The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA | Sierra Leone | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing (IPF) | FY 2020 | Seq No: 9 | Archived on 28-Feb-2025 | ISR01605 Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Educaiton 1. OBJECTIVE 1.1 Development Objective Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Decision package on 29-Jun-2020) The project development objectives (PDO) are to improve the management of the education system, teaching practices, and learning conditions. Has the Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? Yes Current Development Objective (Approved as part of Additional Financing package Seq. 3 on 26-Sep-2023) The project development objectives are to improve the management of the education system, teaching practices, and learning conditions. 2. COMPONENTS Name Enhancing Access to Education and Supporting Foundational Learning for All:(Cost 19,730,000.00) COVID-19 Education Response:(Cost 6,850,000.00) Policy, Governance, Accountability, and System Administration:(Cost 12,250,000.00) Teacher Management and Professional Development:(Cost 16,040,000.00) School Level Education Development:(Cost 30,040,000.00) Project Management, Coordination and Monitoring and Evaluation:(Cost 9,780,000.00) Contingent Emergency Response Component:(Cost 11,890,000.00) 3. OVERALL RATINGS Name Previous Current Feb 28, 2025 Page 1 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial 4. KEY ISSUES & STATUS 4.1 Implementation Status and Key Decisions 1. In the last six months, the project has achieved all Project Development Objectives (PDO) level indicators. There has also been good progress in addressing some critical challenges identified during the Mid-Term Review mission in April 2024. The main areas of progress include restructuring the Free Education Project Secretariat (FEPS) to gain efficiency, improving coordination between the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and relevant agencies; submission of options for utilization of the girls hostels, timely fiduciary reporting, conducting regular bi-weekly meetings, commencing the development of the foundational literacy package for P2, and training of P1 master trainers and Headteacher/classroom teacher have been completed. The key updates since the last ISR are summarized below: Improvement in School related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV) reporting and mitigation. There has been a significant improvement in the volume of reporting of School-Related Gender-Based-Violence (SRGBV) cases which is due to the proactive approach adopted by FEPS to gather information about cases through the Family Support Unit (FSU), Rainbo centers, One-Stop-Centers (OSC) and through training of MBSSE, TSC staff and district level Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs). Further, there has been progress in activities to mitigate and manage SRGBV including the signing of the National Referral Protocol in July 2024, the training of 4,000 School Management Committee (SMC) members, and a national-level Gender Based Violence (GBV) service provider mapping. A school safety audit has also been conducted to assess concerns around school safety relating to SRGBV. As the school safety audit has shown, there is a need to further strengthen school safety to prevent the GBV incidents taking place at the school level. There has been significant improvement in the progress of civil works, however, the quality of WASH facilities require improvement. Including both Phase 1 & II – Out of 367 classrooms, civil works have been completed in 252 schools. Among them, both civil works and furnishing have been completed in only 82 classrooms, among the classrooms with completed civil works, the work of 149 schools has been completed in the last six months, since last mission in April 2024. All the completed 149 classrooms were handed over to schools, and providing improved classroom environment.The MBSSE is working on a new sustainable design for WASH facilities in the schools. Key procurement activities have been completed. Contracts have been signed with the winning bidders for -- (i) over 6,000 solar-powered tablets, and (ii) the P1 foundational learning teaching-learning materials. The key next step is ensuring timely delivery of these goods to schools and students. Feb 28, 2025 Page 2 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) 5. SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK-RATING TOOL Rating at Approval Last Approved Rating Risk Category Approval Package - ISR Seq. 08 - 21 Aug Proposed Rating 29 Jun 2020 2024 Political and Governance Substantial Moderate Moderate Macroeconomic Substantial