Aide Memoire April 2017 - World Bank · Web view2017/06/22 · Aide Memoire: Ghana Education...

Aide Memoire: Ghana Education MissionGhana Secondary Education Improvement Project (P145741-Cr. 5452)

Proposed SEIP Additional Financing (P163628)March 27-April 4, 2017

A. INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. A World Bank technical support mission for the Ghana Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) was undertaken from March 27 to April 4, 2017. The mission team took the opportunity to engage with Government of Ghana (GoG) on the proposed Additional Financing (AF) of US$50 million for the SEIP. The SEIP mission reviewed the achievement to date of project results under components 1 and 2 and discussed year 3 disbursement linked indicators (under Component 1); engaged with the implementation team on proposed senior high school (SHS) policies and implications for SEIP; and developed a comprehensive terms of reference for the upcoming Mid-Term Review and discussed additional analysis required. The mission team also participated in the two-day Ghana Education Evidence Summit and stakeholder workshop on “Engaging the Private Sector in Delivering Basic Education in Ghana;” held on March 28 and 29. The objectives of the mission were outlined in the mission announcement letter dated March 13, 2017. The Aide Memoire summarizes the context, key findings and agreements reached during the mission.

2. The team appreciates the collaboration of the GoG and the cordial environment in which discussions were held, notably the leadership provided by the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adu Twum, Deputy Minister for Education, and Mr. Enoch H. Cobbinah, Chief Director, Ministry of Education. The team would also like to thank Mr. Jacob Kor, Director General, Ghana Education Service (GES); Mrs. Cynthia Bosomtwe Sam, Acting Deputy Director General, GES and Mr. Chris Koramoah, Financial Controller, GES. The team appreciates the coordination by Mr. Hayford Riley Wilson, Project Coordinator SEIP. A list of persons met is attached as Annex 1.

3. Mission members included the following staff from the World Bank: Deborah Newitter Mikesell, Sr. Education Specialist; Eunice Yaa Brimfah Ackwerh, Sr. Education Specialist; Mariam Nusrat Adil, Operations Analyst; Thomas K.S. Anang, Senior Procurement Specialist; Oni Lusk-Stover, Sr. Education Specialist; Michael Gboyega Ilesanmi, Social Safeguards Specialist; Franklin Kuma Kwasi Gavu, Environmental Specialist; Kennedy Fosu, Communications Officer; and Kathleen Beegle, HD Program Leader. Stephen Tettevie, Team Assistant, and Janet Adebo, Program Assistant provided mission support from Accra and Washington DC respectively. Jean-Christophe Maur, Senior Economist, IFC joined the team during the Evidence Summit on March 23-24.

B. CONTEXT

4. Ghana Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP): The Secondary Education Improvement Project was approved by the World Bank Board on May 20, 2014 for an amount of US$156 million (IDA), signed on July 30, 2014, declared effective on October 3, 2014, and launched on November 4, 2014. The project was restructured on August 30, 2016 to ensure

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reallocation among disbursement categories and revise the percentage of expenditures to be financed for all categories up to 100% financing. The Project Development Objective is to increase access to senior secondary education in underserved districts and improve quality in low-performing SHS in Ghana.

5. This is a five-year IPF closing on November 30, 2019. It uses a results based financing approach under the first component which aims to increase access with equity and quality in SHSs. Component One comprises Pillar 1 and 2 as follows: The first results area (Pillar 1) aims to expand senior secondary places through the construction of 23 new SHS in underserved districts; rehabilitate and expand 50 existing low performing SHSs and support attainment of disadvantaged students (e.g., through scholarships to 10,400 students from low income families, especially girls). The second results area (Pillar 2) focuses on improving the quality of education in 125 selected low-performing SHS through: (i) strengthened school management and accountability; (ii) improved mathematics and science teaching and learning; (iii) expanded information, communication technology and internet connectivity in schools; and (iv) the implementation of school performance partnership plans. Component Two uses a traditional investment approach to finance technical assistance, management, research and monitoring and evaluation for effective project implementation.

6. Disbursements: The year zero disbursement linked indicators were achieved and verified on February 20, 2015. The year one disbursement linked indicators were achieved and verified on February 25, 2016. The year two disbursement linked indicators are expected to be verified on April 15, 2017. Disbursement to date is US$80.34 million (58% disbursed). The next disbursement would be an advance against Year 3 DLRs based on meeting five (5) out of six (6) DLRs in year 2.

7. Evidence Summit and Private education workshop: The mission participated in the first Ghana Education Evidence Summit “Towards Quality Education in Ghana: Using Evidence to Achieve Better Learning Outcomes” sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). The SEIP helped support the workshop through its research agenda sub-component which brought international and national researchers together to present and discuss rigorous research on the education sector in Ghana. The second day of the summit provided a forum to plan the future research agenda and identify key research gaps that would need to be addressed over the short and medium term. In addition, the summit included a forum on the private education market in Ghana and guidelines on how to encourage more public-private partnerships in supporting all Ghanaian pupils. It was agreed that the Summit would be conducted annually to help influence education policies. The SEIP research agenda funding could support selected research topics throughout the implementation of the project.

8. Request for Additional Financing: The GoG has requested additional financing of US$50 million and a proposed extension of the SEIP closing date to November 30, 2021. A formal letter from the Ministry of Finance was submitted to the World Bank after the mission on April 7, 2017. To ensure expedited preparation before the end of the WB FY, a concept memo has been drafted during the mission and circulated for further processing in the Bank. To facilitate delivery of the AF before July 1, 2017, the Bank and GoG will need to work quickly to define

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and appraise the SEIP AF project activities. The mission recommended weekly audio/video conferences to expedite preparation. The proposed AF is summarized in the aide memoire below.

C. KEY FINDINGS and AGREEMENTS REACHED

9. Implementation Progress (IP) is on track, albeit four months delayed due to the national elections and transition arrangement in December 2016 and January 2017. The GoG reported in mid-March that it has met the disbursement-linked results for year 2. The disbursement-linked results for year 2 include the following achievements: (a) 80% construction works completed (achieved and verified); (b) increase in enrolment in low performing schools by 1,000 seats (achieved); (c) at least 4,000 SHS students receiving scholarships in project schools (achieved); (d) Publication of updated school performance data for FY15/16 online and in brochure (partially achieved); (e) SPPPs for 80 schools signed (achieved); and (f) ICT-based instruction rolled out in about 50% of targeted schools (achieved).

10. Disbursement Linked Results verification: The independent verification has already confirmed the achievement of the construction of new works (January, 2017 report). The remaining results are now being verified by the independent verification agency after some delay in school enrolment for first year students and the slower pace required for effective installation and testing of i-boxes. The school mapping publication as a digest (in addition to an online version) has also been delayed because of some missing school-level data and the longer than anticipated procurement process to print hard copies of the digest. Although the online version is available, the procurement for the printing of the digests will take several additional weeks to complete. The independent verifiers were requested to take an additional 10% sample in order to collect more data on progress in SEIP schools in anticipation of reporting at the Mid-term Review.

11. Overall progress: The mission noted the slow-down in implementation progress to date, and the partial achievement to date of activities to meet the year 2 disbursement linked results given the time for national elections and transition period to conclude. Some Contractors had not been paid for five months (since October 2016). In particular the mission raised concerns about the lack of progress on construction of new schools --only 8 out of 23 are practically complete, and for some additional 6 sites, only the E-Block is complete although the school has been operationalized. This means that for some sites, school is ongoing while certain sections are partitioned off for construction. The situation is not conducive for learning and there is the additional risk that some incomplete schools will remain unutilized into the next academic year. For facilities improvement, only 45 out of the 50 rehabilitated/expanded schools have been completed and are in use, although only 40 have been formally handed over. Even with limited progress on infrastructure activities, other interventions have contributed to progress against the results indicators and the team was commended for exceeding disbursement linked result targets for new seats utilized, School Performance Partnership Plan (SPPP) implementation and number of scholarships offered.

12. About 100 Senior High Schools have submitted their SPPPs and 80 have been reviewed, approved, signed and initial funds disbursed. As such, the related DLR has been met and this helps pave the way for other DLRs by supporting school- level interventions to improve quality

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of SHS teaching and learning. Training has already been rolled out to over 1,700 science and mathematics teachers, surpassing the end of project target. Evaluation of the training reveals a continued lack of qualified teachers and high teacher absenteeism. Additional staffing audits, leadership training and resource materials are being provided to address these challenges. A consulting firm is providing technical assistance to strengthen the in-service training modules for teachers.

13. Electronic content has been developed for the i-campus teaching and learning portal with 200 modules in core subjects for SHS1 completed to date. Year 2 content development is completed and work has begun on year 3 content. The i-boxes deliver pre-prepared video lessons, student exercises and content assessment to SHS students and teachers. The i-boxes have been rolled out to the initial 70 schools following on the heels of i-box utilization training. However, the independent verification indicates that the technology is not being adequately used by students and teachers in many schools that still lack the infrastructure (computer labs) to access the content. The current policy prohibiting cell phones and/or tablets further prevents students from accessing the i-campus on their personal devices. An impact evaluation is being conducted to test the i-box concept, and the remaining schools will receive the i-box in September, 2017.

