The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA | Cameroon | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing (IPF) | FY 2018 | Seq No: 12 | Archived on 20-Dec-2024 | ISR02604 Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Basic Education 1. OBJECTIVE 1.1 Development Objective Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval package on 01-May-2018) The Project Development Objective is to improve equitable access to quality basic education, with a focus on selected disadvantaged areas 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. 1 on 24-Nov-2020) The Project Development Objective is to improve equitable access to quality basic education, with a focus on selected disadvantaged areas 2. COMPONENTS Name Improving Access, Quality and Education System Management:(Cost 176,870,000.00) Improving School Effectiveness through Performance-based Financing:(Cost 31,190,000.00) Institutional Strengthening and Project Management:(Cost 29,190,000.00) Contingent emergency response component (CERC):(Cost 0.00) 3. OVERALL RATINGS Name Previous Current Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Dec 20, 2024 Page 1 of 14 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate 4. KEY ISSUES & STATUS 4.1 Implementation Status and Key Decisions This Implementation Status Report (ISR) is based on the findings from an implementation support mission from November 25 to December 2, 2024, a pre-mission field visit held from November 18 to 22, 2024, the Government’s Project progress report as well as available information as of December 10, 2024, and a financial management supervision mission was also carried out on August 08 and 26, 2024. Overall implementation progress remains Moderately Satisfactory (MS), as project activities continue to advance mostly in line with expectations and progress toward the achievement of PDO is still Satisfactory (S). The following provides an overview of implementation progress by component. Progress by Component 1. Component 1 (Improving Access, Quality, and Education System Management): Significant progress was reported for each of the PBCs that are part of the IPF-PBCs ERSP project (Education Reform Support Project (P160926) project) since the last mission in April 2024. Progress in Pillars 1, 2, 3, 4, 7a, and 7b includes several key achievements: (i) Recruitment of 15,000 teachers, with the 6th wave of recruitment currently underway, (ii) Training of 33,204 new teachers in the use of the new curriculum, bringing the total number of trained teachers to 94,809, (iii) Acquisition and distribution of 2,202,515 additional essential textbooks (replenishment) at level 2 is underway, which will increase the total number of essential textbooks to 11,695,553 in all public elementary schools, (iv) Support for 623 CPCs (grants and pedagogical support) meeting level 1 standards, enrolling 29,994 children, (v) Support for 544 schools hosting refugees and displaced persons, including grants and psychosocial support training. Furthermore, the implementation of the teaching policy is progressing well. Job-posting has enhanced the role of the decentralized regional offices (DREB) in deploying teachers based on need. The time required to produce teachers' registration numbers has been significantly reduced, from nearly 4 years in 2018 to less than 6 months in 2024. The systematization of job mapping and the institutionalization of unannounced missions to check teacher effectiveness have resulted in major efficiency gains, including the suspension of 2,500 fictitious jobs. 2. Component 2 (Improving School Effectiveness through Performance-based Financing): As of November 30th, 2024, a total of 5,200 schools are enrolled in the BPF program for fiscal 2024-2025, compared to 4,103 schools for fiscal 2023-2024. These 5,200 schools cover the country's 10 regions, 57/58 departments and 311/360 arrondissements. The project reported a total of 4,560 FBP accounts opened at CAMPOST for structures under FBP contract: 10 DREBs, 57 DDEBs, 274 IAEBs and 4,222 schools. However, insecurity in the North-West and South-West (NWSW) continues to impact regular teacher presence in schools and the smooth delivery of projects activities. A specific implementation protocol was defined along with a risk management plan for schools in low-risk zones in the NWSW. For high-risk zone, activities are still suspended. An agreement has been established with the PIU to carry out periodic monitoring of the school situation in the NWSW regions in order to integrate them progressively in the PBF. Dec 20, 2024 Page 2 of 14 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) 3. Component 3 (Institutional Strengthening