Regional: Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region
The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) supports (i) Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) to address perennial challenges of improving quality of education through enhanced regionalism and mutually beneficial partnerships with regional institutions focused on education priorities articulated in the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2019-2022 (Phase 1); (ii) the development and access to a regional repository platform for open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL); and (iii) small assessments, studies, and exchanges to expand knowledge development and program development in the region.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Borjegren, Per A.S.
Pacific Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Regional -
Sector
- Education
Project Name | Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region | ||||||||||||||||||||
Project Number | 52183-001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Country / Economy | Regional Kiribati Marshall Islands Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu |
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Project Status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||
Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Technical Assistance |
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Source of Funding / Amount |
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Strategic Agendas | Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships |
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Sector / Subsector | Education / Education sector development - Education sector development - social protection initiatives - Pre-primary and primary - Pre-primary and primary - social protection initiatives - Secondary - Secondary - social protection initiatives - Technical and vocational education and training - Tertiary |
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Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||||||||||||||||||
Description | The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) supports (i) Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) to address perennial challenges of improving quality of education through enhanced regionalism and mutually beneficial partnerships with regional institutions focused on education priorities articulated in the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2019-2022 (Phase 1); (ii) the development and access to a regional repository platform for open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL); and (iii) small assessments, studies, and exchanges to expand knowledge development and program development in the region. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | While Pacific DMCs have made significant progress toward universal access to primary education, student learning outcomes remain poor. Results of the 2015 Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) show modest improvements, but greater effort is needed to strengthen learning as a foundational capacity that prepares young people for further education and work. Moreover, quality of education remains a challenge despite an emphasis on quality improvement strategies in many DMCs. A number of constraints identified as impacting on quality include: economic, geographical and political constraints; coordination constraints; capacity and accountability constraints on teachers and education managers; data constraints; social constraints, including issues of gender inequality; and constraints relating to language of instruction. Several factors are thought to have contributed to progress including commitment by governments to development goals, partnerships at all levels, including those between DMCs and development partners, regional cooperation through high level forum and regional institutions, increasing demand for a qualified workforce; integrated national education planning and budgeting; school-based improvement initiatives; curriculum reform; and national polices for early childhood. Pacific DMCs are all challenged by their remoteness, dispersion, and small economies vulnerable to climate change risks and shocks. Strengthened regional mechanisms that encourage Pacific regional institutions coordination and collaboration at the planning and implementation level are key to ensuring that limited financial resources are efficiently and effectively deployed. At the 2017 ADB Annual General Meeting, Pacific governors requested more Pacific-based solutions, underlining the importance of south-south learning and utilization of Pacific institutions and consultants. Regionalism is critical, and the PACREF supports this well. The PacREF that was approved at the Forum Education Ministers Meeting in May 2018 provides the shared priorities for education and training in the region for the next 4 years, while also responding appropriately to global and regional demands. The four key policy areas identified are: (i) High quality, relevant programs are provided for all levels of education, (ii) Learners' needs are met through a broad range of programs and delivery modalities, (iii) Learners at all levels of education achieve their full potential, from early childhood education to skills development; and (iv) The teaching profession is supported and empowered through opportunities for continuous development, shared understanding and accountability. The PACREF was developed over two years by a small working group of the Pacific Heads of Education Systems, chaired by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and funded by ADB with Global Partnership for Education financing. It will be governed to ensure continued Pacific country ownership. Development partners will pool and coordinate funding under the framework supporting a group of identified regional institutions in a coordinated delivery of agreed priority regional goods and services under the framework. Lastly, access to quality and relevant education content that is contextually appropriate to the Pacific region has been a large challenge. Inroads have been made in this area with a few development partners, including ADB, trialing e-learning resources, and the potential usefulness of a regional platform to better promote ODFL have become clear. |
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Impact | Inclusive and equitable quality education ensured and lifelong learning opportunities for all promoted (Sustainable Development Goal 4) |
Project Outcome | |
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Description of Outcome | Regional capacity to improve education outcomes in the Pacific enhanced |
Progress Toward Outcome | The PACREF project facilitation unit has assumed the role of coordinating key regional and international education agencies. Four key policy areas for regional education improvements has been identified and an implementation plan developed and agreed by all PDMCs. Development of e-learning resources for STEM subjects has been identified as a regional priority. |
Implementation Progress | |
Description of Project Outputs | PACREF implementation supported Regional repository and learning management platform for ODFL established Small assessments, studies, and exchanges to expand knowledge development and program development supported. |
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | Funding for PacREF implementation has been secured via regionwide consultations leading to the application and subsequent approval of the Education Sector Program Implementation Grant from the Global Partnership for Education, the project facilitation unit is being strengthened and implementing agencies have initiated preparatory implementation steps. Implementation and procurement plans have been developed for a regional repository and a learning management platform for open, distance, and flexible learning, to be piloted in 20 Fiji schools for subsequent regional dissemination. The responsible ministry in Fiji has been supported in securing cabinet endorsement for the intervention.The concept development and approval of TA 9807-PNG: Improved Technical Vocation Education and Training for Employment, has been supported. |
Geographical Location | Regional |
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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Environmental Aspects | |
Involuntary Resettlement | |
Indigenous Peoples | |
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
During Project Design | |
During Project Implementation |
Responsible ADB Officer | Borjegren, Per A.S. |
Responsible ADB Department | Pacific Department |
Responsible ADB Division | PASP |
Executing Agencies |
Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines |
Timetable | |
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Concept Clearance | 09 Oct 2018 |
Fact Finding | 20 Aug 2018 to 24 Aug 2018 |
MRM | - |
Approval | 29 Nov 2018 |
Last Review Mission | - |
Last PDS Update | 01 Jun 2021 |
TA 9645-REG
Milestones | |||||
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Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
Original | Revised | Actual | |||
29 Nov 2018 | - | 29 Nov 2018 | 31 Dec 2023 | 30 Jun 2025 | - |
Financing Plan/TA Utilization | Cumulative Disbursements | |||||||
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ADB | Cofinancing | Counterpart | Total | Date | Amount | |||
Gov | Beneficiaries | Project Sponsor | Others | |||||
750,000.00 | 18,741,666.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 19,491,666.00 | 01 Apr 2022 | 379,136.97 |
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Title | Document Type | Document Date |
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Proposed Procurement Arrangements for the Transfer of Funds to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization under ADB Technical Assistance for Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region Distribution | Documents Produced Under Grant/Loans/TA | May 2021 |
Strengthening Education in the Pacific Region: Technical Assistance Report | Technical Assistance Reports | Nov 2018 |
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