity of the MSE via an established Working Group within the Ministry to use data and monitor the implementation of complex reforms through the effective monitoring of the WDS implementation based on feedback from school founders and transparent reporting on the progress of Comments: reforms. The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388809 ►Impact evaluation designed and implemented (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 The project will finance an impact evaluation comparing outcomes in the “demonstration schools” supported by this project, with an appropriately selected group of “control schools” to compare within and between-school differences of quality (all students) and equity (low-socioeconomic status students). Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). IN01388811 ►Share of students participating in the WDS reporting a boost in well-being, satisfaction and motivation in student surveys (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 Date 29-Oct-2021 26-May-2023 29-Jan-2024 30-Jun-2026 Additionally, the NCVVO plans to conduct a series of surveys to measure socioeconomic status, well- being, student satisfaction and motivation to monitor the progress of the project. Comments: The indicator will be tracked when WDS pilot is implemented in demonstration schools (planned for September 2023). Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P170178 IBRD-93030 Effective USD 28.90 28.90 0.00 5.01 23.42 18% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P170178 IBRD-93030 Effective 30-Nov-2021 16-Dec-2021 20-Apr-2022 30-Jun-2026 30-Jun-2026 Cumulative Disbursements 2/18/2024 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Croatia: Towards Sustainable, Equitable and Efficient Education Project (P170178) Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 2/18/2024 Page 9 of 9