and Project Management): Regarding the project coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation, the government has finalized and shared the 2025 Annual Work Plan. The national steering committee meeting is scheduled for December 18, 2024. The World Bank comments and no objection on the AWP is being finalized. Additionally, under the MoU between UNESCO and the project, staff from the Directorate of Planning and Statistics (Ministry of Basic Education) have benefited from various capacity strengthening activities to set up and to decentralize an effective EMIS. Capacities of implementing agencies and PCU have been strongly built through various activities including direct training to ministerial staff leading Pillars 1 to 7, benchmarking to learn from best practices in late registration of students without birth certificate and Community-driven ECE (under preparation - for February 2025 in Maroc and Mozambique) and Effective Education Monitoring and Information System (EMIS). The project has also supported the key advisory, technical, and capacity-building activities to assist the Government to prepare, finalize and endorsed its Education and Training Sector Strategy (ETSS-2030). Next steps A follow-up field visit will be scheduled for late March or early April 2025 to assess the implementation progress of the key action plan agreed upon with both national and decentralized education authorities regarding PBF and CPCs. The next supervision mission is planned for May 2025. 5. SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK-RATING TOOL Rating at Approval Last Approved Rating Risk Category Approval Package - ISR Seq. 011 - 03 Jun Proposed Rating 01 May 2018 2024 Political and Governance High Substantial Substantial Macroeconomic Substantial Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Moderate Moderate Sustainability Fiduciary High Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate Stakeholders Low Low Low Other Substantial Moderate Moderate Dec 20, 2024 Page 3 of 14 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Overall Substantial Moderate Moderate Dec 20, 2024 Page 4 of 14 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) 6. RESULTS 6.1 PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes MAPPED PDO INDICATORS Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year 43.00 Oct/2017 73.00 29-Mar-2024 86 13-Dec-2024 95.00 Dec/2026 Comments on This result is based on the Basic Education Ministry's HR database certified the Tierce Party Public primary schools with at achieving targets verification Agency for DLIs. National Statistic Yearbook usually captured results of N-1 least 3 state paid teachers calendar Year. During MTR agreement has been made to consider HR database for the (only schools enrolling more verification after certification by Directorate in charge of Statistics and Planning than 100 pupils) (Nationwide) (DPPC_MINEDUB). 2023-2024 Statistical Yearbook has begun and will be finalized by the end (Percentage) PBC of December 2024. A DLIs verification report is expected by mid-December 2024 to certified results for the 5th and 6th years of this DLI1 on teacher recruitment. An update will be provided in the next ISR. 0 Oct/2017 50% des élèves 30-Jun-2023 At least 90% of 13-Dec-2024 (a) At least Dec/2026 du Niveau 1 students of 90% of (SIL/Classe 1, Level 1 (SIL / students of CP/Classe 2), Class 1 CP / Level 1 (SIL / Students having essential 48% du Niveau Class 2) and Class 1 textbooks (based on the new 2 (CE1/Classe Level 2 (CE1 / CP/Class 2), curriculum) at public primary 3, CE2/Classe Class 3 CE2 / Level 2 (CE1 / level (Nationwide) (Text) PBC 4) et 51 % du Class 4) have Class 3 CE2/ Niveau 3 the package of Class 4) and (CM1/Cl 4, three (3) Level 3 (CM1 / CM2/Cl6) essential Class 5 Page 5 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) disposent du textbooks (b) CM2/Class 6) package de 3 At least 50% of have the manuels students of package of essentiels Level 3 (CM1 / three (3) Class 5 CM2 / essential Class 6) have textbooks the package of three (3) essential textbooks Comments on This results is based on the provisional 2023-2024 statistical yearbook. Data validation for the achieving targets 2023-2024 Statistical will be finalized by the end of December 2024. An update will be provided in the next ISR. Pre-primary enrollment in 8,360.00 Oct/2017 32,549.00 29-Mar-2024 36,818.00 13-Dec-2024 38,360.00 Dec/2026 Community Pre-school Comments on This results is based on the provisional 2023-2024 statistical yearbook. Data validation for the Centers in rural areas achieving targets 2023-2024 Statistical will be finalized by the end of December 2024. An update