Nepal: Supporting School Sector Development Plan

Education / Education sector development - Secondary

Building on its extensive experience in education, ADB will support the government''s SSDP through results-based lending (RBL). Program-based lending was the appropriate modality to support the School Sector Reform Program (SSRP) which preceded SSDP. The RBL modality is most suited to support the SSDP because (i) the government has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to implementing reforms in critical areas; (ii) the program requires greater emphasis on translating policies already in place to implementation; and (iii) the JFPs have agreed on a single results framework and a common disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs) framework with the government which increases harmonization, reduces administrative burden and enables effective focus on results. ADB and other JFPs have coordinated due diligence assessments, harmonized key DLIs, and agreed on joint program reviews. A program action plan (PAP) will support timely DLI achievement. ADB's due diligence assessments provide reasonable assurance for effective achievement of results through RBL, with measures to strengthen program systems.

The SSDP builds on achievements and lessons from the SSRP. Midterm and final evaluations of the SSRP noted that while much progress had been made in access and equity in basic education, quality needed a stronger focus. The SSDP will support comprehensive interventions to improve the quality of basic education and expand access to quality secondary education. The SSDP will ensure that all newly built schools and classrooms meet disaster risk resilience standards. The National Reconstruction Authority is implementing a large-scale post-earthquake program for reconstruction and retrofitting of schools in 31 districts, including an ADB project.

ADB has been a leading development partner in education and the program will build on this experience. ADB funding will provide much-needed financial leverage for more investments to improve access to and quality of school education, with particular focus on secondary education. ADB financing will add value through key initiatives, such as the model school program, examination reform, provision of subject teachers, and improved school grant management system. The program will catalyze capacity building and system strengthening in the sector. ADB and other JFPs will adopt strong mitigation measures to address risks in public financial management, procurement, social and environment safeguards, and governance in school education. ADB will facilitate innovative knowledge solutions to implement key SSDP components such as (i) ICT-enriched teaching and learning; (ii) teacher professional development; (iii) activity-based pedagogy for math, science, and English; and (iv) model school development.

Access to basic and secondary schools improved

Quality of school education improved

Model school program pilot tested

School system governance and management improved

Till date full provision of math, science, and English teachers has been made in 3,225 basic schools and 1,557 secondary schools.

According to the Consolidated Flash Report 2020/21, female teachers account for 20.8% of all secondary (grades 9-12) teachers.

Revised pro-poor scholarship scheme is implemented nationwide for secondary grades nationwide. Until FY 2019/20, 9,047 students have received pro-poor scholarships in grades 11 and 12, of which pro-science is 1176 with girls 49% in science and 65% in non-science subjects, respectively. Data for scholarship distribution in FY2020/21 is being collected.

Till date, 6,475 teachers have been trained in the first 15-day package of science, mathematics and English subjects.

CEHRD is collecting data on the number of schools accessing the online portal.

Framework for conducting standardized test for grade 8 by Local Governments has been approved by the MOEST.

NEB has completed preparation of repository (item bank) of 3,000 test items for mathematics, science, and English subjects for grade 8.

Model school program has been implemented in 200 community schools offering grades 1 10 or grades 1 12.

It has been verified by IVA that all the model schools have access to the MOEST's online learning portal Sikai Chautari which includes new ICT resources and e-learning materials. CEHRD has asked model schools to make the portal accessible to all students and use it for blended teaching-learning.

Web-based EMIS with disaggregated data for gender and social groups is operational. The system is being continuously improved through support from the SSDP TA.

Second round of EMIS verification has been completed by independent third party. The report indicates more than 95% accuracy of student and teacher data in the EMIS. Similarly, when compared to the first round of EMIS verification, the report indicates that there is marginal decrease discrepancy between data entered into EMIS and the information maintained by schools as enrolment record.

As per the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) Audit Financial Report of SSDP for FY 2019/20, out of the total SSDP expenses of NPR 97,398.90 million, the total ineligible expenses are NPR 246.19 million, which is only 0.25% of total expenditure. The audit report of FY FY 2020/21 is being reviewed and update will be made accordingly.

he government has reported that at least 631 local governments (80%) have education officer of at least level 6 or above.