The World Bank Report No: ISR8268 Implementation Status & Results Tunisia Higher Education Reform Support II (P075809) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Higher Education Reform Support II (P075809) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 12 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 23-Dec-2012 Country: Tunisia Approval FY: 2006 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Ministere de lenseignement superieure Key Dates Board Approval Date 15-Jun-2006 Original Closing Date 30-Nov-2011 Planned Mid Term Review Date 21-May-2012 Last Archived ISR Date 17-Apr-2012 Effectiveness Date 17-Nov-2006 Revised Closing Date 30-Nov-2013 Actual Mid Term Review Date 22-May-2009 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The long-term objective of the Government's higher education program is: to improve the knowledge, competency, and skills of graduates so that they can contribute to a more knowledge based and diversified economy. The proposed project would support parts of the first five-year phase (2006-2011) of this program. The development objective of the proposed project is to support the implementation of the Government's PDESAQ program to develop the higher education system by increasing the capacity and efficiency in expanding access and improving the quality of education and institutional performance. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Expand Access to the Public Higher Education System 62.00 Modernize the Higher Education System by Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms, 4.40 Public Disclosure Copy Institutional Autonomy and Financial Sustainabi lity Grant Program to Improve Academic Quality and Institutional Performance (Quality Promotion Fund 14.30 (PAQ)) Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Page 1 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR8268 Implementation Status Overview The project was restructured in December 2011 and the closing date extended to November 30, 2013. However, given the status of implementation of some components it appears that some of the reallocated funds will not be committed or disbursed by the closing of the project. Therefore, the Bank stands ready to work with the Ministry of Higher Education to reallocate these funds to activities that could be implemented by the end of the project and that will be determined according to priorities to be defined with the Ministry. In addition, Public Disclosure Copy the team will reinforce supervision through hiring a local consultant to monitor closely all project scheduled activities. The project is experiencing slow disbursement because of the delays in the completion of works and acquisition of equipment scheduled in Component I "Expand Access to the Public Higher Education System", which range from 65% to 95% of completion. This is mainly due to the shortage of skilled and unskilled manpower and slow procurement procedures. All construction is scheduled to be completed by March 2013 and the equipment delivered by April 2013. Regarding Component II "Modernize the Higher Education System by Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms, Institutional Autonomy and Financial Sustainability", the Government issued on September 14, 2012 the decree 1719 establishing the National Authority for the Evaluation, Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Education. This constitutes an important step which will positively impact the quality of higher education in Tunisia. Additionally, the implementation of the Program (PRIFF), which is an integrated training program for trainers, has considerably advanced since the last supervision mission. The implementation of Component III "Grant Program to Improve Academic Quality and Institutional Performance (Quality Promotion Fund (PAQ))" is satisfactory as 91% of the reallocated funds were disbursed to Universities and the latter have engaged 67% and disbursed 60% of their grants. However, the call of proposals to commit the funds reallocated to this component has been delayed. A close follow up of this component and the management and allocation of grants under this last round will require close monitoring to ensure completion of sub-projects by the closing of the Project and reallocate or cancel in time the funds that would not be used. Regarding the PAQ for the Research Centers, the recruitment of consultants to undertake the diagnosis of the program is still not effective, so it is unlikely that this activity will be completed by the closing date. The Ministry of Higher Education has undertaken consultations with universities to discuss ways to grant them autonomy and in that context, organized, in partnership with the Bank, a workshop in order to discuss with universities various models of autonomy and identify the best approach for Tunisia. The change of administrative status will enable universities to increase their financial and academic autonomy and make them more responsive to labor market needs and local social and economic needs. A road map summarizing the main actions will be prepared by universities and shared with the Bank by December 2012. Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Tunisia Not Entered Zaghouan Tunisia Not Entered Tataouine Tunisia Not Entered Sousse Tunisia Not Entered Sfax Public Disclosure Copy Tunisia Not Entered Gabes Tunisia Not Entered Mutuelleville Tunisia Not Entered Manouba Tunisia Not Entered Kasserine Results Page 2 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR8268 Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Improve Access to Higher Education by Text Value Institutions and student There are delays in the 13000 new places, 4 Public Disclosure Copy creating 13000 new student places, services do not exist construction and delivery of institutions and 2 student construction of about 8 institutions and 2 equipment. Construction is services buildings student services expected to be completed by March 2013 and equipment delivered by April 2013. Date 01-Sep-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments There are delays in the The enrollment targets have construction and delivery of been met. The construction is equipment. Construction is expected to be completed by expected to be completed by March 2013 and equipment March 2013 and equipment delivered by April 2013. delivered by April 2013. Revise the legal texts to support university Text Value The new law approved in Feb There is no particular change Key Decrees related to autonomy including the university statue 2008 has provided the legal University Management are status for increasing approved. Universities autonomy. The decrees to follow the law must indicate their capacity to manage self-generated resources. Date 01-Mar-2007 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments There are still no particular The government has changes since the last visit. prepared a draft document to be discussed by cabinet, changing the status of Universities. Creation of a Quality Assurance and Promotion Text Value Informal quality assurance The decree establishing the New entity set up with Agency that will put in place a system of quality managed by Ministry of National Authority for the mission, manual of assurance by the end of the project Higher Education Committee Evaluation, Quality Assurance procedures and guidelines Public Disclosure Copy on Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education was passed on September 2012. However, the manual of procedures and guidelines has not been prepared yet. Date 01-Feb-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments Page 3 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR8268 Establish and render operational the Text Value Draft manual of procedures The manual of procedures Complete at least one round competitive fund (PAQ) completed by project was amended for the new call of the competitive fund appraisal for proposal for competitive funds Public Disclosure Copy Date 30-May-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments The target has been met Improve the efficiency of project Text Value No system to measure There is no change 90% of actions on time implementation units by an improvement in procurement delays procurement delays (% of activities on time) Date 30-Jun-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments There is no particular change Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Implementation of an action plan to strengthen Text Value Responsibilities and There is no particular change. Realignment of Ministry and the capacity of the Ministry of Higher Education capacities needed to clarity on responsibilities for to implement reforms. implement reforms not implementing Government's established program objective and reforms Date 30-May-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Comments The 2012 budget focused on results-based work programs and annual work programs were submitted. 5% of higher education institutions evaluated Text Value National Evaluation There is no particular change. 5% or 40 establishments by the new quality assurance agency Committee exists and is responsible for putting in place a process to develop mission and guidelines for new Agency Date 06-Jun-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Public Disclosure Copy Comments 31 Higher Education Institutions out of 32 were evaluated and 22 reports were received by the Ministry. Fifty grants awarded and implemented by PAQ Text Value First call for proposals issued New call for proposals are 1 round completed (disbursed in June 2006 being launched and contracts and evaluated) are expected to be signed by January 2013. Date 30-Jun-2006 30-Nov-2012 30-Nov-2013 Page 4 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR8268 Comments New call for proposals are being launched and contracts are expected to be signed by January 2013. Public Disclosure Copy Data on Financial Performance (as of 04-Oct-2012) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P075809 IBRD-73920 Effective 15-Jun-2006 18-Jul-2006 17-Nov-2006 30-Nov-2011 30-Nov-2013 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P075809 IBRD-73920 Effective USD 76.00 76.00 0.00 32.56 46.09 43.00 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation The Bank and the Ministry of Higher Education agreed that it will be necessary to issue an action plan for the setting up of the National Authority for the Evaluation, Quality Assurance, and Accreditation of Higher Education which shall be finalized by early January 2013 and transmitted to the Bank. Restructuring History Page 5 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR8268 There has been no restructuring to date. Related Projects Public Disclosure Copy There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 6 of 6