will be (Number) PBC provided in the next ISR. Boys (Number) 4,180.00 Oct/2017 16,345.00 29-Mar-2024 18,465.00 13-Dec-2024 19,180.00 Dec/2026 Girls (Number) 4,180.00 Oct/2017 16,204.00 29-Mar-2024 18,353.00 13-Dec-2024 19,180.00 Dec/2026 24.00 Oct/2018 24.00 30-Jun-2023 30.20% 13-Dec-2024 35.00 Dec/2026 Share of learners at the end of primary who reach the Comments on Identifying a methodology for data collection have caused some delays in the monitoring of minimum proficiency level of achieving targets this indicator. PASEC 2014 data were used to assess the baseline (2018) of 24%. PASEC 2019 reading (Percentage) PBC showed that 30.2% learners achieve at least "level 4" of the reading proficiency scale at the end of primary. An update will be provided in the next ISR. Public primary schools 0.00 Oct/2017 222.00 30-Jun-2023 300.00 13-Dec-2024 400.00 Dec/2026 receiving package of grant Comments on The MINEDUC activity report indicates that 300 public primary schools in refugee-affected funding and school level achieving targets areas received training in psychosocial support and resource management. 246 of the 300 interventions in refugee- received grants in June 2024. affected areas (Number) PBC Page 6 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Note: We noticed that there is a one year gap between targets from the Parent project (P160926, 2018-2024) to the additional financing (P172885, 2024-2026). The parent project expected results from Year 2, whereas the additional financing project expected results from year 1, which causes delays in achieving this indicator. Pupils enrolled in public 0.00 98,808.00 151,817.00 200,000.00 primary schools Comments on Note: We noticed that there is a one year gap between targets from the Parent project receiving package of achieving targets (P160926, 2018-2024) to the additional financing (P172885, 2024-2026). The parent project grant funding and expected results from Year 2, whereas the additional financing project expected results from school level year 1, which causes delays in achieving this indicator. interventions in refugee-affected areas (Number) Refugee pupils enrolled 0.00 33,576.00 37,740.00 24,000.00 in public primary schools receiving package of grant funding and school level interventions in refugee-affected areas (Number) 0.00 Aug/2020 292.00 30-Jun-2023 300.00 13-Dec-2024 300.00 Dec/2026 Comments on The MINEDUC activity report indicates that 300 public primary schools in displaced people- Public primary schools achieving targets affected areas received training in psychosocial support and resource management. 298 of the receiving package of grant 300 received grants in June 2024. funding and school level interventions in displaced Note: We noticed that there is a one year gap between targets from the Parent project people-affected areas (P160926, 2018-2024) to the additional financing (P172885, 2024-2026). The parent project (Number) PBC expected results from Year 3, whereas the additional financing project expected results from year 2. Page 7 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) 6.2 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Improving Access, Quality and Education System Management Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Displaced people and people 0 13-Dec-2024 in host communities provided Comments on This is a new intermediate indicator CRIs added as part of the CRI retrofit process led by the with services and livelihoods achieving targets region. The project has recently started to monitor it. So, Next ISR or the following will provide (Number of people) CRI data based on National Statistical Institute and PIU reports. Displaced people and 0 13-Dec-2024 people in host Comments on This is a new intermediate indicator CRIs added as part of the CRI retrofit process led by the communities provided achieving targets region. The project has recently started to monitor it. So, Next ISR or the following will provide with services and data based on National Statistical Institute and PIU reports. livelihoods – Youth (Number of people) CRI Displaced people and 0 13-Dec-2024 people in host Comments on This is a new intermediate indicator CRIs added as part of the CRI retrofit process led by the communities provided achieving targets region. The project has recently started to monitor it. So, Next ISR or the following will provide with services and data based on National Statistical Institute and PIU reports. livelihoods – Female (Number of people) CRI 0.00 Aug/2020 112,355.00 25-Apr-2024 115,355 13-Dec-2024 123,000.00 Dec/2026 Teachers recruited or trained Comments on The data presented are those that have been updated. Since