Primary education program

Program consists of a sector grant to be disbursed in four tranches. Supporting TA and training will be provided under project 6320225. The GOL will agree to a series of reforms, to include the following: (1) increased budget allocations to primary education; (2) hiring of additional teachers (1,300 over the life of the program, of whom 910 will be assigned to standards 1-3); (3) improved teacher training, particularly for standards 1-3, through upgrading of the National Teacher Training College (NTTC), as well as improved in-service training; (4) curriculum for standards 1-3 streamlined, with improved syllabi, additional instructional materials, and improved guidelines for student assessment; (5) improved classroom environment, through the addition of pupil and teacher desks, and the reduction of repeaters and of over- and under-age children; (6) reorganized MOE structure and functions, with selected operations devolved to District Education Offices, and MOE, proprietors (churches), and community/parents participating more effectively in school management; (7) strengthened MOE financial management capacity through the establishment of cost-center based (decentralized) budgeting; and (8) upgraded MOE systems for planning and data collection, analysis, and use. Broad goals include a 60% primary education completion rate, and a decrease in pupil:teacher ratio at the primary level from 56:1 to 54:1 by the year 2000. The GOL will use 90% of the local currency equivalent of the USAID grant for budgetary support to primary education, and provide 10% for a USAID trust fund.