14. An updated implementation progress report was submitted to the mission team. This will be updated over the coming week. Constructive meetings were held with various members of the technical implementation teams and relevant divisions and units in the MOE and GES and provided feedback on all received activity reports. The team also helped to review the overall implementation and procurement plans and steps towards achieving year 3 results. The project is rated Satisfactory for both the Project Development Objective (PDO) and for Implementation Progress (IP). With respect to PDO, the mission noted that there has been an increase in access to senior secondary education in beneficiary districts, but it is too early to measure an improvement in the quality of the low-performing SHS in Ghana, although the data demonstrate an increase in examination results against last year (WASCCE performance).

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Ghana Secondary Education Improvement Project Year 2 DLR Verification (P145741- CR.54520)

STATUS OF DLI ACHIEVEMENTDLI DLR Requiremen

ts/Comments

Verification source/documents

Verification Protocol Status

DLI 2: Increase in new seats for SHS students in underserved school districts

DLR 2.3: About 80% of all construction works completed (aggregated)

Works completion guidelines- as of February 2017 85.7% complete as per CWT report

Independent Verification Firm report

Independent Verification Firm to visit sites and verify against monthly construction supervision reports

COMPLETED and Verified by Independent Verification Firm (KE&T) and reviewed by the World Bank.

80% verified DLI 3: Increase in number of seats utilized in existing low-performing schools

DLR 3.3: About 1,000 seats utilized (cumulative)

Improvement in total enrolment in 125 schools from 2014/15 EMIS data. 2016/17 data comes from school survey.


Enrolment data collected through school reporting and in future through school mapping. Independent Verifier will visit 10% sample of schools to confirm enrolment records as compared to submissions by school heads.

COMPLETED and to be verified by Independent Verification Firm (DAB Consult) and reviewed by World Bank in April.

(5,889 seats)

DLI 4: Increased enrolment in SHS in targeted districts and schools for students from low-income families, especially girls

DLR 4.3: At least 4,000 SHS students receiving scholarship in selected schools

Total number scholarships in both first and second year are 5,398 which exceeds the target for this DLR. 61% of beneficiaries are girls.

Independent Verification Firm Report

Independent Verification firm will visit schools to validate receipt of funds and will check that selection criteria has been adhered to.

COMPLETED and to be verified by Independent Verification Firm (DAB Consult) and reviewed by the World Bank. (5,398)

DLI 5: Annual Publication of School Performance Report

DLR 5.2: Publication of updated school performance data for FY2016

All schools (including private) mapped and information uploaded onto school

World Bank School mapping functional and digest is being compiled and printed. Additional information is still being collected from schools which did not

To be verified by the World Bank once digest is printed- expected by May 1, 2017. See www.ghanaschoolsinfo.org

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online and in brochure

mapping portal and printed digest.

provide data-- monitoring visits ongoing.

DLI 6: School Performance Partnerships in 125 Beneficiary Schools

DLR 6.3: 80 selected schools signing performance partnerships out of the 125 selected schools

80 plans have been signed, and additionally funds have been allocated for the schools (first tranche).

Independent Verification Firm

Independent Verification firm would sample schools to confirm plans are available and initial funds have been received.

COMPLETED and to be verified by the Independent verification Firm (DAB Consult).

DLI 7: Improved learning outcomes in 125 selected SHS (quality package)

DLR 7.3: ICT based instruction rolled out in about 50% of selected SHS

70 i-boxes have been rolled out to 70 schools. Teachers in these schools have already received training.


Independent Verification Firm to validate through school visits, interviews with teachers trained.

COMPLETED and to be verified by Independent Verification Firm (DAB Consult).

15. Meeting the fourth round (Year 3) of Disbursement Linked Results: Component 1 disburses according to the achievement of agreed disbursement linked indicators with benchmarks for each year pre-determined as disbursement linked results. Year 1 indicators were fully achieved in February 2016 and an advance of SDR18.2 million (US$25.34 million) was disbursed in two tranches – March and September towards meeting the Year 2 results (following the restructuring in August 2016). The mission reviewed the verification protocol and assumptions for meeting the next set of indicators for Year 3. See table below for status of Year 2 DLRs. The advance on Year 3 DLRs would only be available once 5 out of the 6 DLRs are met (See Annex 3 for DLR verification for YEAR 3)

Proposed Additional Financing (US$50 million) 16. The AF would scale up activities under the disbursement linked results areas related to increasing both access and quality in selected low-performing schools in targeted districts. See proposed allocation by result area below.

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Financing of Disbursement linked Indicators/ComponentsOriginal Funding and Proposed AF (US$ 50 million)

Components and Results

Amount of Financing

Allocated per DLI/

component

Type of Modification

(PAD)

Proposed AF cost

Total Cost

1. Support to increase access with equity and quality in SHS

140.1

Pillar 1: Increase Access with Equity

DLI 1Targeting of school expansion in underserved school districts

5.54 - - 5.54

DLI 2Increase in new seats for SHS students in underserved school districts

23.2 - - 23.2

DLI 3Increase in number of seats utilized in existing low-performing schools

23.2 Scale up 10 33.2

DLI 4Increased enrolment in SHS in targeted districts and schools for students from low-income families, especially girls

23.2 Scale Up 9 32.2

Pillar 2: Improve quality of education

DLI 5Annual Publication of School Performance Report

18.56 Continue 9 27.56

DLI 6School Performance Partnerships in 125 beneficiary schools (now 225)

23.2 Scale up 10 33.2

DLI 7Improved learning outcomes in 125 selected SHS (quality package- now 225)

23.2 Scale up 9 32.2

2 Management, Research, M&E 15.9

Program management/operational costs/communications/verification/technical assistance/training/research

15.9 Scale Up 3 18.9

TOTAL 156 50 206

17. The AF is not expected to alter the design of the SEIP but instead provide opportunities for expansion and strengthening of key efforts, particularly those related to improving access to and quality of low performing secondary schools.

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18. Selection of additional schools: The proposed AF would not change the PDO indicators except to revise the targets based on the increase in beneficiary schools within the selected districts. Under the SEIP, districts were ranked based on the following criteria: (i) demand for senior secondary school places (defined by the ratio of JHS3 pupils in year x to SHS1 pupils in year x+1 for the same district); (ii) district poverty index; and (iii) size of school population. Criteria have various weights in the ranking and reflect both the capacity as well as demand for schooling. The bottom 100 districts were selected based on the above criteria ranking all the 216 districts in Ghana. Up to 125 SHSs based on WASSCE and facilities assessment were selected. The AF would now aim to cover all schools in the selected 100 districts (up to 221 SHSs) as well as the 23 newly constructed schools. The expansion therefore retains the transparent and poverty-targeted criteria and avoids significant recalculation of the baseline indicator data, annual and cumulative targets. As such, support will be provided as follows:

Component 1: Support to Increase Access with Equity and Quality in Senior High Schools (Current allocation: $140.1 million; Total allocation with proposed AF: US$187.1 million)

19. Pillar 1: Increase Access with Equity in senior secondary education in underserved districts (Current allocation: US$125.1 million; revised allocation with proposed AF:US$144.1 million): The DLIs associated with this pillar (DLIs 2-4) aim to reward significant increases in the number of new seats utilized in the newly constructed schools as well as the existing low-performing schools. In addition, the increase in enrollment was to be further targeted to include more students from low-income families, especially girls. The activities expected to contribute to the achievement of these results (construction of additional seats, improvements to existing schools and scholarships (now bursaries) to students from low-income families would be continued for the current targeted schools under the AF.

Additional schools: In an effort to extend the impact of greater access to SHS, the additional financing would support additional schools in the targeted 100 districts (approximately 100 schools, plus 23 newly constructed schools under the SEIP). New scholarships (bursaries) for needy students to cover private costs would be rolled out for existing and new targeted schools. Facilities improvements based on a comprehensive needs assessment would be targeted to the 75 original SEIP schools that did not receive upgrading. With the proposed extension of the SEIP by another two years, the implementation of minor works/rehabilitation would be completed in time to absorb the increased enrollment expected/forecasted. The selection of additional schools to benefit under the SEIP would use the original comprehensive targeting criteria that was used to identify the underserved districts and low-performing schools under the Parent project. The AF, coupled with an extension of the period for implementation, would allow for: (i) the expansion of seats utilized in existing low-performing schools (75 schools beginning in the September 2017 school term) from an original target of 10,000 to 15,000; and (ii) an increase in the number of students receiving scholarships (from the original target of 10,000 to 20,000). Given the experience with the first round of upgrading to 50 SHS, the AF could support a more demand driven approach to meeting infrastructure needs well aligned with the SPPPs to ensure strategic alignment with school priorities.

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20. Pillar 2: Improve quality in low-performing SHS (Current allocation: US$15 million; revised allocation with proposed AF: US$43 million): The DLIs associated with this pillar (DLIs 5-7) aim to reward school level improvements in the quality of the teaching and learning offered in the low-performing SHS. Contributing to the overall outcome of improved completion scores on the standardized WASSCE for math and science in particular, the ongoing GoG program supports an interactive school mapping portal, grants to SHSs through the SPPPs, leadership training, intensive science and math training and resources for teachers, and the roll out of an innovative mechanism for ICT based instruction through the Ghana patented i-campus/i-box (Adedo1). All of these activities contribute to a “quality package” for the SEIP schools and have just recently been rolled out. Initial feedback is positive on the mapping, ICT activities and first year and a half of leadership, math and science teacher training. The SPPPs provide a mutual accountability mechanism for incentivizing SHS quality improvement activities as enrollments increase through the expansion of infrastructure and scholarships.

