The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN | Guyana | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing (IPF) | FY 2017 | Seq No: 15 | Archived on 14-Mar-2025 | ISR02812 Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Education 1. OBJECTIVE 1.1 Development Objective Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval package on 28-Apr-2017) The objectives of the Project are to: (i) improve teaching practices and implement curricular reform at the primary level at selected schools; and (ii) strengthen the teaching capacity and improve the learning environment of the University of Guyana Faculty of Health Science. Has the Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? Yes Current Development Objective (Approved as part of Restructuring package Seq. 1 on 06-Jun-2022) The objectives of the Project are to: (i) improve teaching practices and implement curricular reform at the primary level at selected schools; and (ii) strengthen the teaching capacity and improve the learning environment of the University of Guyana Faculty of Health Science. 2. COMPONENTS Name Component 1: Integrated Curriculum Reform.:(Cost 5,360,000.00) Component 2: Strengthening the Teaching Capacity and Improving the Learning Environment for the University of Guyana Faculty of Health Sciences.:(Cost 6,910,000.00) Component 3: Project Implementation Support.:(Cost 1,060,000.00) 3. OVERALL RATINGS Name Previous Current Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Mar 14, 2025 Page 1 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate 4. KEY ISSUES & STATUS 4.1 Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Project includes three components: (i) Integrated Curriculum Reform; (ii) Strengthening the Teaching Capacity and Improving the Learning Environment for the University of Guyana (UG)-Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS); and (iii) Project Implementation Support. The implementation of project activities under all components are progressing well, and the Project is on track to achieve its development objectives. 1. Under Component 1 (Integrated Curriculum Reform), there have been significant strides. The renewed curriculum for Nursery 1-2 and Grades 1-9 has been completed. Despite the postponement of the national curriculum pilot for Grades 5 and 6 by the Ministry of Education, the new curriculum has been scaled nationally for Grades 1-4, surpassing the end targets for teachers trained. The impact evaluation is ongoing, with final results expected soon. Additionally, the national assessment for Grade 2 was indefinitely canceled, but the project financed the software GradeMaker, which is now used by NCERD to create diagnostic exams. All teaching and learning materials have been procured and distributed, including utilization and maintenance plans where appropriate. 2. Under Component 2 (Strengthening the Teaching Capacity and Improving the Learning Environment for UG FHS), there has been notable progress. The capacity of lecturers has been strengthened, and the final target for this indicator has been exceeded. The final report on the integrated examination conducted with the Examsoft software is pending. Construction of the Health Science building began in November 2023 and is progressing according to plan, with completion expected by the project's close on April 30, 2025. The bidding process for lab equipment and furniture resulted in signed contracts, with most expected to be delivered on time. However, there is a slight risk that some lab equipment and furniture will be delivered post-closing, which has been addressed with the Country Management Unit (CMU), requiring follow-up and technical support to mitigate the risks and ensure the timely completion of the building. 3. Under Component 3 (Project Implementation Support), there have been significant improvements. The completion of outstanding semi-annual reports and updated results frameworks has led to an upgrade in the component's rating from Moderately Satisfactory to Satisfactory. Despite previous challenges, the project has made considerable progress in planning and reporting, and all functions have been satisfactorily fulfilled. 5. SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK-RATING TOOL Rating at Approval Last Approved Rating Risk Category Approval Package - ISR Seq. 014 - 09 Aug Proposed Rating 28 Apr 2017 2024 Mar 14, 2025 Page 2 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) Political and Governance Low Moderate Moderate Macroeconomic Moderate Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Moderate Moderate Moderate Sustainability Fiduciary Moderate Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Substantial Moderate Moderate Overall Moderate Moderate Moderate Mar 14, 2025 Page 3 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) 6. RESULTS 6.1 PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes Improve teaching practices and student achievement in primary-level mathematics at selected schools Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year PDO 1: Number of schools 0.00 Jun/2022 445.00 25-Jul-2024 445.00 18-Feb-2025 90.00 Apr/2025 implementing the revised Comments on To date, 445 schools across the 11 districts are implementing the revised curriculum in the curriculum in the core achieving targets core subjects at the primary level, far exceeding the original target of 90 schools. This is due subjects at the primary level to the decision to scale it up across Grades 1 to 4 amongst all schools in the country during (Number) the life of the project. 