The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA | Serbia | Education Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2017 | Seq No: 11 | ARCHIVED on 03-Jun-2022 | ISR51213 | Implementing Agencies: Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 21-Feb-2017 Effectiveness Date: 13-Feb-2018 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 18-Jan-2021 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 22-Feb-2021 Original Closing Date: 30-Dec-2022 Revised Closing Date: 31-Mar-2024 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The PDO is to improve access to quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services, in particular for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Expanding the supply of preschool spaces:(Cost $29.89 M) Strengthening the quality of preschool services:(Cost $12.81 M) Supporting young children and families:(Cost $5.30 M) Project management, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation:(Cost $2.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status and Key Decisions During the reporting period, progress has been made under all three components of the project. Under Component 1, three new infrastructure projects have been signed and contracted, while the bidding documentation is currently prepared for one additional infrastructure project. Since January 2022, 38 new playrooms have been made available for early learning programs to children in rural areas of the country. Under Component 2, the implementation of the new Preschool Curriculum Framework continues with its implementation country-wide, and the training and mentoring support for preschool teachers are ongoing. Under Component 3, the communication campaign including short videos aimed at parents and caregivers to support the holistic development of their children is ongoing and delivered via different channels (TV, radio, and social media). In addition, under the Grant Scheme Program, the implementation of the awarded grants in 34 municipalities is moving in line with the envisioned pace. In March 2022, the second and third Parenting Fair were held in Sombor and Vranje, with more than 700 parents and children in attendance. 6/3/2022 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Moderate Substantial Macroeconomic Substantial 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 Substantial Moderate Moderate Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Moderate Moderate Moderate Other -- Moderate Low Overall Moderate Moderate Moderate Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Expanding the supply of preschools spaces IN01134168 ►National preschool enrollment rates for children ages 3 and 5.5 years (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 52.00 62.60 62.60 62.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 The indicator is on track, the data for 2021 will be available in July 2022. Comments: IN01134201 National preschool enrollment rates for children ages 3 and 5.5 years within the eligible municipalities (Percentage, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 19.00 49.00 49.00 25.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 6/3/2022 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) Strengthening the quality of preschool services IN01134169 ►Preschools that undergo external evaluation and rank 3 (on a scale of 1 to 4 based on the revised Quality Framework) (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 41.00 41.00 41.00 51.00 Date 10-Mar-2021 08-Feb-2022 12-May-2022 31-Mar-2023 This activitiy is on track. Comments: Supporting young children and families IN01134170 ►Children ages 12 to 59 months in the lowest quintile with whom an adult has engaged in early stimulation activities at home (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 85.00 92.80 92.80 92.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 The source for this data is the UNICEF MICS survey. The baseline value is taken from MICS 2014, while the actual (current) value is from the most recent MICS 2019. The following MICS survey will be conducted most likely in 2023 and the team will discuss with UNICEF the possibility of getting data Comments: for Roma families close to the end of the project. In addition, the team has requested information from UNICEF to see if they have any explanation to suggest what may be the reason for the decrease in early stimulation among Roma families. IN01134202 Children ages 12 to 59 months from Roma families with whom an adult has engaged in early stimulation activities at home (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 68.00 55.33 55.33 75.00 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Expanding the supply of preschool spaces IN01134203 ►Preschool construction and rehabilitation projects preceded by a community stakeholder consultation (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 The consultation summaries are being incorporated in the respective sub-project ESMP and are, Comments: therefore, disclosed as per provisions for Environmental and Social safeguard instruments. Furthermore, 6/3/2022 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) the summaries are being publically disseminated and consulted during public consultations for the ESMPs. IN01134209 Number of sub-projects with civil works for which consultation summaries are produced and disseminated (Number, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 12.00 13.00 20.00 IN01134210 ►Additional classrooms built or rehabilitated at the preschool level resulting from project interventions (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 98.00 146.00 593.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Mar-2024 IN01134214 Additional classrooms built at the preschool level resulting from project interventions (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 10.00 10.00 193.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 IN01134215 Additional classrooms rehabilitated or re-purposed at the preschool level resulting from project interventions (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 88.00 136.00 400.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Mar-2024 IN01134216 ►Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number, Corporate) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 140,126.00 191,055.00 100,000.00 Date 15-Feb-2017 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 30-Dec-2022 The target was exceeded due to the extension of the number of preschool institutions receiving training and support in the implementation of the new Preschool Curriculum Framework and 136 additional Comments: classrooms built or rehabilitated at the preschool level resulting from project interventions. IN01134217 Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning - Female (Number, Corporate Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 67,261.00 92,222.00 50,000.00 Strengthening the quality of preschool services 6/3/2022 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) IN01134204 ►Additional qualified preschool teachers resulting from project interventions (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 9,400.00 12,963.00 12,000.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 IN01134207 ►Pre-service training institutions that reformed their study programs based on the new preschool curriculum, and core competences required for preschool teachers (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 The MoESTD has formed the Working Group and initiated the activities for improving the initial education of preschool and school teachers, the change of study programs, accreditation, and innovation Comments: criteria. The working group inter alia suggested revision/ reduction of the number of higher education institutions which may require modification of target values. This activity is on track. IN01134211 ►Primary school pedagogical staff trained in new preschool curriculum (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 650.00 650.00 1,300.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 IN01134213 ►Preschools with self-evaluations completed using updated instrument. (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 The quality standards for preschools were developed and adopted. The guide for self-evaluation based on the revised quality framework along with self-evaluation tools is developed and made available to preschool institutions. The training for implementation of the tools is ongoing. Comments: Supporting young children and families IN01134205 ►Communication campaign developed and rolled out (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target The communication The communication Campaign rolled out Value No campaign campaign was rolled out campaign was rolled nationally in October 2019. out in October 2019. 6/3/2022 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 This target is achieved, though the campaing (divided in three themes: ‘Acceptance’, ‘Inclusions’ and ‘Enrollment’) wi parents, caregivers and families for the entire duration of the project. Comments: IN01134208 ►Grants awarded to eligible municipalities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 34.00 34.00 30.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 IN01134212 ►Male participants (among benefiting families) in grant activities (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 41.50 44.20 20.00 Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 Project management, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation IN01134206 ►Evaluation of first phase of grant program completed and lessons incorporated into the second phase of the program (Text, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 2nd round of the grant 2nd round of the grant program incorporates program incorporates lessons from the 2nd round of grant lessons from the evaluation. The Grant program incorporates Value No report evaluation. The Grant Operations Manual lessons from Operations Manual was was updated and evaluation updated and adopted. adopted. Date 07-Nov-2016 03-Dec-2021 12-May-2022 29-Jul-2022 Per the Loan Agreement, the Project Management Unit has undertaken an independent performance and operational audit for the first round of the Grant Scheme which was completed in January 2021. The report assessed the relevance and effectiveness of local projects as highly positive. The sustainability of Comments: interventions was also positively assessed. The audit report further noted that the design of the Grant Scheme projects has been consistently followed during implementation. The MOESTD carried out a follow-up evaluation. The report is expected by end of May. Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance 6/3/2022 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (P157117) Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P157117 IBRD-86930 Effective USD 50.00 50.00 0.00 26.00 26.17 50% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P157117 IBRD-86930 Effective 21-Feb-2017 12-May-2017 13-Feb-2018 30-Dec-2022 31-Mar-2024 Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 22-Aug-2019 ,Level 2 Approved on 11-Mar-2022 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 6/3/2022 Page 7 of 7