Quality interventions: Under the AF, these quality packages would therefore be extended to approximately 123 additional schools. The AF would also reward the increased number of teachers benefitting from math and science training, with potential customized materials and lesson plans created through either the MS4SSA (World Bank regional initiative on math and science for Sub-Saharan Africa) program; (science and math training provided by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences-AIMS) or other follow-up teacher strengthening activities, and the expansion of the i-box technology, training, content development and internet connectivity for the additional 123 schools.

Component 2: Management, Research and Monitoring and Evaluation (Current allocation: US$15.9 million; Total allocation with proposed AF: US$18.9 million)

21. Under the AF, a proposed US$3 million will be provided to project management and supervision, specifically to cover costs related to technical assistance for MOE, GES and other key implementing agencies. In addition, the funding will continue to sponsor key trainings. The funding would support web-based school monitoring through the innovative school mapping portal and the subsequent enhancements being made to use this tool to better monitor program activities. Independent verification firms would be supported to annually verify the disbursement linked results. The research and diagnostic activities to support analysis on SHS policy and strategy will be particularly critical to scale up now that GoG has announced the implementation of free SHS expected to commence in September 2017. The necessary data analysis and implementation assessments could be supported to help guide such a transformative agenda, especially in light of the structural nature of the education system (boarding vs. day schools), fiscal constraints (limited non-salary education expenditures), and quality challenges (low learning outcomes at completion of basic education). The AF could also support more systematic procurement and financial management capacity at school level in order to strengthen the implementation of the SPPPs and facilities upgrade. Operational costs of the SEIP associated with the scale-up and/or continuation of activities through the extended AF closing date would also be supported.

1 Adedo in Ewe means knowledge that is meant to be shared.

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22. Economic Analysis for AF: The economic analysis will evaluate the economic impact of the project so far and provide an evidence-based rationale for scale-up of key interventions under the AF. The team will require additional support from GoG to confirm the figures in the economic analysis and ensure consistencies across the data by April 19, 2017. In particular, the team would require verified information on the following:

Number of public and private SHS in Ghana as at March, 2017 Number of teachers trained for SPPP (with dates of training), number of unique schools

benefitting from SPPP trainings Average (total and annual) unit cost of scholarships disbursed to date Total expenditure on school mapping (by categories across component 1 and 2) Total expenditure on iBox (by categories across component 1 and 2, including SPPP) Estimated maintenance and replacement costs for iBox (annual per school) Subsidy estimates per student (day/boarding) per TERM and YEAR prior to free SHS Scholarship estimates per student (day/boarding) per TERM and YEAR for free SHS Teacher and Administrative salary cost estimate projections per YEAR for free SHS

Proposed Timetable for Additional Financing for delivering FY17

Date

Concept Memorandum review/approval March 31, 2017

Decision Meeting April 29, 2017

Appraisal May 5, 2017

Negotiations May 19, 2017

Board June 27, 2017

Signing August 1, 2017

Effectiveness September 8, 2017

23. Upcoming Mid-Term Review: The Mid-Term Review (MTR) was postponed and is now planned for September 2017. The mission agreed that the postponement would allow for additional analysis on project outcomes and impacts. The MTR will also coincide with the planned SPPP/leadership peer review workshop to bring participating schools together to discuss the project results, challenges and lessons, and to consider potential revisions to strengthen project outcomes and impact in the sector. With the potential for additional financing being effective by the MTR, the MTR would offer a good forum to launch the additional financing, address the implementation plans for the additional activities and expansion of new project schools. It was agreed that the following reports/analysis will contribute to the MTR:

Road Map for MTR (timeline for analyses, logistics and stakeholder engagement) WAEC ranking of schools, with explanations of the ranking criteria

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CSSPS analysis and triangulation of student choice, vacancy declared, placement and enrolment in SEIP schools including dates of first year student registration

Analysis of SHSs contributing to university, polytechnic and tertiary enrollment School mapping analysis; update on SHSs (mostly private) which have not provided

data for digest Independent Fiduciary Review (Bank can share sample TOR) Independent Procurement Review (Bank can share sample TOR) Technical review of construction and facilities upgrade- ongoing Safeguards Review Revised implementation plan with addition of new project schools in targeted districts

for AF Revised procurement plans for AF Cost-benefit analysis of project interventions- including unit cost analysis of free SHS

policy (including projected salary and non-salary costs) Qualitative survey on math and science and leadership trainings Whatsapp leadership, SPPP, i-box platform survey Analysis of SPPPs through most recent monitoring report Analysis of Monitoring Reports—both quantitative and qualitv Decisions on MS4SSA adoption and roll out under the additional financing Analysis of possible AIMS math and science training Cost comparisons on school operational costs

24. Procurement: A review of the updated procurement plan for Component 2 (which was cleared in January 2017) was undertaken by the mission and overall performance was assessed. With the plans for additional financing, the mission recommended a value for money procurement audit of both components 1 and 2. A sample TOR will be shared with the team by April 20, 2017. Assessing procurement to date, the mission noted that in total, 29 procurement activities were planned to be executed. 17 contracts have successfully been executed representing (58.62%), 5 contracts are on-going representing (17.24%), one contract was at pre-contract stage, representing (3.4%) and 6 are yet to be initiated, representing (20.74%). Total amount of procurement US$2,594,142.42 out of which an amount of US$2,275,296.42 is committed representing about 76%. This is a significant achievement as procurement left to be executed is less than 24%. The Bank reviewed its Prior/Method Thresholds which was applied in preparing the procurement plan for 2017. Due to the increase in the thresholds, most of the procurement would be undertaken by the procurement team of SEIP. Procurement records for the contracts reviewed were complete, chronologically filled, secured and kept with the procurement officer. The overall procurement risk rating is maintained as Substantial and the Procurement Performance rating is Moderately Satisfactory.

25. In addition, according to the World Bank’s procurement policy, the new Additional Financing is subject to the new procurement framework, however the GoG has requested to seek a waiver and apply the Procurement and Consultant Guidelines applicable to the original project/original financing to the Additional Financing. This waiver will be requested pursuant to paragraph 3, Section VI of Bank Directive “Procurement in IPF and Other Operational Procurement Matters” and Section III – Scope, I. Procurement During IPF Preparation - C. Additional Financing of the Bank Procedure “Procurement in IPF and Other Operational Procurement Matters.” The task team supports GoGs request for an exemption from applying the new procurement framework because

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the Additional Financing involves minimal new procurement and application of the new procurement framework offers little advantage in this particular regard.

26. Safeguards update: The short technical mission did not include a comprehensive safeguards review. The Safeguards Performance Chart was shared with the team and indicates where contractors are not performing well. Therefore, the mission agreed that the Safeguards consultant working in the MOE provide an update by April 19, 2017 on how outstanding issues from the last mission’s reporting (October, 2016) have been addressed. A-RAP additions have been documented and shared with the Bank Social Safeguards Specialist for review on February 17, 2017. The RAPs will need to be re-disclosed. With the preparation for additional financing, the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) would need to be updated to reflect the additional beneficiary schools and re-disclosed.

27. Monitoring and Evaluation: The mission requested that the monitoring reports be shared from visits in October 2016 and more recently in March 2017. The mission reminded the team that it had been agreed during the previous mission that the monitoring teams would use standardized templates for the collection of information and evaluating activities which would be uploaded on tablets/laptops for more timely data collection, collation and analysis. The Results Framework was updated in March 2017 (See Annex 6) and still requires calculations on direct project beneficiaries (using EMIS data and monitoring reports). Some typos were discovered in the reporting of the completion rate data (target) and corrected in the latest version of the framework. In addition, the team was advised to continue sensitizing schools on the calculation of completion which is really a survival rate. Reaching mutual understanding on defining repeaters would help ensure more accurate reporting on this key indicator. The mission recommended that special registers be given to each SEIP school to more easily capture the data. With regard to the PDO indicator on educational attainment, it was agreed that the team would indicate the dates of the next household survey and census to determine whether the SEIP would need to conduct a separate survey to report on key indicators. With an extension of the closing date proposed for the SEIP, the end line survey would need to be confirmed given the current plans for the next Ghana Living Standards Survey 8 planned for 2021 and the national census planned for 2020. The team will further discuss with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to determine survey options.

28. Communications: The communications team has scaled up the outreach and public relations activities and will continue to roll out campaigns through SMS, TV and newspaper fora. The communications plan for 2017 was shared with the mission. The coordination with the CSSPS has helped to make information on SEIP available to recently placed students. Going forward, the team will need to expand sensitization to all new schools added under the Additional Financing. The communication activities could also include some short videos of interviews of beneficiaries at SEIP schools. The mission encouraged the communications team to include in the work plan activities for strengthening internal communication between MOE and GES, better supervision of district Public Relations Officers and Girls Education Officers. The mission recommended a quarterly newsletter to update policy makers and other stakeholders about SEIP activities and results.

D. DISCLOSURE

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29. The World Bank and GoG confirm their understanding and agreement to publicly disclose this Aide-Mémoire. The disclosure of this Aide Memoire was agreed with project counterparts led by Dr. Yaw Osei Adu Twum, Deputy Minister for Education, Ministry of Education at the wrap-up meeting held on April 3, 2017 at the Ministry of Education.

