The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) REPORT NO.: RES52740 RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF BANGLADESH COVID 19 SCHOOL SECTOR RESPONSE (GPE) APPROVED ON OCTOBER 20, 2020 TO PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH EDUCATION SOUTH ASIA Regional Vice President: Martin Raiser Country Director: Mercy Miyang Tembon Regional Director: Lynne D. Sherburne-Benz Practice Manager/Manager: Keiko Inoue Task Team Leader(s): Tashmina Rahman, Mokhlesur Rahman The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CSSR COVID 19 School Sector Response DPE Directorate of Primary Education DSHE Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education GoB Government of Bangladesh GPE Global Partnership for Education IPF Investment Project Financing ISM Implementation Support Mission MoE Ministry of Education MoPME Ministry of Primary and Mass Education PDO Project Development Objective PIC Project Implementation Committee PIU Project Implementation Unit PSC Project Steering Committee SFA Standard Forms of Agreement SHED Secondary and Higher Education Division The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P174268 Investment Project Financing Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Moderate Approval Date Current Closing Date 20-Oct-2020 31-Dec-2022 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The Project Development Objectives (PDOs) are to (i) strengthen the basic school system’s institutional capacity to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 crisis; and (ii) build resilience to face future crises from preprimary to secondary levels. OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO Summary Status of Financing (US$, Millions) Net Ln/Cr/Tf Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-B3874 20-Oct-2020 15-Feb-2021 15-Feb-2021 31-Dec-2022 14.80 8.98 5.82 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) I. PROJECT STATUS AND RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING A. Overall Status 1. Project Overview: The COVID-19 School Sector Response (CSSR) Project is an emergency response project funded by Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through COVID-19 Accelerated Funding Window. The Grant (TF0B3874) was approved by the GPE Board on June 15, 2020 and by the World Bank on October 20, 2020, which became effective on February 15, 2021. The project uses an Investment Project Financing (IPF) instrument. The CSSR has four components: Component 1: Engaging in Systemic Response; Component 2: Supporting Education Systems Recovery; Component 3: Building System Resilience; and Component 4: Project Management, Results Monitoring and Communication. The project is implemented by the Directorate of Primary Education under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME) and in partnership with the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) under the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education (SHED/MoE). The current closing date of CSSR is December 31, 2022. 2. Progress towards achievement of Project Development Objectives (PDO). The Project Development Objectives (PDOs) are to: (i) strengthen the basic school system’s institutional capacity to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 crisis; and (ii) build resilience to face future crises from pre-primary to secondary levels.1 The status toward achieving the PDOs are: Indicator 1: More than 300 television contents prepared and nationwide broadcasting to start from November 1, 2022. It is expected that the nationwide television broadcasting will help reach the end of project (EOP) target; PDO Indicator 2: final tranche subgrant disbursement is on-going to help maintain school safety and hygiene for re-opened schools. It is expected that student enrollment targets in grant-supported schools with meet EOP target2; and PDO Indicator 3: The Directorate of Primary Education has already included support to remote learning in its Government’s Development Program. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education is expected to also take sustainability actions by December 2022. A Consultant is working with the government on the Sustainability Plan for Remote Learning System. The actual figures for PDO 1 and 2 will be available in December 2022 based on an on-going results tracking survey. 3. Implementation Progress. The implementation progress till date include: (i) more than 300 television lessons developed and expected to start airing from November 1, 2022. Digital content for radio, mobile and online platforms are on-going. Printed learning packages, including student workbooks, prepared for all subjects from preprimary and Grade 1-5. The printed learning packages will be first distributed to 150,000 students from the most disadvantaged areas for use from next school year as decided by Ministry of Primary and Mass Education; (ii) a total of 19,205 (out of target 20,000) government primary schools received sub-grants (first tranche completed and final tranche ongoing); (iii) a verification agency is conducting sample-based school sub-grant compliance and safe school management training; (iv) a four day short course on assessment, remedial education and digital skills and mental health developed by the Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka. Till date, 39 Master Trainers have been trained in 27 subdistricts who will conduct training for 2,000 teachers by December 30, 2022; (v) around 21,300 students of Grade 3 and 4 have 1 This covers preprimary to Grade 10 of the general education system. 