The World Bank Report No: ISR5874 Implementation Status & Results Lesotho EFA Fast Track Initiative Catalytic Fund Grant for Lesotho (P116426) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: EFA Fast Track Initiative Catalytic Fund Grant for Lesotho Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 3 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 12-Oct-2011 (P116426) Country: Lesotho Approval FY: 2010 Product Line: Recipient Executed Activities Region: AFRICA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 30-Jun-2010 Original Closing Date 31-May-2013 Planned Mid Term Review Date 24-Sep-2012 Last Archived ISR Date 12-Oct-2011 Effectiveness Date 01-Nov-2010 Revised Closing Date 31-May-2013 Actual Mid Term Review Date Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The Project Development Objective is to provide improved facilities at existing primary schools, support and contribute to expand access to pre-primary education and support improvements in quality of teaching. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Component 1: Improve the Quality of Primary School Infrastructure 12.60 Component 2: Support and Contribution to the Expansion of Pre-Primary Education 2.00 Component 3: Contribution to Improvements in Quality of Teaching 10.60 Overall Ratings Public Disclosure Copy Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Implementation Status Overview This ISR updates the previous one, of October 12, 2011. It was prepared making use of information gathered during (i) the supervision mission carried out one year after project effectiveness (November 2011); (ii) the Joint Technical Review of December 5, 2011; and (iii) the technical mission of February 2012. The Project was effective in November 2010, and thus, a full implementation year is completed. Project implementation is fully mainstreamed in the Ministry of Education and Page 1 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR5874 Training. Although there have been some delays in project implementation, the latter is starting to catch up, and progress has been made during the past four months. Component 1. Bids for civil works in the three districts selected for Batch 1 opened on August 9, 2011. These districts are: Thaba-Tseka, Mokhotlong and Qacha's Nek. Bid Evaluation Reports (BERs) were sent to the Bank for a request of No Objection. To date, No Objection was provided to recommendations of contract awards for 29 out of a total of Public Disclosure Copy 31. Four contracts in the Qacha's Nek district have already been signed. Overall, around US$2.4 million worth of civil works are committed with signature of the remaining 27 contracts expected to take place during the month of February. At the same time, work has started to prepare bidding documents for civil works Batch 2, and bidding documents for classroom furniture have already been prepared with bids expected to open during the month February. This is significant progress in the most important component of the project. However, delays are still found in the conclusion of the procurement for individual consultancies for a Component 1 Contracts Manager and the Quality Surveyors and firm consultancies for a site surveyor firm and construction supervision firm. Procurement of such services is expected to be concluded before mid-March. Training in procurement provided by ESAMI has taken place in December. Component 2 has seen progress. The government has written contracts for 120 caregivers and 120 caterers for receptions classes in all ten districts in Lesotho and they were signed in August. Construction kits and puzzle kits have been purchased and delivered. Food catering have initiated in January 2012. Terms of Reference for the consultancies on the value of reception classes as a form of ECCD provision, and on the causes for high early grade repetition have been submitted for No Objection, which has been granted. Preparation of contract renewal for care givers, and new contracts for caterers for the next fiscal year has already started. Component 3 has also seen good progress. Procurement of a firm to carry out the baseline service concluded with a contract signed in the amount of US$0.5 million. The teachers’ incentive scheme was launched in January, with the first quarterly payments to be made in March 2012. Consultancies on the development of new literacy and numeracy curricula and assessment materials are on-going and preparation for the pilot of the newly produced materials has started. Textbooks were purchased and distributed. Locations No Location data has been entered Results Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Decline in shortfall of qualified teachers at Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 10.10 primary level Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments 0.0 for first year (indicator on track with activities already started). Public Disclosure Copy Qualified teachers (from total number covered Number Value 0.00 0.00 1600.00 by the project) retained or attracted to difficult Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 schools Comments 0.0 for first year (indicator on track with activities already started). Repetition rate (grade 1) Percentage Value 26.00 24.20 23.00 Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target met for first year of the project (25.00) Page 2 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR5874 Decline in shortfall of classrooms at primary Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 7.50 level Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target not met (0.7% target Public Disclosure Copy value). Enrollment in reception classes supported by Number Value 0.00 2760.00 3600.00 the project Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target met for the first year (2,400) Classrooms constructed by the project meeting Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 100.00 the agreed standards Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target not met (10% target value). Direct project beneficiaries Number Value 0.00 2880.00 24600.00 Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target not met for the first year (4,620) Female beneficiaries Percentage Value 0.00 75.00 55.00 Sub Type Supplemental Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Teachers in difficult schools targeted by the Amount(USD) Value 0.00 0.00 800.00 project enrolled in training programs Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Indicator on track-first year setup indicator scheme. System for learning assessment at the primary Yes/No Value Yes Yes Yes level Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Public Disclosure Copy Comments Assessments carried out in Sesotho and Maths and results disseminated. Utility of the learning assessment system Number Value 3.00 3.00 3.00 Sub Type Supplemental Textbooks purchased and distributed by the Number Value 0.00 6500.00 13300.00 project Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Page 3 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR5874 Comments Target for the first year surpassed (3,300) Teachers and principals in grade 1 to 3 Number Value 0.00 0.00 4500.00 Public Disclosure Copy targeted by the project that were trained in Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 teaching methods adapted to the new Comments Target not met for the first curriculum year. Number of additional qualified primary teachers Number Value 0.00 0.00 800.00 resulting from project interventions. Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Indicator on track-first year setup indicator scheme. Teachers in difficult schools targeted by the Number Value 0.00 0.00 800.00 project receiving a grant Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Indicator on track-first year setup indicator scheme. Reception classes supported Number Value 0.00 120.00 120.00 Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target fully met for the first year. Classrooms furnished Number Value 0.00 0.00 330.00 Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target not met for the first year (33 classrooms). Toilet blocks constructed Number Value 0.00 0.00 100.00 Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Comments Target not met for the first year (10 toilet blocks). Number of additional classrooms built or Number Value 0.00 0.00 330.00 rehabilitated at the primary level resulting from Date 01-Nov-2010 05-Dec-2011 Public Disclosure Copy project interventions. Comments Target not met for the first year (33 classrooms). Data on Financial Performance (as of 28-Oct-2011) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Loan No. Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Closing Date P116426 TF-97043 Effective 25-Aug-2010 25-Aug-2010 01-Nov-2010 31-May-2013 Disbursements (in Millions) Page 4 of 5 The World Bank Report No: ISR5874 Project Loan No. Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P116426 TF-97043 Effective USD 20.00 20.00 0.00 1.43 18.57 7.00 Public Disclosure Copy Disbursement Graph Key Decisions Regarding Implementation There have been visible efforts from MoET to increase the pace of project implementation and to compensate for the delays in procurement. MoET has revised the roles and responsibilities of the implementation team; it has strengthened coordination and communication mechanisms, and there are visible results of this. However, procurement capacity is still weak and the procurement unit in MoET is not only in charge of procurement for the project but also for all MoET procurement. It is very important to follow up closely on project implementation and keep providing extra procurement and technical support to the implementation team. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Public Disclosure Copy Related Projects There are no related projects. Page 5 of 5