Substantial Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies Substantial Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Substantial Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Substantial Substantial Sustainability Fiduciary Substantial Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Moderate Substantial Substantial Stakeholders Moderate Moderate Moderate Overall Substantial Substantial Substantial Feb 28, 2025 Page 3 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) 6. RESULTS 6.1 PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes Improved Management of the Education System Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year No school Nov/2019 School 30-Jun-2024 School 30-Jun-2024 Associated Sep/2025 catchment catchment area catchment area transparent School catchment area and area plan in policy in use for policy in use for criterion- rationalization plan in place place approval of approval of based school and associated transparent schools, schools, approval and criterion-based school financing of financing of financing approval, and financing works and works and process process implemented teacher teacher implemented (Text) deployment deployment Comments on 100% Achieved achieving targets No integrated Nov/2019 Full NLA in 30-Jun-2024 Completed 31-Dec-2024 Results of NLA Sep/2027 national progress: Field analyzed and One national learning learning work completed; disseminated assessment (NLA) conducted assessment data analysis and findings disseminated (NLA) ongoing (Text) conducted Comments on 100% Achieved achieving targets Improved Teaching Practices Indicator Name Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Feb 28, 2025 Page 4 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year n.a. Nov/2019 A total of 25,441 30-Jun-2024 A total of 25,441 31-Dec-2024 10 percentage Dec/2027 teachers trained teachers trained points in various areas in various areas increase over such as code of such as code of baseline conduct, conduct, professional professional development, development, Percentage of teachers Teach and Teach and receiving project-supported Coach, Literacy Coach, Literacy training demonstrating and Numeracy and Numeracy improved teaching practices and teachers and teachers in the classroom (Text) also trained on also trained on the use of the use of supplementary supplementary materials for materials for underperforming underperforming schools. schools. Comments on 45% Achieved achieving targets Improved Learning Conditions Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Share of PBF schools 50.00 Nov/2019 95% 30-Jun-2024 102% 31-Dec-2024 75.00 Sep/2025 meeting 85% of student Comments on PBF data has been collected, Analysis for indicators is ongoing attendance rate achieving targets (Percentage) 0.00 Nov/2019 954,272 30-Jun-2024 1,021,136 31-Dec-2024 850,000.00 Dec/2027 Feb 28, 2025 Page 5 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Number of students Comments on 112% achieved benefiting from improved achieving targets learning environment (Number) 0.00 Nov/2019 487,898 30-Jun-2024 525,068 31-Dec-2024 416,500.00 Dec/2027 Number of female Comments on 117% achieved students (Number) achieving targets 6.2 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Enhancing Access to Education and Supporting Foundational Learning for All Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Percentage of grade 2 2.80 May/2023 2.80 30-Jun-2024 2.80 30-Jun-2024 10 Dec/2027 students who can correctly identify sounds for all letters of the alphabet in English in one minute (Text) 0 May/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Jun-2024 At least 80% of Dec/2027 government and Percentage of approved government- government and approved government-assisted primary schools schools receiving literacy receiving package (Text) literacy package for grade 1 At Feb 28, 2025 Page 6 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) least 50% of government and government- approved schools receiving literacy package for grade 2 Comments on Pilot is underway. achieving targets 0 May/2023 0 30-Jun-2024 0 30-Jun-2024 At least Dec/2027 120,000 primary school-level OOSC Number of primary school- benefiting level OOSC benefiting from from back-to- back-to-school incentives / school learning support (Text) incentives / learning support Comments on Delayed due to non-availability of funds for EAA. achieving targets No accelerated May/2023 No accelerated 30-Jun-2024 No accelerated 30-Jun-2024 The Dec/2027 The accelerated primary primary school primary school primary school accelerated school curriculum developed curriculum curriculum curriculum primary school (Text) available available available curriculum developed Feb 28, 2025 Page 7 