2 The PDO level indicators are: PDO Indicator 1: Response – Number (and %) of children supported with inclusive distance learning programs; PDO Indicator 2: Recovery - Number (and %) of children who were enrolled in grant-supported preprimary and primary level government schools before the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to schools; and PDO Indicator 3: Resilience - Remote learning system integrated into the basic education school system. The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) been assessed with data collection for remaining students to be completed by Oct 2022 and first draft report to be shared by December 8, 2022; (vi) exercise on Sustainability of Remote Learning has been initiated and first draft report expected by November 21, 2022 for consultations; and (vii) CSSR PIU office is almost fully staffed with 16 out of 17 positions filled, including Project Director and all technical consultants3. 4. Project restructuring. Since effectiveness, the project has been restructured twice: first, a project restructuring was approved on Oct 27, 2021 extending the closing date by one year, till December 31, 2022 and second, a project restructuring approved on March 21, 2022 to repackage school health and safety activity as subgrant and revise associated results indicators. 5. Disbursement: Out of the total Grant allocation of US$14.80 million, the amount disbursed as of Oct 3, 2022, is US$8.98 million, representing 61% of the allocated grant. The project is processing another US$ 2.67 million to be disbursed by October 31, 2022. The remaining US$2.75 million to be disbursed by November 30, 2022. It is estimated that about US$0.4m will not be utilized. B. Rationale for Restructuring 6. An implementation support mission was carried out between June 12-19, 2022. During the mission, it was agreed that the activities related to ‘Communications and Outreach’ under Subcomponent 1.2 of Component 1 and Subcomponent 2.2 of Component 2 are no longer relevant. As schools have reopened and these activities are being supported by the government’s own resources, the Government requested the activities to be dropped and associated funds amounting of US$410,000 cancelled. There haven’t been any disbursements so far relating to these components. The GPE agreed to the proposed restructuring through a letter dated August 16, 2022. The proposed restructuring will have no changes on the Project PDOs. II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES 7. This restructuring will involve the following: A. CHANGES IN COMPONENT 8. Component 1: Engaging in Systemic Response (US$3.31m): The sub-component (SC) 1.2: Communications and Outreach will be dropped as the activity is no longer relevant with schools reopened and the Government have taken its own initiatives in this matter. It was agreed that the fund (US$0.37 million) associated with this activity would be cancelled. 9. Component 2: Supporting Education Systems Recovery(US$ 8.50m):The sub-component (SC) 2.2: Support Re-enrollment of Pre-primary and Primary Students will be dropped as the activity is no longer relevant with schools reopened since September 2021 and the Government have taken its own initiatives in this matter. It was agreed that the fund(US$ 0.036 million) associated with this activity would be cancelled. B. CHANGES IN RESULTS FRAMEWORK 3 The four technical consultants include: Financial Management Specialist, Procurement Specialist, M&E Specialist and Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialists The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) 10. As the activities related to Subcomponent 1.2 of Component 1 and Subcomponent 2.2 of Component 2 will be dropped, the associated intermediate indicator 3: Number (and %) of children provided access to programs and sensitization campaigns to minimize the negative impacts of school closures, with a focus on girls, will be dropped. C. CHANGES IN COMPONENT WISE FUND ALLOCATION Revised Allocation (US$, Component Current Cost (US$, millions) millions) Component 1: Engaging in Systemic Response 3.31 2.94 Component 2: Supporting Education Systems Recovery 8.50 8.46 Component 3: Building System Resilience 1.96 1.96 Component 4: Project Management, Results Monitoring 1.03 1.03 and Communication Total 14.8 14.39 III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES Changed Not Changed Results Framework ✔ Components and Cost ✔ Cancellations Proposed ✔ Reallocation between Disbursement Categories ✔ Disbursement Estimates ✔ Implementing Agency ✔ DDO Status ✔ Project's Development Objectives ✔ PBCs ✔ Loan Closing Date(s) ✔ Disbursements Arrangements ✔ Overall Risk Rating ✔ Legal Covenants ✔ Institutional Arrangements ✔ Financial Management ✔ Procurement ✔ The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) Implementation Schedule ✔ Other Change(s) ✔ Economic and Financial Analysis ✔ Technical Analysis ✔ Social Analysis ✔ Environmental Analysis ✔ IV. DETAILED CHANGE(S) OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_COMPONENTS_TABLE COMPONENTS Current Current Proposed Proposed Cost Action Component Name Component Name Cost (US$M) (US$M) 1: Engaging in Systemic 1: Engaging in Systemic Response 3.31 Revised 2.94 Response 2: Supporting Education Systems 2: Supporting Education 8.50 Revised 8.46 Recovery Systems Recovery 3: Building System Resilience 1.96 No Change 3: Building System Resilience 1.96 4: Project Management, 4: Project Management, Results 1.03 No Change Results Monitoring and 1.03 Monitoring and Communication Communication TOTAL 14.80 14.39 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_CANCELLATIONS_TABLE