EVALUATION OF THE PANAMA EDUCATION SECTOR LOAN -- DRAFT

PURPOSE OF EVALUATION WAS NOT TO JUDGE ACTIVITIES IN PANAMA, BUT RATHER TO SEE WHAT COULD BE LEARNED FROM THE PANAMA EXPERIENCE CONCERNING THE SECTOR LOAN PROCESSES OF ANALYSIS, ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES,AND IMPLEMENTATION. SHIFTS OF EMPHASIS FROM QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES, FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, AND FROM BILATERAL TO MULTI-LATERAL ASSISTANCE NOTED. FOR FY 1975 MISSION HAS PROGRAMMED A LOAN OF $6 MILLION TO FINANCE RURAL SELF-HELP CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION OF PILOT PROGRAMS AND NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCCESSFULLY TESTED PROGRAMS, AND EXPANSION OF MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S PROGRAMS TO DECENTRALIZE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. PRE-LOAN ANALYSIS DEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE EXPLICIT RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNTRY'S MANPOWER NEEDS, DID NOT EXAMINE ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES, NOR EXAMINE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF STRATEGY CHOSEN. ALSO NOTED IS LACK OF SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS DESPITED IMPROVED ANALYTICAL CAPACITY OF MINISTRY. IN TERMS OF ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES, PROGRAM DESIGN WAS REALLY A DESCRIPTION OF AID INPUTS, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC ACTIONS OF THE PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE QUALITATIVE AND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES OF PROGRAM. AID TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING COMPONENTS JUDGED INADEQUATE TO PRODUCE QUALITATIVE CHANGES DESCRIBED IN LOAN. NEED TO PROVIDE DEFINITE QUALITATIVE TARGETS IN FUTURE LOAN ACTIVITIES CITED.