Bangladesh : MFF - Secondary Education Sector Investment Program (Facility Concept)

Education /

The government acknowledges the need to develop a long-term strategy to meet demand for higher quality and more relevant secondary education. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has developed, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a NEP implementation strategy for secondary education that draws on extensive stakeholder consultation. It has built upon the NEP implementation strategy to develop a 10-year secondary education sector road map, 20132023, which adopts the phased implementation of reforms to modernize curriculum, examinations, and teacher development, as well as to establish and apply common quality standards for secondary schools and teachers. Extensive investment in ICT-based teaching facilities, science laboratories and equipment, other learning materials, and teacher training will support these reforms. The road map further plans to intensify gender-equitable and pro-poor stipend programs using improved methodology. It suggests expanding school infrastructure according to need and recruiting better-qualified teachers with revised selection procedures. Institutional reform to decentralized education management will redefine and strengthen the roles and responsibilities of field offices and school management committees. Extensive capacity development in management at the center and in the field will strengthen performance monitoring and the efficient use of resources. The government projects an additional 3.5 million secondary school students by 2023, to be accommodated by expanding teacher ranks by 145,000 and the number of schools by 10,000. Success in implementing reform will help meet parents' and beneficiaries' aspirations for post-primary education that undergirds a better life and higher income prospects.

Increased employability of secondary education graduates.

A more efficient and equitable and higher-quality secondary education system.

Cycle completion rate for grades 6-10 increased from 46.4% (F:43.6%, Madrasah:51.6%) in 2011 to 64.24% (F:65.14%, Madrasah: 55.12%) in 2020.

Secondary School Certificate (SSC) students passing with A and A+ were 37.99% in 2020.

Percentage of higher secondary certificate students passing with A and A+ were 45.19% in 2020.

Enhanced quality and relevance of secondary education

More equitable access and better retention

Strengthened secondary education management and governance

National Curriculum Policy Framework was approved in 2017. The revision of grade 6 curriculum completed in 2021. The revised grade 6 curriculum was piloted in 2022 and will be implemented nationwide in 2023. The revised grade 7 curriculum is also planned for implementation in 2023. NASS 2019 report was published in 2021.

The framework for NASS 2021 was approved by MOE in 2022. NASS 2021 remains yet to be conducted.

ICT learning centers and e-learning modules were piloted at 710 secondary schools (615, of which were girls schools) and madrasas (95). The activities will be scaled up in 2022-2023.

640 secondary schools (548, of which 5 were girls schools) and madrasas (92) are being equipped for implementation of the vocational courses for grade 9-10 students since January 2020.

Education Institution Construction Policy Guidelines (which incorporate the Maintenance Policy for School Facilities) and the Guidelines for Minimum Construction Standards were prepared but remain yet to be approved by MOE.

The implementation of the harmonized stipend program started in 2021. Annually, about 4 million students benefit from monthly stipends and 30,000 secondary institutions receive tuition subvention.

TMED approved the MPO rationalization plan and MPO implementation guidelines for madrasas in November 2020, while SHED approved the MPO rationalization plan and MPO implementation guidelines for secondary schools and colleges in March 2021.

The Secondary Education Development Program was prepared and approved in 2018, adopting a sector-wide approach, and has been under implementation.

The DSHE Capacity Development Plan based on a systematic institutional assessment was submitted to SHED, MOE but remains yet to be approved.

The government will carry out all procurement of goods, works, and consulting services. Goods and civil works will be procured in accordance with ADBs Procurement Guidelines (2012, as amended from time to time). Goods and works valued more than $1 million and $2 million respectively will be procured using International Competitive Bidding and ADBs standard bidding documents, and subject to prior review. Goods and civil works valued below the respective International Competitive Bidding threshold will be procured using the National Competitive Bidding (NCB), in accordance with the governments Public Procurement Act (2006) and Public Procurement Rules (2008) subject to modifications agreed between the government and ADB as set out in the Facility Administration Manual (FAM) and procurement plan. For efficiency and economy, small civil works can be grouped together into larger bid packages, wherever feasible.

Advance contracting and retroactive financing will be considered.