the last ISR, 3,000 teachers have (Number) PBC achieving targets been recruited from the 5th recruitment wave. Page 8 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Number of teachers 0.00 Aug/2020 12,000.00 25-Apr-2024 15,000.00 13-Dec-2024 18,000.00 Dec/2026 recruited (Number) Teachers recruited or 0.00 56,515.00 56,515.00 61,500.00 trained - Female (RMS requirement) (Number) 0.00 Aug/2020 112,355.00 25-Apr-2024 112,355.00 13-Dec-2024 123,000.00 Dec/2026 Number of teachers Comments on No change since the last ISR. An update will be provided in the next ISR. trained (Number) achieving targets 0.00 Aug/2020 5,196,544.00 29-Mar-2024 5,326,474.00 13-Dec-2024 8,600,000.00 Dec/2026 Students benefiting from direct interventions to Comments on This results is based on the provisional 2023-2024 statistical yearbook. Data validation for the enhance learning (Number) achieving targets 2023-2024 Statistical will be finalized by the end of December 2024. An update will be provided in the next ISR. Students benefiting 0.00 2,467,234.00 2,532,505.00 4,300,000.00 from direct interventions to enhance learning - Female (Number) Early Childhood 0.00 Sep/2020 32,549.00 29-Mar-2024 36,818.00 13-Dec-2024 38,360.00 Dec/2026 Education (ECE) – Total (Number) Primary Education – 0.00 Sep/2020 5,155,547.00 29-Mar-2024 5,289,656.00 13-Dec-2024 8,561,640.00 Dec/2026 Total (Number) Early Childhood 0.00 Sep/2020 16,204.00 29-Mar-2024 18,353.00 13-Dec-2024 19,180.00 Dec/2026 Education (ECE) – Female (Number) Primary Education – 0.00 Sep/2020 2,446,722.00 29-Mar-2024 2,514,152.00 13-Dec-2024 4,280,820.00 Dec/2026 Female (Number) Teacher trainers of MINESEC 0.00 Oct/2017 2,631.00 29-Mar-2024 2,913.00 13-Dec-2024 4,500.00 Jun/2023 Page 9 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) trained on the new Comments on This results is based on the provisional 2023-2024 statistical yearbook. curriculum (Number) achieving targets Community pre-school 0.00 Oct/2017 557.00 29-Mar-2024 975.00 13-Dec-2024 1,000.00 Dec/2026 centers in rural areas meeting Comments on This result is based on the updated school map and PBC 4 project activities report as of June quality standards (DLI4) achieving targets 2024. (Number) No Oct/2017 No 30-Jun-2023 No 13-Dec-2024 Yes Dec/2026 Integrated Statistical Comments on Yearbook available at national achieving targets The provisional 2023-2024 statistical yearbook is available. Data validation for the 2023-2024 level (Yes/No) PBC yearbook will be finalized by the end of December 2024. An update will be provided in the next ISR. Community Pre-schools 0.00 Aug/2018 5,583.00 25-Apr-2024 5,260.00 13-Dec-2024 6,400.00 Dec/2026 Centers (CPCs) and public Comments on The results decreased from 5,583 to 5,260 due to data regularization upon noticing an primary schools engaging achieving targets overestimation in the initial data collection exercise, which was based on the project progress communities in school-level report from the last quarter of 2023. management (Number) Primary-level teachers 0.00 Aug/2020 0.00 30-Jun-2023 0.00 13-Dec-2024 2,500.00 Dec/2026 receiving continuous coaching Comments on This will be based on the TEACH/COACH interventions, planned for 2025. An update will be by relevant pedagogical achieving targets provided in the next ISR. supervision chain of MINEDUB (Number) MINEDUB sub-divisional 0.00 Aug/2020 0.00 30-Jun-2023 0.00 13-Dec-2024 85.00 Dec/2026 inspectors and MINEDUB Comments on This will be based on the TEACH/COACH interventions, planned for 2025. An update will be head teachers who achieve achieving targets provided in the next ISR. reliability in classroom observation (as measured by the performance exam at the end of the training) (Percentage) Large scale learning 0.00 Aug/2020 1.00 30-Jun-2023 1.00 13-Dec-2024 4.00 Dec/2026 Page 10 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) assessments completed at the Comments on The assessment at the secondary level is ongoing and results will be published by the end of primary and the secondary achieving targets December 2024. An update will be provided in the next ISR. level (Number) Improving School Effectiveness through Performance-based Financing Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Number of schools included in 20.00 Oct/2017 4,426.00 25-Apr-2024 4,103.00 13-Dec-2024 5,000.00 Dec/2026 the Performance-based Comments on The results decreased from 4,426 to 4,103 due to data regularization upon noticing an Financing (PBF) school grants achieving targets overestimation in the initial data collection exercise, which was based on the project progress program (Number) report from the last quarter of 2023. Percentage of schools 