E. PENDING ACTIONS/NEXT STEPS

Description of ACTION Date Due STATUS and Responsible Party

SEIP

Letter from MOF requesting Additional Financing April 7, 2017 DONE

Independent Verification of Quality DLRs April 15, 2017 DONE

Technical Review of civil works contracted April 19, 2017 MOE, CWT

Safeguards report documenting all RAP issues April 19, 2017 MOE

Procurement Review MTR- TOR April 20, 2017 GES, MOE, WB

Fiduciary Review-MTR- TOR April 20, 2017 GES, MOE, WB

SPPPs Assessment (performance review) June 1, 2017 GES

Letter from DG to Regional Directors on Head teacher selection and transfers

April 4, 2017 DONE

Data for Economic Analysis April 19, 2017 GES/MOE

School Mapping (Adedo) Digest printed May 15, 2017 GES, MOE

MTR analyses completed August 15, 2017 GES, MOE

Appraisal of Additional Financing May 2017 WB, MOE, GES

Technical Review of civil works completed June 2017 MOE, CWT

MS4SSA workshop application submitted April 19, 2017 MOE, GES

MS4SSA workshop May 15-26, 2017 MOE, GES, WB

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Annex 1: List of People Met

Ministry of FinanceLawrence Nyanor Snr Economist, WBU 0243438322 [email protected]

Ministry of EducationDr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh Hon. Minister 0302662772 [email protected] Yaw Osei Adutwum Dep. Minister 0206335932 [email protected] Cobbinah Chief Director 0202030286 [email protected]. R. Wilson SEIP Co-ordinator 0208111627 [email protected] Sebgefia Head, ICU 0244695607 [email protected] Lawson-Heyman SEIP Administrator 0203628202 cynthialheyman@gmail,comWilhelmina Asamoah Director F&A 0578289188 [email protected] Biney Director, PBME 0244484518 [email protected] K Mensah CWT, QS 0206933776 [email protected] Howard CWT, Engineer 0244376789 [email protected] T Okletey CWT, Architect 0208528948 [email protected] Nelson Procurement 0244068823 [email protected] Tettey PRO 0244595298 [email protected] Dari Prin Accountant 0244635096 [email protected] B. O. Derkyi Director, Finance 0208167941 [email protected] Osman Mwin Head, PR 0244732876 [email protected] Bentil PBME 0260900031 [email protected] W. Sowah ICT, Programmer 0543525962 [email protected] G. Alex SEIP Secretariat 0207407499 [email protected] Asante SEIP Secretariat 0244502865 [email protected] D. Tandoh Snr Planning Officer 0244478235 [email protected] Willams ODI Fellow 0557389023 [email protected] Wesley-Otoo D. P Co-ordinator 0244101822 [email protected] Ayidzoe Director SRIM 0244466125 [email protected] Owusu-Ansah Head, M&E 0246617273 [email protected] Ayensu M&E 0267730142 [email protected] Adonu Head, Audit 0208002307 [email protected] Acheampong (Proc. Unit) Service Person 0274277267 [email protected] Bediako PRO 0277551225 [email protected] Adjei Snr. System Analyst 0277470144 [email protected] Fianu FPMU, Engineer 0244834109 [email protected] Hammond National Service Personnel 0244236815 [email protected] Acquah National Service Personel 0243732432 [email protected]

Ghana Education ServiceJacob A.M. Kor Director-General 0244798521 [email protected] Bosomtwe-Sam TL Research 0209834524 [email protected] Boakye- Yiadom Dir. / Ag Exe Sec NACCA 0244682111 [email protected] Thompson Chief Accountant 0244696501 [email protected]. Chris Koramoah Ag FC 0204343020 [email protected]. Dorothy Glover SEIP Coordinator (Q&U) 0207366900 [email protected] A. Anokye CSSPS 0202510037 [email protected] Jonathan Bettey Pro Head 0208236592 [email protected] A. A. Agyapong GPEG Project Coordinator 0244519507 [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]
















David A. Banamini PR Unit 0243246124 [email protected] Agyemfra SED 0244709335 [email protected] Atta-Williams ICT 0264530270 [email protected] A. Bismark Chief Int. Auditor 0208188744 [email protected] Ntim Head, Budget 0202621724 [email protected] Dufie Account Officer 0247926191 [email protected] K. Quaning Head, SMT 0244132853 [email protected] Zuwii Procurement Officer 0248454999 [email protected] Ennin ICT 0246957152 [email protected] Inkoom Director 0277129427 [email protected] Zalia Ali Director-GES Procurement 0208110079 [email protected]. Evelyn Oduro NTC, Ag. Exe. Sec 0244686241 [email protected]

AgenciesJoshua Mallet Director 0244438643 [email protected] Ofori-Arko Head F&A 0267375166 [email protected] Obenyah Field Co-ordinator 0201061195 [email protected]

ConsultantsAaron Asant-Addai Envilogica Consult 0244368671 [email protected] Osafo-Affum Struc Engineer 0244638830 [email protected] L. Ababio Twum Boafo & Part., Q. S 0246454061 [email protected] Twum-Barima Twum Boafo & Part., Assist. Q. S 0244886706 [email protected]. Albert Awuah UDC, Director 0208164805 [email protected] Gyampoh CONPRO Ltd, Q. S 0501368447 [email protected] Antwi PDC, Project Engineer 0243811633 [email protected] Quao UDC, Project Engineer 0247656725 [email protected]

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Annex 2: Implementation Status Detailed Update

Component 1: Pillar 1 Access with Equity

1. Civil works- new construction: With regard to meeting the disbursement linked indicators for increasing access to SHS in beneficiary districts, the GoG aims to construct 23 new schools through 46 contract lots. Construction began in July 2015 with completion scheduled for October 15, 2016. Overall percentage of work completed as of end of February 2017 is 85.7%. The three vocational blocks and two technical blocks have not yet been awarded and it was agreed that these should be awarded without delay to ensure that the benefits to the students are realized as soon as possible.

CONSTUCTION- EXPENDITURE TO DATE NO. OF

CONTRACTS

TOTAL BUDGET PROJECTED FINAL COST (GHS)

TOTAL PAYMENTS

BALANCE (GHS)

% Paid

% complete

Facility Upgrade 50 25,273,195 25,023,068 20,892,750 4,130,317 83.49 97.92

New Works 46 313,464,724 303,339,955 186,486,248 116,853,707 61.48 85.70Total 96 338,737,920 328,363,023 207,378,999 120,984,024

2. While the target for the DLR of reaching 80% has been met, the category of poorly performing contractors are still dragging down the progress for completion of several of the new schools. The mission noted that eight schools have been completed (both lots A and B) and about thirteen E-blocks have been completed. Current monthly average progress has been 1.4% or less since November. The summary of performance groupings is indicated below.

GROUP PROGRESS % RANGE PERFORMANCE BASED ON %

ACHIEVED

NO. OF CONTRACTS

A Completed and Handed Over 100 VERY GOOD 11

B Practical Completion 100 - 98 GOOD 9

C Between 90% and 98% complete 98 - 90 SATISFACTORY 6

D Between 75% and 90% 90 - 75 POOR 11

E Below 75% complete <75 VERY POOR 7

TERMINATED 2 TOTAL 46

Source: CWT summary Feb 2017

3. The E-blocks and all ancillary facilities should be functional to ensure that students already enrolled (3,111) have full educational opportunities to complete their first year of SHS. The mission learned that none of the science labs have been operationalized as the contract for the science equipment and installation while awarded in September, has not yet produced any

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results. In addition, some of the schools also do not have functioning ICT labs as equipment has not yet been delivered and/or installed. The construction contracts would need to be extended given the current status as of April 2017. It was agreed that as with usual contract management practice, the price indices on the contracts would be frozen for contracts extended beyond the original contract completion date.

a. For lots where construction may extend past April 2017:i. Monthly progress targets would be fixed and monitored.

ii. The contract would be terminated if the targets are not met for several consecutive months.

b. The worst performing contracts of the two lots (both at one school) have been terminated. It has been estimated that it would take about thirteen months to complete the procurement (four months) and construction (nine months).

4. Cost escalation: The mission discussed concerns about the projected increase in total construction cost and the significant variance in costs between sites as it is not clear why the projected costs vary when plans, Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and super structures are the same (the exception is the foundations which vary because of site differences in slopes). While the mission has noted that the cost overruns have been reported lower than 26% it is not clear if this includes the contingency amounts. Therefore it will be critical to initiate the technical review immediately. The savings on the cost enhancement while welcomed, should not divert the focus of the CWT. Besides the reduction in indices they must consider: the variation in quantities for same buildings for the above plinth level are not justified and need to be reviewed by an independent person. Until this is settled, the final bills of the contractors cannot be cleared; the manner in which the contractors have claimed higher index by delaying submission of their bills or even delays in progress is unfortunate. Contractors should be entitled to the fluctuations as per their work plans ONLY.

a. The revised projected final cost of the New Construction civil works is now estimated at GHS 303,339,955.17.

b. This exceeds the original total Contract Sums of GHS 268,592,293.86 by GHS 34,747,661.31 representing an increase of 12.94% of the total Contract Value

c. Even though the building designs are the same, the costs varied widely between sites for substructure, super structure and external development - between (-)5% to 56% for sub-structure at sites with basements and relatively flat ground levels; between (-)2% to 19% for superstructure; and between (-)7% to 39% for external works. The CWT agreed that there might be some errors in calculations.

d. There was an error in the principle used to calculate the fluctuations in some payment certificates, which were reviewed at random.

e. The on-going work between the MOE (CWT) and the Consultants to arrive at the full details of the projected cost increase has been slow and needs urgent and expeditious actions. The mission team strongly recommends that the details in variations are finalized quickly so that the contracts can be closed where works would be completed soon.