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Comments on Not initiated. achieving targets COVID-19 Education Response Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Number of children in the 0.00 Apr/2020 1,500,000.00 01-Dec-2021 1,500,000.00 01-Dec-2021 1,500,000.00 Dec/2022 relevant age-group provided access to programs and sensitization campaigns on COVID-19 and education response (Number) Number of children in 0.00 Apr/2020 750,000.00 01-Dec-2021 750,000.00 01-Dec-2021 750,000.00 Dec/2022 the relevant age-group provided access to programs and sensitization campaigns on COVID-19 and education response - female (Number) Number of children 0.00 Apr/2020 1,000,000.00 01-Dec-2021 1,000,000.00 01-Dec-2021 1,000,000.00 Dec/2022 supported with remote learning and/or accelerated learning interventions (Number) Number of children 0.00 Apr/2020 500,000.00 01-Dec-2021 500,000.00 01-Dec-2021 500,000.00 Dec/2022 supported with remote learning and/or accelerated learning interventions - Female (Number) Feb 28, 2025 Page 8 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Number of teachers trained 0.00 Apr/2020 6,080.00 01-Dec-2021 6,080.00 01-Dec-2021 12,000.00 Dec/2022 in using distance learning methods and/or provided materials to support distance learning (Number) Number of schools equipped 0.00 Apr/2020 11,000.00 01-Dec-2021 11,000.00 01-Dec-2021 3,500.00 Dec/2022 with minimum hygiene standards for prevention of COVID-19 (Number) Radical inclusion policy in No Apr/2020 Yes 01-Dec-2021 Yes 01-Dec-2021 Yes Dec/2022 place (Yes/No) Number of apps, 0.00 Apr/2020 1.00 01-Dec-2021 1.00 01-Dec-2021 2.00 Dec/2022 frameworks, platforms developed and implemented (Number) Policy, Governance, Accountability, and System Administration Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Annual school census Yes Mar/2019 No 30-Nov-2023 No 30-Nov-2023 Yes Dec/2027 conducted and report produced and used (Yes/No) Child-friendly Nov/2019 New school 30-Nov-2023 New school 30-Nov-2023 New school Sep/2025 school quality quality quality standards in assurance assurance standards School quality standards place. framework framework rolled out developed for primary and and handbook and handbook secondary schools (Text) developed developed ,and standards ,and standards piloted. piloted. Feb 28, 2025 Page 9 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Small scale Nov/2019 Analysis and 30-Nov-2023 Analysis and 30-Nov-2023 NPSE and BECE Sep/2025 examination pedagogical pedagogical examinations analysis feedback feedback analyzed down conducted development development to district A system for examination is underway is underway levels and analysis and feedback in pedagogical place (Text) feedback developed and provided to all approved schools Number of SMC and Board of 0.00 Nov/2019 0.00 30-Nov-2023 0.00 30-Nov-2023 10,000.00 Sep/2025 Governor members and teachers trained in gender in education (gender sensitization, GBV prevention and awareness) (Number) Percentage of n.a. 0 0 5 percentage stakeholders receiving points increase training demonstrating annually improved knowledge Comments on Percentage of stakeholders receiving training demonstrating improved knowledge on gender on gender (Text) achieving targets (gender sensitization, GBV prevention etc). Inclusive Nov/2019 Teachers, 30-Nov-2023 Teachers, 30-Nov-2023 Teacher Sep/2025 education community community training policy drafted member and member and program using Inclusive education policy school school inclusive developed and in use (Text) authorities authorities education trained on use trained on use policy of the policy. of the policy. And TSC has And TSC has Feb 28, 2025 Page 10 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) mainstreamed mainstreamed inclusive inclusive education in education in teacher teacher training training programs. programs. Students benefiting from 0.00 Nov/2019 959,072 30-Jun-2024 959,072 30-Jun-2024 1,251,000.00 Dec/2027 direct interventions to enhance learning (Number) Students benefiting 0.00 498,998 498,998 616,500.00 from direct interventions to enhance learning - Female (Number) Students in primary 0.00 Nov/2019 615,381 30-Jun-2024 615,381 30-Jun-2024 900,000.00 Dec/2027 education benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number) Female students in 0.00 Nov/2019 299,631 30-Jun-2024 299,631 30-Jun-2024 441,000.00 Dec/2027 primary education benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number) Students in secondary 0.00 Nov/2019 343,691 30-Jun-2024 343,691 30-Jun-2024 351,000.00 Dec/2027 education benefiting from direct interventions to Feb 28, 2025 Page 11 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) enhance learning (Number) Female students