PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID)

CONCEPT STAGE

Report No.: AB4304

Project Name / JM Education Transformation Capacity Building
Region / LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
Sector / General education sector (100%)
Project ID / P107407
Borrower(s) / GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA
Implementing Agency / Ministry of Education
Environment Category / [ ] A [ ] B [X] C [ ] FI [ ] TBD (to be determined)
Date PID Prepared / February 26, 2009
Estimated Date of Appraisal Authorization / May 18, 2009
Estimated Date of Board Approval / July 28, 2009

1.  Key development issues and rationale for Bank involvement

Economic growth in Jamaica has been slow. Investment in human capital is necessary to jumpstart Jamaica’s economic development. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is prioritizing education as its main area for development investment. Jamaica has made substantial progress in the education sector over the past four decades, but many challenges remain. There is an urgent need to improve education quality and raise standards if Jamaica is to withstand the deepening impacts of the economic crisis and build a dynamic economy that is globally competitive.

The GOJ has launched an ambitious education reform program, the Education Transformation Program (ETP), to improve the quality and relevance of its education system. The ETP aims to increase accountability throughout the system, devolve decision-making authority to the regional level, increase the capacity of teachers and administrators, and provide more targeted support to schools. Despite severe fiscal constraints, the GOJ has invested a substantial amount on the initial phase of the program, and there is strong bi-partisan and national support for education transformation. The GOJ is now actively seeking additional resources from donors and the private sector.

The ETP calls for the Ministry of Education (MOE) to focus on policy and give greater autonomy and accountability to education regions and schools. This aligns with broader national public sector reform; the Public Sector Modernisation Division, located in the Cabinet Office, has supported the transformation of 11 other public agencies over the last seven years and is working with the MOE to implement the ETP. To complement the conversion of the MOE into a “policy ministry,” the GOJ is establishing a number of independent agencies, including the National Education Inspectorate and the Jamaica Teaching Council. The regional offices will be transformed into Regional Education Authorities, with broad accountability for results in their jurisdiction. Finally, creation of a National Education Trust (NET) is seen as critical for mobilizing both public and private resources, particularly for school infrastructure.

Although the GOJ has begun the process of setting up these agencies, a key challenge over the next three years would be to build up the human resources, institutional structures, and systems required for them to become fully functioning entities. The GOJ has asked the WB to assist with the implementation, which is essential for ensuring that the newly established agencies are capable of providing appropriate support for the ETP.

Rationale for Bank involvement

The World Bank (WB) has extensive experience working in the education sector in Jamaica and has built strong relationships and trust with key stakeholders. The ETP has strong local support, but the reform needs financial and technical support to ensure implementation and positive impact on education outcomes. The WB can provide value added through technical assistance and a flexible lending instrument that responds to the needs of the GOJ as the ETP evolves.

Although the GOJ has invested a substantial amount on the initial phase of the program, there is still a major financing gap. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is providing general budget support to the national treasury through policy-based lending. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide targeted technical assistance for the NET, and UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNDP are supporting specific programs to improve education quality. By helping to build institutional capacity and operationalize the NEI, JTC, REAs and NET, the WB assistance will complement the support provided by the other donor agencies.

2.  Proposed objectives

The objective of the proposed project is to support the implementation of the government’s ETP. Specifically, it will assist to: (i) operationalize the institutions that are key to improved capacity for delivering high quality education; (ii) mobilize additional resources for the education sector; and (iii) garner stakeholder support for the ETP.

3.  Preliminary description

The Project will be financed through a single investment loan. The WB team is proposing a mix of results-based and standard disbursements to finance the project. The project would consist of three components.

Component 1: Enhanced Management and Accountability would contribute to the implementation of the GOJ’s ETP, specifically by making operational key agencies to form a coherent system to monitor progress and improve accountability and education quality. The agencies include the: (a) National Education Inspectorate (NEI) - project funds would support the staffing, operational costs, and resources required to carry out school inspections nationwide; (b) Regional Education Authorities (REAs) - project funds would support staffing, especially in new technical areas of the REA (school improvement and student support), operational costs, resources, and training of staff; and (c) Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) - project funds would support the staffing and operational costs to develop and carry out a licensing scheme for public school teachers, as well as in-service training of teachers to support the achievement of standards.

Component 2: Mobilization of Resources through the National Education Trust (NET). The MOE needs to find new revenue sources and increase the efficiency of current spending to increase investment in other aspects of education. The GOJ is establishing the NET to coordinate and administer resources for the education sector. The NET will solicit and administer donations from the private sector and the Jamaican Diaspora, in addition to capital resources from the government. NET funds will mainly finance school infrastructure. Project funds would support operating and staffing costs to set up the organization, and technical assistance to establish the financial management and administration systems.

Component 3: Institutional Strengthening will finance:

·  Technical Assistance to develop functions, procedures and operations of the NEI, REAs and JTC, and targeted management and information systems for the school inspections and licensing of teachers.

·  Communication Strategy: Technical assistance to design and implement a communication strategy to ensure ownership across all levels and assuage anxiety resulting from the organizational changes.

·  Project Operating Costs: Incremental costs associated with management of the project, including administrative and management staff, audit costs, project monitoring and evaluation, and other expenses. The GOJ will define the governance structure for the project prior to the pre-appraisal mission.

4.  Safeguard policies that might apply

Since the Project focuses solely on institutional capacity building of key agencies in the education sector, no environmental, resettlement, indigenous or other safeguard policies will be triggered. The Project will not involve any construction of schools or other facilities.

5.  Tentative financing

Source: / ($m.)
Borrower / 5
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / 16
Total / 21

6.  Contact point

Contact: Cynthia Hobbs

Title: Senior Education Specialist

Tel: (202) 473-8580

Fax: (202) 614-0855

Email: