Bangladesh : Secondary Education Sector Investment Program - Tranche 3

Education / Secondary

Tranche 3 will continue supporting the government's reform of secondary education (grades 6-12) into a system that prepares youths to meet the requirements of a rapidly developing economy. Building on earlier projects supported by ADB and the World Bank and Tranches 1 and 2, Tranche 3 will support (i) implementation of fundamental reforms such as modernization of curriculum and standardization of examination; (ii) advanced teaching in science, math, English, Bangla; and (iii) use of information and communication technology in learning. Harmonized stipend and adolescent student program will contribute to increase access and retention and completion of 6 years' schooling of secondary education. Sector management will be strengthened in decentralization, planning, monitoring and evaluation, procurement, and financial management.

The tranche will support the government's comprehensive Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP) through a sector-wide approach (SWAp). The World Bank will provide parallel cofinancing amounting to $520 million and United Nations agencies will provide technical assistance to SEDP following SWAp arrangements.

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

Student outcomes in secondary education and effectiveness of secondary education system improved

Quality and relevance of secondary education enhanced

equitable access and retention increased

education management and governance strengthened.

1.a. NCTB completed the revision of the grade 6 curriculum and teaching and learning materials and plans to pilot them in the first half of 2022. The grade 6-7 curricula are planned for implementation in 2023.

1.b. By December 2019, 14,444 secondary schools and 5,556 madrasas were equipped with science equipment and furniture, while 5,735 secondary schools and 3,749 madrasas remain yet to be equipped. Follow-up and new CPD training needs to be organized for over 14,000 science teachers in 2022-2023.

1.c. NCTB is in the final stage of developing digital contents for grades 8-10 which will be made available to at least 70% of all secondary institutions through mobile phones, tablets, and computers in 2022. NCTB will start developing digital contents for grades 6-7 in September 2022.

1.d. Pre-vocational program will be implemented in all schools and madrasas by 2023 by updating curricula and textbooks, constructing new laboratories, supplying equipment and furniture, and appointing and training vocational teachers. To implement these activities, scheme documents need to be prepared by NCTB, DSHE, and DME, and approved.

1.e. NASS 2019 report was finalized in October 2021. NASS 2021/2022 will be conducted in 2022.

1.f. MOE approved the Secondary Teacher Development Strategy (renamed from the Secondary Teacher Development Policy) in December 2019.

2.a. 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. The achievement of the target will be verified in 2022.

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

2.c. MOE approved the adolescent student program (ASP) design, implementation arrangements, and costed action plan prepared in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2019.

2.d. A guideline on teachers' incentive has been approved by SHED, MOE in 2019. Yet the incentive mechanism remains yet to be piloted.

3.a. 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.

3.b. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data in EMIS have not been updated. EMIS report with sex-disaggregated data will be published in 2022.

3.c. FD is currently developing remaining iBAS++ modules for DDOs. Once the modules have been completed, training for all DDOs will be organized in 2022/2023.

3.d. All the agencies are registered and have access to e-GP system. Under the five approved schemes, only a small number of non-ICB packages/lots were procured without using e-GP system. Training on e-GP system was organized in January 2022.