Final report : private initiatives in primary education (PIPE)

Phase I of the project, which focused on institutional strengthening of EDUCA, was successfully completed in 1992. A 1994 evaluation indicated that EDUCA had developed a wide variety of administrative skills in office systems, procurement, networking, and fundraising. It also acknowledged that contractor TA was on target in almost all instances and more than met the project"s technical requirements. Phase II, designed to have EDUCA work with the Mission in such primary education activities as teacher and school director training, testing and evaluation, instructional materials development, management information systems, and education advocacy, is approximately at its midpoint and on track. During this phase, EDUCA has been the lead project implementor, with the contractor continuing in the role of technical advisor and facilitator of staff training. Of particular note is EDUCA"s strong advocacy role, which has changed public opinion towards the educational system and led to a national policy change. The Plan Decenal is a vision to guarantee all primary school children a quality education by the year 2000 and is backed by a coalition of government, private sector, unions, and international donors.