in 0.00 Nov/2019 199, 367 30-Jun-2024 199, 367 30-Jun-2024 175,500.00 Dec/2027 secondary education benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number) Teacher Management and Professional Development Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Teacher Nov/2019 Teacher 30-Jun-2024 Teacher 30-Jun-2024 Teacher Sep/2025 management management management management information information information information Teacher management system not in system system system in use information system place developed and developed and developed and in use (Text) operational operational Comments on 100% Achieved achieving targets Number of teachers in 0.00 Nov/2019 25,441 30-Jun-2024 25,441 30-Jun-2024 22,000.00 Sep/2025 primary and JSSs Comments on 116% achieved. The 2022/23 number has been revised as 15, 476 by the Project. participating in cluster-based achieving targets CPD (Number) 0.00 Nov/2019 32,884 30-Jun-2024 32,884 30-Jun-2024 24,000.00 Dec/2027 Teachers recruited or trained Comments on 149% achieved (Number) achieving targets 0.00 9,804 9,804 5,000.00 Teachers recruited or Comments on The 2022/23 data revised to 3,161 by the project. trained - Female (RMS achieving targets Feb 28, 2025 Page 12 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) requirement) (Number) 0.00 Nov/2019 25,441 30-Jun-2024 25,441 30-Jun-2024 24,000.00 Dec/2027 Number of teachers Comments on 116% achieved trained (Number) achieving targets School Level Education Development Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Share of PBF schools meeting 44.00 Nov/2019 72.00 30-Jun-2024 72.00 30-Jun-2024 75.00 Sep/2025 85% of teacher attendance Comments on 96% achieved rate (Percentage) achieving targets Number of schools 500.00 Nov/2019 3,900 30-Jun-2024 3,900 30-Jun-2024 2,000.00 Sep/2025 developing school Comments on 155% achieved improvement plan and achieving targets executing school activities based on the plan using a participatory approach (Number) Information of Nov/2019 Not started 30-Nov-2023 Not started 30-Nov-2023 SMC manual Sep/2025 SMCs revised based operation on evaluation available on results Survey of SMCs organization REDiSL and effectiveness (Text) supported schools Comments on Manual has been revised achieving targets 0.00 Nov/2019 153 30-Jun-2024 153 30-Jun-2024 400.00 Sep/2025 Feb 28, 2025 Page 13 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Number of classrooms Comments on 153 furnished constructed in compliance achieving targets with standards in target schools (Number) Share of grievances 0.00 Nov/2019 28.20 30-Jun-2024 28.20 30-Jun-2024 90.00 Sep/2025 addressed within a certain Comments on 1,365 complaints received, 385 resolved. time period (Percentage) achieving targets Contingent Emergency Response Component Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Number of teachers in 0.00 Aug/2022 35,843.00 01-Dec-2022 35,843.00 01-Dec-2022 35,843.00 Sep/2025 receipt of two months’ salary teaching continuously in school to support student learning (Number) Number of students in 0.00 Aug/2022 206,000.00 01-Dec-2022 206,000.00 01-Dec-2022 206,000.00 Sep/2025 secondary education benefiting from payments of fees for West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to enhance learning (Number) Feb 28, 2025 Page 14 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) 7. DATA ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 7.1 Cumulative Disbursements 7.2 Disbursements (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed TF-B4659 Effective 14.17 14.17 0.00 9.46 4.71 66.76% IDA-D6810 Effective 50.00 48.15 0.00 47.42 1.72 96.50% TF-B4694 Closed 6.85 6.85 0.00 6.85 0.00 100.00 % IDA-E2380 Effective 20.00 20.13 0.00 12.64 7.49 62.80% 7.3 Key Dates (by loan) Feb 28, 2025 Page 15 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Sierra Leone Free Education Project (P167897) Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Signing Effectiveness Orig. Closing Rev. Closing IDA-D6810 Effective 29-Jun-2020 13-Jul-2020 10-Aug-2020 30-Sep-2025 30-Sep-2025 IDA-E2380 Effective 26-Sep-2023 29-Sep-2023 20-Dec-2023 31-Dec-2027 31-Dec-2027 TF-B4659 Effective 15-Jun-2021 23-Jun-2021 04-May-2023 30-Sep-2025 30-Sep-2025 TF-B4694 Closed 06-Feb-2021 26-Feb-2021 24-May-2021 31-Jan-2022 31-Dec-2022 8. KEY DATES Key Events Planned Actual Approval 29-Jun-2020 29-Jun-2020 Effectiveness 10-Aug-2020 10-Aug-2020 Mid-Term Review No. 01 18-Mar-2024 15-Apr-2024 Operation Closing/Cancellation 31-Dec-2027 9. RESTRUCTURING HISTORY Restructuring Level 2 Approved on 14-Jan-2022 Restructuring Level 2 Approved on 09-Sep-2022 Restructuring Level 2 Approved on 09-Jun-2023 10. ASSOCIATED OPERATION(S) There are no associated operations Feb 28, 2025 Page 16 of 16