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5. In the forthcoming payment certificates of contractors, the amounts for variations would be withheld and the fluctuations would be calculated as per the last official cost index declared by GSS. The payments made to date on account of the variations and fluctuations calculated on provisional indices would be adjusted and released only after the variations are finalized and official indices are declared by GSS.

6. The technical review would verify the differences in quantities for the same items at various sites, quantities of additional items executed at sites, calculations of fluctuations etc.

7. The MOE requested the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to review its indices used for calculating fluctuations from April 2016 onwards and determined that the indices were in fact overestimated. This inquiry has resulted in over US$2 million in reduced fluctuation demonstrating the need for careful review of all variances and price fluctuations.

8. Other issues and agreements on civil works:

a. The mission team recommended that the GoG should consider terminating the contracts of poor performing Supervision Consultants.

b. District Assemblies are required to provide access road, electricity and water supply to the schools sites. The current status is: electricity is available at 20 new construction sites. The transformer designs have been changed at three sites where the supply voltage is 33KvA compared to 11KvA planned originally; water connection has been provided to three sites and bore-holes are to be used to supply water in the remaining 20 sites. Depending on the water quality test reports, water treatment plants will be installed after consulting the Community Water and Sanitation Agency for advice on the treatment and siting of additional boreholes if need be; access is possible through roads to 20 sites, minor road works are required for one site, and major road works are needed for two sites. It was agreed that the CWT would work with supervision consultants and District Assemblies (for provision of potable water and access roads) to prepare time lines for provision of the above facilities. In case delays are expected in providing the water treatment plants at sites where the students would join from this academic year, the District Assemblies would ensure that alternate arrangements are made for potable water.

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DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES OBLIGATIONS – NEW CONSTRUCTION

S/No. Lot No. Site Contractor

% PROGRESS

PER LOT FOR JAN.

2017

% PROGRESS

FOR E-BLOCK ONLY

% COMPLETION

/HANDING OVER

STUDENT ADMISSION

ACCESS AND UTILITY SERVICES

ACCESS ROAD

WATER CONNECTION

ELECTRICITY CONNECTION

1AS02A Adugyama Nickseth 100 100.00 Handed over

Dec. 22, 2016

Students admitted in Oct. 2016

Access is satisfactory

Borehole water suitable for consumption

Electricity available on siteAS02B Adugyama Nickseth 100 -

2AS01A Agric

Nzema Barry's Limited 99 100.00Sectional

Handing Over

Students admitted in Nov. 2016


GWCL Water connected to site.

Awaiting installation of meters.AS01B Agric

Nzema Barry's Limited 99 -

3GA01A Katamanso Krane

Construction Ltd 100 100.00 Sectional Handing Over



Borehole water requires treatment.

Electricity available on site

GA01B Katamanso Tonyan 100 -

4GA02A Fafraha Antartic Contract

Works 100 100.00Handed OverNov. 11, 2016





GA02B Fafraha Antartic Contract Works 100 -

5GA03A Kwabenya Construction

Logistics 100 100.00 Handed OverNov. 11, 2016





GA03B Kwabenya G.R Construction 100 -

6BA01A New

Longoro China Railways 100 100.00Handed OverDec. 30, 2016





BA01B New Longoro China Railways 100 -

7UW01A Loggu Lubie 99 100.00 Handed Over

Feb. 15, 2017

Students admitted in Jan. 2017



Electricity available on siteUW01B Loggu Lubie 98.79 -

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S/No. Lot No. Site Contractor

% PROGRESS

PER LOT FOR JAN.

2017

% PROGRESS

FOR E-BLOCK ONLY

% COMPLETION /HANDING OVER

STUDENT ADMISSIO

N


ACCESS ROAD

WATER CONNECTION


8AS03A Asuoso Akalifa 100.00 100.00 Handed Over

Dec. 21, 2016 Ready for admission

Access satisfactory



AS03B Asuoso Ivag Const. Ltd. 73.94 -

9UE02A Zulugu Top Construction 98.72 100.00

Handed OverFeb. 17, 2017

Students admitted in Jan. 2017

Access satisfactory



UE02B Zulugu Top Construction 99.00 -

10VR01A Adaklu

Aduadi /Tsrefe

Sarbah 93.75 95.0093.19

Major roadworks required

Borehole water requires treatment


VR01B Macoby 99.38 -

11VR02A Yawbram Defiat Dev. Co. 97.74 98.00

92.29Students admitted in Dec. 2016

Access satisfactory



VR02B Yawbram Budox Const. Co. 93.07 -

12NR02A Daboya Top Construction 96.75 100.00

Sectional Handing Over (E-Block)

Students admitted in Dec. 2016

Access satisfactory



NR02B Daboya Top Construction 96.32 -

13ER01A Anum

ApapamIntegrated Properties Limited 94.42 98.00 Sectional Handing

Over Students admitted in Nov. 2016

Access satisfactory


Electricity not yet connected to siteER01B Anum

ApapamIntegrated Properties Limited 97.05 -

14CE01A Ofaakor

Kasoa Barry's Ltd. 77.50 98.60 Sectional Handing Over Students

admitted in Dec. 2016

Access satisfactory


Electricity available

CE01B Ofaakor Kasoa Aquila Int. Ltd 78.02 -

20

15

ER02A Maame Krobo

Perfect Business Const. Ltd. 82.09 95.00 Sectional Handing

Over Students admitted in Jan. 2017

Access satisfactory



ER02B Maame Krobo Big Foot 74.00 -

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S/NO LOT NO. SITE CONTRACTOR%PROGRESS PER LOT FOR

JAN. 2017

% PROGRESS FOR E-BLOCK

ONLY

% COMPLETION /HANDING

OVER

STUDENT

ADMISSION


ACCESS ROAD

WATER CONNECTION


16WR03A

Nsawora Edumafua

KKF Classic Co 73.30 91.00

NO

T Y

ET

ST

AR

TE

D

Access satisfactory



WR03BNsawora Edumafua

Zotime Ent. Ltd 98.08 - Handed Over

17BA03A Bassa

Excellent Builders Co.

80.66 87.0079.10

Access satisfactory



BA03B Bassa Is-Joy Ltd 74.78 -

18UE01A Tambilgu Araco 61.94 70.00

62.51Access satisfactory


Electricity available through 33kv transformerUE01B Tambilgu Myturn Ltd. 66.29 -

19NR03A Mpaha Beobiya Ltd. 59.49 78.00


Borehole yet to be drilled

Electricity available through 33kv transformerNR03B Mpaha U-Comm Ltd. 77.91 -

20WR01A Manso Amenfi David Walter 58.70 72.00

60.56Major roadworks required


Electricity not available

WR01B Manso Amenfi Justmoh Ltd. 76.66 -

21NR01A Sang Kundim Ltd. 62.42 79.00


Awaiting borehole test results

Electricity available through 33kv transformerNR01B Sang Koddeg Ltd. 75.95 -

22BA02A New Kokrompe Rinacand 78.1 86.30



Electricity not available

BA02B New Kokrompe Alexiboam 76.16

23WR02A Adabokrom Jowak 35.13 - Terminated Termin

atedAccess satisfactory

Borehole drilled but water yet to be tested

Electricity nearby but not connected WR02B Adabokrom Jowak 42.33 - Terminated

Service available but not adequateService not available

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9. Civil Works-Facilities upgrade: Additional civil works are being implemented through rehabilitation of 50 SHSs to help meet the DLR for Component 1. The Component 1 DLR is related to increased seats in existing under performing schools. Forty-five out of 50 SHSs have their rehabilitation completed and forty have been formally handed over. All forty-five SHS’s are being used by the schools. One contract has been terminated (Lot UW03). Works carried out to date under the contract has been assessed by the Supervising Consultants and the CWT and bid documents prepared for the re-award of the contract. The re-award of the contract has been stalled due to the transition process. CWT undertook site inspections to 41 Facility Upgrade sites in January and February 2017 to carry out in most cases, final inspection of works handed over and in their defects liability period, and in some cases to prepare snag lists prior to handing over of the facilities to the beneficiaries.

10. The Total Contract Value of the 50 SEIP Facility Upgrade Works is GH₵22,223,550.67. The total variations on the Facility Upgrading Works is GHS 874,149.56. The Variations are due to ground conditions and differences between Contract Bills of Quantities and re-measured quantities. There were some changes in the scope of the Rehabilitation Works. The Fluctuations on the Facility Upgrade is estimated at GHS 2,572,655.75. This brings the Total Variations and Fluctuations to GHS 3,446,805.31. The Revised Projected Total Cost of the Facility Upgrade including Variations and Fluctuations is estimated at GHS 25,023,068.10.

11. This exceeds the Original Total Contract Sum of GHS 22,223,550.68 by GHS 2,799,517.42 representing 12.60% increase of the original Contract Value as indicated above.