7 May/2019 22 25-Jul-2024 22 18-Feb-2025 22 Apr/2025 Comments on Using the Teach methodology, the correct value for the baseline should have been 20.30 PDO 2: Increase in the achieving targets percent. An updated on this was provided in ISR #14. The final Teach observation conducted percentage of pilot school during Term 3 of academic year 2021-2022 has been completed and showed that 21.75 teachers meeting standards percent of teachers are achieving the standards. Thus, this implies a 1.45 percentage point in student-centered teaching increase in teachers achieving the standards. The final result following the impact practices. (Text) assessment report was expected to be reported on this this final ISR, but unfortunately is yet to be updated and will therefore be reported on in the Borrower Completion Report and Implementation Completion Report (ICR). Strengthen the teaching capacity and improve the learning environment of the UG FHS Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year PDO 3: Medicine program at Criteria are not Dec/2016 Two out of 25-Jul-2024 Two out of 18-Feb-2025 Criteria are Apr/2025 the University of Guyana met. three criteria three criteria met. meets CAAM-HP have been have been accreditation criteria for completed; completed. Mar 14, 2025 Page 4 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) course delivery, student whilst one is in performance assessment and progress. facilities. (Text) More precisely, 41 of 70 faculty members completed the University of Michigan course (course delivery) and the assessment strategy is complete and being implemented (student assessment). In progress, however, is the construction of the UG-FHS building which began in November 2023. Comments on Two of three criteria that need to be fulfilled under PDO indicator 3 in order to meet the end achieving targets target have been achieved, specifically: (i) half of the FHS UG lecturers are trained; and (ii) the assessment strategy is complete and being implemented. Criteria (iii) completion of the Mar 14, 2025 Page 5 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) FHS UG building, is in progress but not yet achieved, though full accreditation has already been granted. Therefore, support is being provided to ensure completion of the UG-FHS building in order to meet all three criteria by by April 30, 2025. 6.2 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1: Integrated Curriculum Reform. Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year No Dec/2016 Yes 25-Jul-2024 Yes 18-Feb-2025 Yes Apr/2025 IRI 1: Curriculum framework Comments on This indicator has been achieved, and the curriculum framework informed the development developed. (Yes/No) achieving targets of the new curriculum. No Dec/2016 All core 25-Jul-2024 All core 18-Feb-2025 All core Apr/2023 subjects subjects subjects IRI 2: Core subjects' curricula revised. revised. revised. revised. (Text) Comments on This indicator has been achieved. To date, curriculum revision has been fully completed for achieving targets Nursery 1-2 and Grades 1-9 for all core subjects. No Dec/2016 Yes 25-Jul-2024 Yes 18-Feb-2025 Yes Apr/2023 IRI 3: Nursery curriculum Comments on This indicator has been achieved, as the curriculum for Nursery 1-2 has been fully revised. revised. (Yes/No) achieving targets 0.00 Dec/2016 1,458.00 25-Jul-2024 1,458.00 18-Feb-2025 1,417.00 Apr/2025 IRI 4: Teachers trained in the Comments on The end target has been exceeded, with 1,458 teachers having been trained against a target new curriculum. (Number) achieving targets of 1,417. IRI 5: Mathematics and No Dec/2016 Mathematics 25-Jul-2024 Mathematics 18-Feb-2025 Mathematics Apr/2025 English learning assessments and and and English aligned with the revised English learning English learning learning curriculum (Text) assessments assessments assessments Mar 14, 2025 Page 6 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) are aligned to are aligned to aligned to the the revised the revised revised curriculum. curriculum. curriculum. Comments on This indicator has been achieved. achieving targets IE not Dec/2016 Baseline and 25-Jul-2024 Baseline and 18-Feb-2025 The results Apr/2025 developed. endline data endline data from the has been has been Impact collected and is collected and is Evaluation on IRI 6: Impact Evaluation on being analysed. being analysed. teaching teaching practices. (Text) practices are analyzed. Comments on Progress on the impact evaluation has continued and is expected to conclude prior to project achieving targets closing. No such Dec/2016 Survey to be 25-Jul-2024 Survey 18-Feb-2025 Survey Apr/2025 survey exists. done in year 7. complete conducted and Survey results IRI 8: Survey of teachers’ and instrument to analyzed. parents’ satisfaction with the be designed new curriculum and teaching together with methods conducted in IE conjunction with the Impact consultant(s). Evaluation. (Text) Comments on A survey of teachers' and parents’ satisfaction with the new curriculum and teaching achieving targets methods has been conducted and results will be shared in the Implementation Completion Report (ICR). 