EDUCATION SECTOR LOAN II

Evaluation covers the period 9/78-12/80 and is based on a partial review by the National Advisory Council for Education and a joint USAID/Ministry of Education (MOE) assessment. The Government of Panama"s decision, under pressure from various groups, to abolish the Educational Reform Curriculum caused major delays. Several modifications in the project resulted: printing of textbooks and other didactic materials was eliminated; the basic plan for school construction was altered; and the training of MOE staff was reoriented. The relevant funds were reprogrammed to finance an additional 78 educational centers. Despite these changes, the project has in general reached its planned outputs. Twenty of 30 targeted schools have been completed and provided with scientific, vocational, agricultural, and home economic equipment. A total of 10,000 students will benefit upon completion of the remaining 10 schools in 6/81. Curriculum materials have been developed and 17 textbooks have been printed for use by over 1 million students. Textbooks have been purchased for a Curriculum Library, although delivery has been delayed. A trained technical staff is in place in the MOE print center, capable of printing 350,000 volumes annually. The number of teachers trained (22,000) in teaching strategies, student evaluation, and program planning is over twice that planned. The Polytechnic Institute has completely upgraded its curriculum, and two of three planned campuses have been completed (although construction of the third campus is 5 months behind schedule). The 14 research subprojects are also behind schedule. The project has shown that reform programs must be marketed to potential beneficiaries and that it is useful, in commodity-oriented projects, to partially withhold payment until materials are installed. The project has been extended for 1 year. The loan implementation plan will be updated, and a plan for the delivery, storage, and installation of school equipment will be developed.