MONTHFACILITY UPGRADES WORKS

EXPECTED OVERALL TARGET

(%)

% ACTUAL OVERALL PROGRESS

% MONTHLY PROGRESS

FEBRUARY 2016 68.0 72.6 5.6MARCH 2016 76.0 82.7 10.1

APRIL 2016 84.0 86.3 3.6

MAY 2016 92.0 88.6 2.3JUNE 2016 100.0 92.5 3.9JULY 2016 100.0 94.84 2.34AUGUST 2016 100.0 96.38 1.54SEPT. 2016 100.0 97.58 1.20OCTOBER 2016 100.0 97.82 0.24NOVEMBER 2016 100.0 97.84 0.02DECEMBER 2016 100.00 97.84 0.00JANUARY 2017 100.00 97.84 0.00FEBRUARY 2017 100.00 97.84 0.00

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12. There is also the need to follow up on maintenance arrangements- It was agreed that supervision consultants would share the finalized maintenance manuals that are currently being discussed and reviewed with the schools.

13. Looking at additional financing interventions, the team urged caution about the plans for increased expansion/construction in existing schools as a means to increasing enrolment in these schools. Looking at the data to date, in the schools where such interventions were rolled out (50 schools) the increase was only 24% and this was mainly accounted for by large increases to about 3 schools with growth over 100%. Even with significant outreach to raise awareness about the rehabilitated/new senior high schools and to admit qualified students from the JHSs in the relevant communities, the expansion remains modest.

Enrollment increases in SEIP low-performing schools

Average enrolment growth 2013/14 to 2016/17Total 18.9%In the 75 15.1%In the 50 24.6%

Number of schools with growth in 3 years of project 32last 2 years of project 34

Growth in % girls enrolled 2013/14 - 2016/17Number of schools 87Average growth per school 3%Maximum growth 23%

14. Additional Financing and Contracting: The mission agreed that consultancies for civil works, rehabilitation, works supervision and independent verification would all be re-advertised as contracts draw to a close.

15. Scholarships have contributed to increasing enrolment in low-performing schools, having been rolled out to 5,398 students across 108 of the 125 SEIP schools. At least 61% of scholarship beneficiaries are girls. This figure includes the students from the 2014/2015 academic year currently in SHS2 and students from the 2015/16 academic year in SHS1. The selection of beneficiaries for 2016/17 academic year is underway. The total number of scholarship beneficiaries is 5,398 (2014/15: 2,074 beneficiaries; and 2015/16: 3,324 beneficiaries). The highest proportion of scholarships are in the Ashanti region (19 percent) and the lowest proportion of beneficiaries is in the Upper East region (2 percent).

16. The challenges of high attrition of head teachers, undue delay in submitting reports, delay in collecting cheques for disbursement and subsequent delay in paying student remittances remain. The SEIP accounts are still not active for all schools (Accountant Generals Department is required to provide clearance before school accounts can be opened). This means that head teachers have to come to all the way to headquarters in Accra to pick up checks for scholarships. Beneficiary schools are still struggling to provide termly returns on the scholarship program making it difficult to track performance and attendance. Cheques for the first year are usually disbursed in the third term. In view of the commitments made under the new free SHS policy, the SEIP scholarships would be reduced to approximately US$150 per student per year to cover

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remaining private costs to SHS for low-income students (including school bags, school sandals, transportation etc.). The mission recommended that the GES internal audit unit support a scholarship audit and in 2017, the Component 2 budget should provide for more regular routine audits at the regional level. In addition, the mission recommended that schools provide their account numbers so that funds can be transferred through Banks rather than physical collection of cheques.

17. School Performance Partnership Plans (SPPPs). The status on SPPPs remains as determined during the December, 2016 mission. The SPPPs for 80 schools have been vetted and signed with funds disbursed against the schools’ plans for goods and services activities. Prior to releasing funds, the schools must have outlined acceptable plans to facilitate the procurement process. A verification protocol for assessing school performance on the SPPPs preparation and implementation by scoring and ranking schools was agreed during the last mission to be shared with the Independent Verifier. The team looks forward to receiving this verification guidelines for input. The data scoring and ranking SHSs on the basis of SPPP implementation will be shared with the GES for management administrative decision making. The impact of low capacity of school heads and administration to implement SPPPs is critical. The presentation on Component 2 budget and expenditure, indicated SPPPs to be among the lowest expenditures in 2016. Only 6.41 percent out of the total SPPP budget of GHC272,000 (US$64,700) was spent on eligible activities in 2016. The necessary training for school heads and administration was not undertaken and this has the potential for slowing down the school implementation of SPPPs. The team strongly recommends that the planned SPPP training for 2017 should be fully implemented to ensure that low implementing schools are supported.

18. In addition the high turnover of head teachers has also impacted implementation as new teachers have not had SPPP training. A training is being planned in April 2017 which would include procurement capacity building to expedite production of the procurement plans and subsequent release of remaining SPPP funding. It was agreed that quarterly presentations of Component 1 expenditures (including SPPP and other quality expenditures) would be initiated to better monitor progress against the activity. In addition, the mission agreed to conduct an analysis of the monitoring reports for the MTR to better understand expenditures under the SPPPs. The team was advised to code activities without being too prescriptive for ease of monitoring and data analysis. The DG has also agreed to send a letter to all Regional Directors to limit the transfer of head teachers in SEIP schools and to ensure that high capacity heads are assigned to SEIP and AF schools. Schools will also work on their 2017 annual plans during the training in addition to procurement plan updates.

Pillar 2: Improve Quality in low-performing Senior high Schools

19. School mapping: A local name has been selected for the school mapping portal “e-Adido’ meaning “knowledge is meant to be shared”. The new name will be included in the soon to be published Digest (expected May 2017). The digest has been delayed because data was missing from some schools (mostly private SHSs). In addition, new procurement awards had been frozen during the election and transition period (the Procurement Authority Board is yet to be set up). The digest is also going to be made available on the Ministry’s website. It was agreed that some verification would be conducted to verify that the digests have been distributed to all JHS (e.g.,

25

phone calls to JHS heads). The digest is missing the WAEC rankings as these were not received in time. The mission team recommended that SHS which had not provided the data should be listed and tagged with “data not available”. It was also recommended that regional listing should be in alphabetical order and the enrollment should be cross-tabulated by programs and class (i.e. SHS1, SHS2, SHS3). The mission team also recommended that heads be made to verify data provided on their schools and a unique identification and coding for each school should be determined. The second phase of school mapping - to enhance the school mapping platform and expand its scope to include scholarship information, M&E and academic performance tracking - has been proceeding well and significant improvements have been made to the portal to tackle the integration of these databases. One issue that needs to be addressed is how to route the comments received on social media to the appropriate school heads for their responses. The ability for the portal to respond quickly to citizen comments/complaints is critical for its continued relevance, use and real time problem solving. In addition, the portal fills the information gap for students selecting SHS schools, but only if all schools are reporting in a timely manner. It was agreed that more sensitization and training would be provided to head teachers during the upcoming leadership trainings.

20. ICT: The mission is pleased to note that the iboxes have been procured (160) and 70 have been installed by end of January. The content for SHS1 and SHS2 has been uploaded onto the machines which includes video lessons, interactives and assessments as well as over 3,000 additional open source resources (e.g., Khan Academy). It was agreed that the list of resources would be shared with the team for further quality assurance and suggestions on appropriate materials that can be included. Training has been conducted for four core subject teachers and one ICT teacher from each of the first 70 schools to receive the iboxes, while the remaining schools will receive the training and ibox in September 2017. The mission learned that procurement is still ongoing for installation accessories such as UPS, access points and solar panels. It was advised to make sure that the equipment is functional at each school. The mission also advised the team to review the estimated costs for connectivity (US$1,100), solar panels (US$12,000) and solar panel installation (US$1,200) as the unit costs appeared very high. Content for the final year of senior high school (SHS3) is being developed in 2017 and would focus more on subject reviews. The mission recommended that the team consider how to include more interesting resources to keep students engaged and eager to use the system. The mission also discussed whether new policies on technology in schools would need to be considered to allow for increased access to these resources. Suggestions for day students include using their phones and providing i-boxes to local public libraries. The mission also recommended that the plans for the ICT studio be put on hold until after the results of the impact evaluation on the functionality, use and cost effectiveness of the i-box are better determined.

21. e-transform and e-learning projects: a. The 125 SEIP schools plus 23 new SHSs will participate in the training by KACE. b. Training for eTransform and eLearning SHS beneficiaries will consider an additional 200 and 240 SHSs respectively using the harmonized unit cost for training agreed among the MOE, GES, Ministry of Communications (MOC) and KACE.c. The Curriculum Research Development Division (CRDD) will lead in reviewing the ICT curriculum bringing in all the relevant stakeholders

26

d. KACE is invited to provide a proposal for the review and may suggest key stakeholders for the ICT curriculum reviewe. The ICT training modules developed under the Global e-Schools Community Initiative (GESDI) will be shared with KACE and all stakeholdersf. A list of resource persons already trained under other ICT project will be utilized in the KACE training as relevantg. A technical committee made up of key stakeholders will be constituted to oversee the proposed training by KACEh. Content from CENDLOS will be released to accelerate and inform the KACE trainingi. A selection process for subject area specialists for the training will be agreed between KACE and CRDD.