0.00 Oct/2017 50.00 30-Jun-2023 57.40 13-Dec-2024 75.00 Dec/2026 included in PBF program Comments on This is based on data from the project report. improving their performance achieving targets (Percentage) Institutional Strengthening and Project Management Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) Closing Period Indicator Name Value Month/Year Value Date Value Date Value Month/Year Impact evaluation of No Aug/2020 Yes 25-Apr-2024 No 13-Dec-2024 Yes Dec/2026 Performance-based Financing Comments on The impact evaluation of the Performance-based Financing program has not been undertaken. available and disclosed achieving targets The April 2024 recorded "YES" by error. An update will be provided in the next ISR. (Yes/No) 6.3 Performance Based Conditions (PBC) Page 11 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) PBC Name Baseline Closing Period Value Date Value Date 1:Public primary Value 43.00 73.00 86 schools with at least 3 state paid teachers (only schools enrolling Allocated 29-Mar-2024 13-Dec-2024 more than 100 0.00 0.00 4,330,000.00 Amount pupils) (Nationwide) (Percentage) Not Due PBC allocation 30,000,000.00 2:Teachers Value 0.00 112,355.00 112,355.00 recruited or trained Allocated 25-Apr-2024 13-Dec-2024 (Number) 0.00 0.00 3,000,000.00 Achieved Amount PBC allocation 20,000,000.00 50% des élèves du (a) At least 90% of Niveau 1 (SIL/Classe students of Level 1 3:Students having 1, CP/Classe 2), 48% (SIL / Class 1 CP/Class essential textbooks du Niveau 2 2), Level 2 (CE1 / (based on the new (CE1/Classe 3, Class 3 CE2/ Class 4) curriculum) at Value 0 CE2/Classe 4) et 51 30-Jun-2023 13-Dec-2024 and Level 3 (CM1 / public primary level % du Niveau 3 Class 5 CM2/Class 6) (Nationwide) (Text) (CM1/Cl 4, have the package of Achieved CM2/Cl6) disposent three (3) essential du package de 3 textbooks manuels essentiels Page 12 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Allocated 0.00 0.00 4,650,000.00 Amount PBC allocation 32,000,000.00 4:Pre-primary Value 8,360.00 32,549.00 36,818.00 enrollment in Community Pre- school Centers in Allocated 29-Mar-2024 13-Dec-2024 rural areas 0.00 0.00 3,000,000.00 Amount (Number) Partially achieved PBC allocation 20,000,000.00 5:Share of learners Value 24.00 24.00 30.20 at the end of primary who reach the minimum Allocated 30-Jun-2023 13-Dec-2024 proficiency level of 0.00 0.00 3,000,000.00 reading Amount (Percentage) Achieved PBC allocation 21,000,000.00 6:Integrated Value No No Oui Statistical Yearbook available at national Allocated 30-Jun-2023 13-Dec-2024 level (Yes/No) 0.00 0.00 2,150,000.00 Amount Achieved PBC allocation 15,000,000.00 7:Public primary Value 0.00 222.00 30-Jun-2023 300.00 13-Dec-2024 Page 13 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) schools receiving package of grant funding and school level interventions Allocated 0.00 0.00 2,830,000.00 in refugee-affected Amount areas (Number) Achieved PBC allocation 19,000,000.00 8:Public primary Value 0.00 292.00 292.00 schools receiving package of grant funding and school level interventions Allocated 30-Jun-2023 13-Dec-2024 in displaced people- 0.00 0.00 2,330,000.00 Amount affected areas (Number) Partially achieved PBC allocation 14,000,000.00 Page 14 of 16 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) 7. DATA ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 7.1 Cumulative Disbursements 7.2 Disbursements (by loan) Loan/Credit/TF Status Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed Historical Disbursed IDA-67930 Effective 45.00 42.69 0.00 27.78 13.86 66.71% 45.00 IDA-62160 Effective 100.00 87.52 0.00 53.95 34.76 60.82% 100.00 IDA-D2910 Effective 30.00 27.43 0.00 18.24 9.58 65.55% 30.00 TF-B4072 Effective 22.55 22.55 0.00 16.50 6.05 73.16% 22.55 7.3 Key Dates (by loan) Dec 20, 2024 Page 13 of 14 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report CAMEROON Education Reform Support Project (P160926) Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Signing Effectiveness Orig. Closing Rev. Closing IDA-62160 Effective 01-May-2018 09-Apr-2019 26-Jun-2019 29-Dec-2023 31-Dec-2026 IDA-67930 Effective 24-Nov-2020 19-Aug-2021 19-Aug-2021 31-Dec-2026 31-Dec-2026 IDA-D2910 Effective 01-May-2018 09-Apr-2019 26-Jun-2019 29-Dec-2023 31-Dec-2026 TF-B4072 Effective 24-Nov-2020 19-Aug-2021 19-Aug-2021 31-Dec-2026 31-Dec-2026 8. KEY DATES Key Events Planned Actual Approval 01-May-2018 01-May-2018 Effectiveness 26-Jun-2019 26-Jun-2019 Mid-Term Review No. 01 31-Mar-2023 19-Jun-2023 Operation Closing/Cancellation 31-Dec-2026 9. RESTRUCTURING HISTORY Restructuring Level 2 Approved on 07-Nov-2023 10. ASSOCIATED OPERATION(S) There are no associated operations Dec 20, 2024 Page 14 of 14