0.00 Dec/2016 1,458.00 25-Jul-2024 1,458.00 18-Feb-2025 1,477.00 Apr/2025 Teachers recruited or trained Comments on Currently, 1,458 teachers have been trained, almost meeting the end target for the indicator (Number) achieving targets (1,477). Mar 14, 2025 Page 7 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) Number of teachers 0.00 Dec/2016 0.00 25-Jul-2024 0.00 18-Feb-2025 0.00 Apr/2025 recruited (Number) Teachers recruited or 0.00 1,420.00 1,420.00 1,262.00 trained - Female (RMS Comments on To date, 1,420 of the trained teachers were female, exceeding the target of 1,262. requirement) achieving targets (Number) 0.00 Dec/2016 1,458.00 25-Jul-2024 1,458.00 18-Feb-2025 1,477.00 Apr/2025 Number of teachers Comments on Currently, 1,458 teachers have been trained, almost meeting the end target for the indicator trained (Number) achieving targets (1,477). 0.00 Dec/2016 27,041.00 25-Jul-2024 27,041.00 18-Feb-2025 25,367.00 Apr/2025 Students benefiting from Comments on Following the remaining rollout and teacher training for grades 1-4, the end target for the direct interventions to achieving targets indicator has been met, with 27,041 (of which, 11,737 female students) students benefitting enhance learning (Number) from direct interventions to enhance learning against a target of 25,367. Students benefiting 4,559.00 11,737.00 11,737.00 12,683.00 from direct Comments on To date, 11,737 female students have benefitted from direct interventions to enhance interventions to achieving targets learning, falling short of the end target (12,683). However, this number is expected to be enhance learning - updated and increase prior to project closing. Female (Number) Component 2: Strengthening the Teaching Capacity and Improving the Learning Environment for the University of Guyana Faculty of Health Sciences. Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year IRI 9: Lecturers at the UG 0.00 Dec/2016 41.00 25-Jul-2024 41.00 18-Feb-2025 35.00 Apr/2025 Health Sciences faculty Comments on The target for this indicator has been surpassed (117 percent of target achievement). trained in course delivery. achieving targets (Number) No Dec/2016 Construction of 25-Jul-2024 Construction of 18-Feb-2025 Construction Apr/2025 IRI 10: Health Science facility UG-FHS in UG-FHS in completed. constructed. (Text) progress. progress. Mar 14, 2025 Page 8 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) Comments on Works are ongoing and expected to be completed by Project closing. achieving targets No such Dec/2016 Baseline survey 25-Jul-2024 Baseline survey 18-Feb-2025 Survey Apr/2023 IRI 11: Beneficiaries’ survey survey exists. conducted and conducted and conducted and to University of Guyana results results results Health Sciences Faculty: analyzed. analyzed. analyzed. students, lecturers and Comments on Baseline data has been collected and analysed, and the report was presented to FHS in Sept. administrative staff. (Text) achieving targets 2018. The final beneficiaries' survey is dependent on the completion of the UG-FHS building (IRI 10), and will be administered, collected and analyzed then. IRI 12: Direct project 0.00 Dec/2016 43,968.00 25-Jul-2024 43,968.00 18-Feb-2025 26,854.00 Apr/2025 beneficiaries (IDA Core Comments on The end target of 26,854 direct project beneficiaries has been surpassed, with 43,968 (56% of Indicator). (Number) achieving targets which are female) beneficiaries directly benefitting from the project. Female beneficiaries 0.00 56.00 56.00 50.00 (Percentage) Mar 14, 2025 Page 9 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) 7. DATA ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 7.1 Cumulative Disbursements 7.2 Disbursements (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed IDA-60090 Effective 13.33 13.18 0.00 11.18 2.25 83.24% 7.3 Key Dates (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Signing Effectiveness Orig. Closing Rev. Closing IDA-60090 Effective 28-Apr-2017 22-Jun-2017 08-Aug-2017 30-Apr-2023 30-Apr-2025 8. KEY DATES Mar 14, 2025 Page 10 of 11 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (P159519) Key Events Planned Actual Approval 28-Apr-2017 28-Apr-2017 Effectiveness 08-Aug-2017 08-Aug-2017 Mid-Term Review No. 01 30-Oct-2020 23-Oct-2020 Operation Closing/Cancellation 30-Apr-2025 9. RESTRUCTURING HISTORY Restructuring Level 2 Approved on 19-Apr-2022 10. ASSOCIATED OPERATION(S) There are no associated operations Mar 14, 2025 Page 11 of 11