22. Science and math: An assessment strategy workshop was held in March 2017 in preparation for rolling out school based assessments using an extensive question bank. CADENA has been providing technical advice under this activity and would help roll out the training in July for creating relevant assessments. The mission requested to see the implementation plan for assessment roll out. The current local arrangements rely on science coordinators in every district as well as district support teams who do in-service STEM training. Unfortunately capacity is weak and the district support teams are not functioning. The i-box teacher portal is still not well understood by all teachers. The plans for the Ghana Olympiad have been initiated although the strategy was too narrowly focused. The mission advised that the preparation for the Olympiad focus more on rolling out science and math enrichment activities to all SEIP schools and giving teachers the resources needed to make the learning fun and accessible. The focus on selecting representatives to attend the national competition in September should be secondary. The mission also requested to know who is doing quality assurance on the syllabus and activities for this Olympiad enrichment. In preparation for the MTR, it was agreed that science and math teachers would be surveyed (possibly through a moderated Whats app intervention) to gage their progress under the SEIP, use of i-box if applicable and sentiments on trainings. A delegation is planning to attend the upcoming MS4SSA workshop in Worcester, MA to investigate the potential for adopting the methodology as a pilot under the SEIP. The list of proposed attendees and the filled in application form to attend the workshop would be completed by the team by April 19, 2017.

23. Leadership: The two day training held in October/November 2016 continued to sensitize head teachers to the standards and expectations delineated in the leadership manual. The manual is still not finalized. The mission recommended that the manual be finalized as soon as possible and distributed to schools. In addition, there should be some workshop launched by May for all new head teachers given the high turnover rate. A refresher training is being planned for August/September and could provide a platform for MTR stakeholder engagement and the launch of the additional financing. The mission discussed the possible creation of a school leadership index (SLI) to better monitor and assess progress. The mission learned that the feedback from monitoring is that there have been some improvements in leadership in the SEIP schools. However, many of the Heads are still not communicating regularly about the project and reporting on various activities. The mission encouraged the team to sensitize the Heads about how they will be assessed throughout the project period.

27

24. Research: A consultant has been contracted to oversee the research agenda (CERED at University of Cape Coast). There were some delays in preparing the inception report because the research leader became the Vice Chancellor of UCC. Therefore the team has a new leader (Dr. Francis Medahe) and the report has been shared. The areas for research focus include scholarships, science and math and teacher training performance. In addition, the team would look at teacher deployment and school level systems. The mission recommended that the research agenda also focus on key areas relevant to implementing the government’s new free SHS policy and produce short data analyses (as described for the MTR preparation) over the next several months. The Research fellow is now on board and working across the research agenda at the Ministry and to help build capacity while managing the research database. Statistical training is being rolled out to interested staff in different departments of education agencies. The Research database is being developed, but has not yet been populated. Different categories of entries (academic research/papers, manuals, project info, etc.) are being considered and criteria for vetting submissions has been determined. A national service person is also to be appointed/posted to the Ministry to support the research team. The student perceptions study is ongoing (team is completing field work in April). A mapping of NGOs, CSOs and DPs operating in Ghana is also being considered. IPA and MOE/GES hosted a research evidence summit March 28-29, 2017. In addition, the mission also agreed to explore study tour options for the team to visit Shanghai, Korea and possibly Vietnam in October/November 2017.

25. Impact evaluations are underway to test the impact of the ibox package and to assess the extent to which follow-up science and math teacher training has an impact on student learning. The principal investigator and field coordinator were hired in May and have completed the baseline study. The report would be shared by April 8, 2017. It was agreed that the impact evaluation consider conducting a midline survey in September before the roll out of the additional i-boxes to better capture impact of i-box activities given the considerable interest to scale this high cost activity. The baseline and midline surveys would include lesson observations, assessment of facilities, surveying teachers and students. The mission discussed how to define the follow-up teacher training intervention that would need to be rolled out by the end of the calendar year. It was agreed that the team could explore piloting the Math and Science for Sub-Saharan Africa intervention as the follow-up science and math teacher support. Alternative options include electronic mentoring messages to teachers. The mission agreed that further clarification is needed to define the follow-up teacher training and the observation tool that would be used to measure impact. A proposed road map of the design is attached as Annex 4.

Financial Management: Overview of Project Expenditures

Component 1 Summary of activity expenditures

BUDGET LINES BUDGET(GHS)

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE(GHS)

CUMMULATIVE TOTAL

BALANCE

SCHOLARSHIP 53,040,000.00

5,185,847.63

11,345,885.62

16,531,733.25

36,508,266.75

SPPP'S 51,000,000.00

-

5,817,752.05

5,817,752.05

45,182,247.95

ICT IN EDUCATION 19,349,380.00

1,856,673.20

4,866,602.10

588,000.00

7,311,275.30

12,038,104.70

NEW

28



CUMMULATIVE TOTAL

BALANCE

CONSTRUCTION 310,464,724.27

95,412,318.01

91,073,930.55 186,486,248.56

123,978,475.71

FACILITY UPGRADE 25,273,195.90

9,395,871.07

11,496,879.42

20,892,750.49

4,380,445.41

REFURBISHMENT FOR e LEARNING PROJECT

220,905.00

-

-

-

220,905.00

SUPERVISION CONSULTANCY -NEW CONTRUCTION

12,549,750.00

3,924,887.84

5,900,257.90

9,825,145.74

2,724,604.26

SUPERVISION CONSULTANCY -FACILITY UPPGRADE

4,210,442.25

562,610.57

1,874,552.34

2,437,162.91

1,773,279.34

CONSULTANCY-CIVIL WORKS TEAM

1,104,000.00

135,700.00

494,650.00

86,550.00

716,900.00

387,100.00

CONSULTANCTY VOC-TECH BLOCK

-

-

-

-

CONSULTANCY-PROC. /M&E SPECIALIST

649,992.00

-

404,350.09

37,306.67

441,656.76

208,335.24

CONSULTANCY-EXT. WORKS & OTHER DOCUMENTATION

951,750.00

951,750.00

-

951,750.00

-

CONSULTANCY-NEW WORKS DESIGN REVIEW CONTROL

37,189.00

37,189.00

-

37,189.00

-

CONSULTANCY-FACILITY UPGRADE DESIGN REVIEW CONTROL

30,000.00

30,000.00

-

30,000.00

-

CONSULTANCY- SAFEGUARDS

178,900.00

178,150.00

-

178,150.00

750.00

CONSULTANCY- SAFEGUARDS IMPLEMENTATION MONIRORING

251,635.00

44,631.32

114,436.00

159,067.32

92,567.68

CONSULTANCY- VOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL BLOCK DOCUMENTATION

254,000.00

206,712.77

-

206,712.77

47,287.23

FURNITURE NEW SCH. (23 SHS)

11,425,788.00

-

3,864,960.00

1,510,464.60

5,375,424.60

6,050,363.40

FURNITURE-OFFICE EQUIPMENT NEW SCH. (23 SHS)

1,380,000.00

-

-

136,200.15

136,200.15

1,243,799.85

FURNITURE UPGRADED SCH. (50)

2,214,300.00

-

-

186,909.30

186,909.30

2,027,390.70

FURNITURE UPGRADED SCH. NEW 22 CLASSROOMS

490,000.00

-

-

-

490,000.00

FURNITURE -LAB EQUIPMENT, HARDWARE & CHEMICALS 23 NEW SCH

30,406,113.19

-

-

-

30,406,113.19

FURNITURE -SEIP SECRETARIAT

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CUMMULATIVE TOTAL

BALANCE

325,814.66 - 159,625.63 159,625.63 166,189.03 COST OF MONITORING AND SITE MONITORS OF 23 SHS AND 50 UPGRADED SHS

1,000,000.00

495,538.78

294,453.41

84,670.18

874,662.37

125,337.63

CONTINGENCIES 2,000,000.00 831,155.40

153,740.54

12,063.00

996,958.94

1,003,041.06

TOTAL 528,807,879.27

119,249,035.59

119,249,035.59

2,642,163.90

259,762,567.27

269,045,312.00

Component 2 Budget, Expenditure and Overview by Focal Area for Year 2

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Annex 3: Disbursement Linked Indicators for YEAR 3 RESULTS

Ghana Secondary Education Improvement Project Year 3 DLR Verification (P145741- CR.54520)

DLI DLR Requirements/Comments

Verification source/documents

Verification Protocol Status

DLI 2: Increase in new seats for SHS students in underserved school districts

DLR 2.4: About 5,000 new seats created in underserved districts

(US$4.64 m)


Independent Verification Firm to visit sites and verify against school enrolment records, subsidy collection list and school mapping reports

To be verified by Independent Verification Firm (KE&T) and reviewed by the World Bank.

DLI 3: Increase in number of seats utilized in existing low-performing schools

DLR 3.4: About 3,000 seats utilized (cumulative)

(US$4.64 m)

Improvement in total enrolment in 125 schools from 2014/15 EMIS data. 2017/18 data will come directly from school survey.


Enrolment data collected through school reporting and through school mapping. Independent Verifier will visit 10% sample of schools to confirm enrolment records as compared to submissions by school heads.

To be verified by Independent Verification Firm (DAB Consult) and reviewed by World Bank.

DLI 4: Increased enrolment in SHS in targeted districts and schools for students from low-income families, especially girls

DLR 4.4: At least 6,000 SHS students receiving scholarship in selected schools

(US$4.64 m)

Total number scholarships in all three years where at least 6o% of beneficiaries are girls. With introduction of Free SHS- scholarships will be fully distributed. (10,000) (US$ 4.64 m)

Independent Verification Firm Report

Independent Verification firm will visit schools to validate receipt of funds and will check that selection criteria has been adhered to.

To be verified by Independent Verification Firm (DAB consult) and reviewed by the World Bank.

DLI 5: Annual Publication of School Performance Report

DLR 5.3: Publication of updated school performance data for

All schools (including private) mapped and information uploaded

World Bank and random spot checks to JHS and district offices.

School mapping up and running and digest is being compiled and printed. Additional information is still

To be verified by the World Bank once digest is printed See www.ghanaschoolsinfo.org for online version

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FY2016/2017 online and in brochure

(US$4.64 m)

onto school mapping portal and printed digest.

being collected from schools during ongoing monitoring visits.

DLI 6: School Performance Partnerships in 125 Beneficiary Schools

DLR 6.4: 100 selected schools signing performance partnerships out of the 125 selected schools(US$4.64 m)

100 plans have been signed, and additionally funds have been allocated for the schools


Independent Verification firm would sample schools to confirm plans are available and initial funds have been received.

To be verified by the Independent verification Firm (DAB Consult).

DLI 7: Improved learning outcomes in 125 selected SHS (quality package)

DLR 7.4: ICT based instruction rolled out in all targeted SHS

(US$4.64 m)

Teachers in these schools received training. iBoxes are functioning


Independent Verification Firm to validate through school visits, interviews with teachers trained.

To be verified by Independent Verification Firm (DAB Consult)

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Annex 4: Proposed Design for Impact Evaluation

Final Groups:

A. Phase 1 iBox: These were the first X schools to receive an iBox, they remain unchangedB. Phase 1 iBox + new intervention: Among the Phase 1 iBox receivers, these are the ones that will be

randomly selected to receive a new intervention (MS4SSA or text messages)C. Phase 2 iBox: These were the SEIP schools that receive an iBox in Sep 2017D. Phase 2 iBox + new intervention: Among the Phase 1 iBox receivers, these are the ones that will be

randomly selected to receive a new intervention (MS4SSA or text messages)E. New intervention: These are among the 25 non – SEIP schools that will become SEIP in September

2017 under AF. Half of these will be randomly selected to receive a new intervention in January 2018.

F. No new intervention: These are among the 25 non – SEIP schools that will become SEIP in September 2017 under AF but will not receive a new intervention.

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June 2018 - endline

January 2018 (new

intervention)

September 2017 (Phase

2: iBox, midline)

January 2017

(Phase 1: iBox,

baseline)

Sampling

Sample of X schools

1. iBox -SEIP 1. iBox - SEIP (Phase 1 i Box)

A. Phase 1 iBox

X schools

B. 1 + new intervention X schools

2. no iBox SEIP 2. iBox - SEIP (Phase 2 iBox)

C. Phase 2iBox

X schools

D. 2 + new intervention X schools

3. no iBox- non SEIP 3. no iBox - SEIP

E. new intervention X schools

F. no new intervention X schools

Research questions:

Does iBox work: Compare Group 1 and 2 at midline survey iBox impact through longer duration: compare A and C at endline Does new intervention work better with Phsase 1 iBox or Phase 2 iBox: compare B and D at

endline Does new intervention work: Compare

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Annex 6: SEIP Results Framework (March 2017)

Indicator Unit of Measure

Baseline 2014

Cumulative Target Values Frequency Data Source/ Methodology

Responsibility for Data

Collection2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Target Actual Target Actual Target Target Target Indicator One: Increase in Transition Rates from JHS3 to SHS1 in targeted districts

Percentage

EMIS 2013/14 39% 39%

EMIS 2014/15

40%41%

EMIS 2015/16:

43% 43% 46% 47% Annual EMIS MoE, PBME,

SRIMPR; GES

Indicator Two: Increase in SHS educational attainment within the two poorest quintiles in targeted districts (disaggregated by gender)

Percentage

Total: 8.4%

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Total: 15%

End of Project

Population and Housing Census (2010) and end line survey measuring the highest level of education completed by 20-22 year-olds

MoE, PBME, SRIMPR; GES

HQ; GSSMale: 11.1% Male:

18.9%

Female: 6.1% Female: 11.7%

Indicator Three: WASSCE achievement of 6 credits and above within beneficiary schools (disaggregated by gender)

Percentage

Total: 10.7% Total: 11.0%

Total: 7.4%

Total: 12.0%

Total: 10.7%

Total: 13.5%

Total: 14.5%

Total: 15.0%

Annual

WAEC/EMIS Annual

WASSCE league table

MoE (PBME); WAECMale: 11.6% Male:

11.9%Male: 8.6%

Male: 12.9%

Male:12.6%

Male: 14.4%

Male: 15.4%

Male: 15.9%

Female: 9.5% Female: 9.8%

Female: 5.8%

Female: 10.8%

Female:8.1%

Female: 12.3%

Female: 13.3%

Female: 14.3%

Indicator Four: Direct project beneficiaries (students, teachers, institutional leaders)(cumulative)

Number

Total: 0 Total: 4241

Total: 134,721

Total: 108992

TBD June 2017

Total: 178597

Total: 233499

Total: 276970

Annual

MoE, Independent

Verification end line Survey

Report


HQMale: 0%

Male: 2387 (56.3%)

Male: 72,993 (54.2%)

Male: 61778 (56.7%)

Male: 100672 (56.4%)

Male: 130713 (56.0%)

Male: 154763 (55.9%)

Female 0%Female: 1854 (43.7%)

Female: 61,729 (45.8%)

Female: 47214 (43.3%)

Female: 77919 (43.6%)

Female: 102767 (44.0%)

Female: 122187 (44.1%)

Intermediate-level Results Indicators Component 1: Support to Increase Access with Equity and Quality in SHS

Pillar 1: Increase Access with Equity in senior secondary education in underserved districts

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Baseline 2014



Collection2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Target Actual Target Actual Target Target Target Intermediate Result Indicator One:

Number 0 0 0 0 3,111 5,000 15,000 15,000 Annual

M&E Report Web based

school monitoring


New (additional) SHS seats created and utilized by SHS students in the targeted schools (cumulative)Intermediate Result Indicator Two:

Number

0Baseline

Enrolment in 2014/15

(EMIS) = 132,229

500

1,259Enrolment collected

from schools as

of February 2016 = 133,488

1,000

3,000 5,000 10,000 Annual


school monitoring


Increase in seats created and utilized within low performing beneficiary SHS schools (cumulative)

5,889

Intermediate Result Indicator Three:

Number 0 2,000 2,143 4,000 6,000 10,000 10,000 Annual


school monitoring

MoE, PBME,SRIMP

R, GES

Scholarships are distributed to low income students in the participating districts and schools (cumulative)

5,398

Pillar 2: Improve Quality in low-performing senior high schools

Intermediate Result Indicator One:

Number Mathemat

ics

Mathematics: 0

Mathematics: 0

Mathematics: 331

Mathematics: 120

Math: 645 (304 in year 2)

Mathematics: 240

Mathematics: 360

Mathematics: 360

Annual


school monitoring

MoE, PBME, SRIMPR, GES

Teachers participating in training to upgrade or acquire new skills in Mathematics or Science (cumulative)

Number Science Science: 0 Science:

0Science: 576

Science: 100

Science: 1,126 (550 in year 2)

Science: 250

Science: 500

Science: 500

Intermediate Percentag Total: 81.7% Total: - Total: Total: Total: Total: Total: Total: Annual School Registry/ MoE, PBME,

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Baseline 2014



Collection2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Target Actual Target Actual Target Target Target Result Indicator Two:

e

81.7% 81.6% 82.7% 83.7% 85.71%

EMIS SRIMPR; GES Increase in completion rates in targeted schools (disaggregated by gender)

Male: 81.8% Male: - Male: Male: 81.8%

Male:81.4%

Male: 82.8%

Male: 83.8%

Male: 85.8%

Female: 81.2%

set using average of completion rate for cohort ending 2013/14 and 2015/16.

Female:- Female: 81.2%

Female: 81.8%

Female: 82.1%

Female: 83.1%

Female: 85.1%

Intermediate Result Indicator Three:

Number 0 0 0 80

100 125 125 Annual


school monitoring


Number of Performance Partnerships for Learning with beneficiary SHSs established (cumulative)

100

Intermediate Result Indicator Four:

Number 0 0 0 70 125 125 125 Annual

M&E Report, Web-based

school monitoring

MoE, PBME, SRIMPR, GES,

NITASHS ICT packages implemented in beneficiary schools (cumulative)

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Component 2: Management, Research and Monitoring and EvaluationIntermediate Result Indicator One:

Yes/No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Annual

M&E Report, Web-based

school monitoring


Monitoring system established and functioning to annually track data and publish information on all

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Baseline 2014



Collection2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Target Actual Target Actual Target Target Target SHS schools in GhanaIntermediate Result Indicator Two:

Number 0 0 0 1

2 3 5 Annual


school monitoring


Research and Sector analyses conducted to inform elaboration of Secondary Education Strategy (cumulative)

1

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