CANCELLATIONS Value Reason Current Cancellation New Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Date of for Amount Amount Amount Cancellation Cancellation BORROWER' S REQUEST TF-B3874- Disburs USD 14,800,000.00 410,000.00 29-Aug-2022 14,390,000.00 FOR 001 ing COUNTRY REASONS OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_REALLOCATION _TABLE REALLOCATION BETWEEN DISBURSEMENT CATEGORIES The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) Financing % Current Allocation Actuals + Committed Proposed Allocation (Type Total) Current Proposed TF-B3874-001 | Currency: USD iLap Category Sequence No: 1 Current Expenditure Category: NCS, CS, WS, Tr, IOC Excl UN actvty 3,098,000.00 95,146.02 2,688,000.00 100.00 100 iLap Category Sequence No: 2 Current Expenditure Category: NCS, CS, WS, Tr, IOC For UN actvty 4,780,000.00 4,779,147.00 4,780,000.00 100.00 100.00 iLap Category Sequence No: 3 Current Expenditure Category: School Subgrant 6,910,000.00 0.00 6,910,000.00 100.00 100.00 iLap Category Sequence No: 4 Current Expenditure Category: Works 12,000.00 0.00 12,000.00 100.00 100.00 Total 14,800,000.00 4,874,293.02 14,390,000.00 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_DISBURSEMENT_TABLE DISBURSEMENT ESTIMATES Change in Disbursement Estimates Yes Year Current Proposed 2020 0.00 0.00 2021 7,000,000.00 7,000,000.00 2022 7,800,000.00 7,380,000.00 . The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) . Results framework COUNTRY: Bangladesh Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) Project Development Objectives(s) The Project Development Objectives (PDOs) are to (i) strengthen the basic school system’s institutional capacity to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 crisis; and (ii) build resilience to face future crises from preprimary to secondary levels. Project Development Objective Indicators by Objectives/ Outcomes RESULT_FRAME_TBL_PDO Indicator Name PBC Baseline End Target To strengthen the basic school system’s institutional capacity to Respond to COVID 19 crises Number (and % of children in the relevant age-group in the program area) of children supported with inclusive distance 0.00 2,500,000.00 learning programs (disaggregated by gender) (Number) Boys (Number) 0.00 1,205,000.00 Girls (Number) 0.00 1,295,000.00 To strengthen the basic school system’s institutional capacity to Recover from COVID 19 crises Number (and %) of children who were enrolled in grant- supported preprimary and primary level government schools 0.00 3,240,000.00 before the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to schools (Number) Boys (Number) 0.00 1,590,000.00 Girls (Number) 0.00 1,650,000.00 To build the basic school system's resilience to face future crises Remote learning system integrated into the basic education Remote learning system fully functional and integrated into Underdeveloped Remote Learning System school system (Text) the basic school system The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) PDO Table SPACE Intermediate Results Indicators by Components RESULT_FRAME_TBL_IO Indicator Name PBC Baseline End Target Engaging in Systemic Response Number of grade - subject programs with complete and appropriate digital contents supported for the whole academic 0.00 35.00 year for Grade 1-10 (Number) (Number) Number of hard-to-reach children provided with learning 0.00 150,000.00 materials/packages (Number) Number (and %) of children provided access to programs and sensitization campaigns to minimize the negative impacts of 0.00 1,500,000.00 school closures, with a focus on girls (Number) Action: This indicator has been Marked for Deletion Boys (Number) 0.00 723,000.00 Action: This indicator has been Marked for Deletion Girls (Number) 0.00 777,000.00 Action: This indicator has been Marked for Deletion Supporting Education Systems Recovery Number (and %) of primary schools re-opened following 0.00 20,000.00 implementation of Safe School Re-opening Plan (Number) Percentage of primary schools re-opened following 0.00 100.00 implementation of Safe School Re-opening Plan (Number) Number (and % of children in program area) of children whose learning was assessed to evaluate loss of learning during school 0.00 60,000.00 closure (Number) The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268) RESULT_FRAME_TBL_IO Indicator Name PBC Baseline End Target Percentage of children in program area whose learning was assessed to evaluate loss of learning during school closure 0.00 1.50 (Number) Number (and % of teachers in program area) of teachers trained on remedial education, distance learning strategies, and 0.00 2,000.00 formative and summative assessment practices (Number) Percentage of teachers trained on remedial education, distance learning strategies, and formative and summative 0.00 0.60 assessment practices (Number) Building System Resilience Sustainability Plan for the Remote Learning System in place for Sustainability Plan for the Remote Learning System No Sustainability Plan is in place basic school system (Text) developed and included in Government’s regular program Standard Emergency Operation Procedures for junior secondary Standard Emergency Operation Procedures for junior No Standard Emergency Operation Procedures in place school system prepared (Text) secondary school system developed Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance 0.00 35,900,000.00 learning (CRI, Number) Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance 0.00 18,600,000.00 learning - Female (CRI, Number) IO Table SPACE The World Bank Bangladesh COVID 19 School Sector Response (GPE) (P174268)