Ratan Kumar Roy Seminar on Gender Project Director

and Equality

BANGLADESH Secondary Education Sector Development Project (SESDP)

Ratan Kumar Roy Project Director ADB Loan # 2266-BAN (SF)

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

for Creative Change and Development

SESDP At a Glance
Secondary Education Sector Development Project (SESDP)

2007 - 2013
Total Project Cost: US$ 113.33m ADB Loan: US$ 85.00 m GoB Grant: US$ 28.33m

SESDP is the follow on initiative of SESIP (1999 2006).

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)
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SESDP At a Glance
Background: SESDP: Second slice of Secondary Education Sector Development Program (1998), updated in 2006. Follow on of Secondary Education Sector Improvement Project: ADB Loan 1690 BAN (SF) (SESIP: 1999-2006)

Project Objectives:

Overall Objective: Poverty reduction in Bangladesh by

improving relevancy of secondary education to the demands of the job market.

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

for Creative Change and Development

SESDP Objectives
Specific Objectives: (i) to improve efficiency by strengthening management, accountability and transparency in secondary education; (ii) to enhance quality of education by improving the curriculum, student assessment and school performance;

(iii) to improve equity of access to education by

improving infrastructure, supporting the delivery system of and providing support to the poor students.
SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)
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SESDP worked for ...

Enactment of new laws ensuring gender equality, i.e. new act on Formation of School Management Committees (SMCs). Formulation of policies fostering gender equality, i.e. decentralization of management responsibilities. Developing a new gender sensitive curriculum leading to quality education.

Skills based new curriculum with new avenues for career development of girl students.
Large scale teachers training (including female teachers) on curriculum & assessment reform that encompassed gender perspective.
SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)
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SESDP worked for .... (contd)

Arrangement of training at district level to ensure more participation of female teachers. Creation of new school facilities for the primary graduates (specially girls) of unschooled underserved 63 localities. Developed and implemented a new poverty targeted stipend scheme in 53 sub-districts to improve poor girls access to secondary education. Construction of additional classrooms in 250 schools underserved areas to facilitate enrollment of more girls. in

Installation of toilet & tube-wells for girls in 146 schools.

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)
for Creative Change and Development

SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 1: Strengthened Management & Governance
Select Activities, Indicators/Targets Progress

A gender oriented report prepared Ensure decentralized, gender- for decentralized HR functions oriented HR functions within the within DSHE and under review of Ministry of Public Administration DSHE and the field. for approval. Orientation on the gender related Ensure implementation of the GoB GoB circulars and NAP arranged circulars and National Action Plan for 872 (female 293) upazila (subdistrict) and district level officers. (NAP)

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SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 1: Strengthened Management & Governance
Select Activities, Indicators/Targets Progress/Achievements
A gender-based MQA system for DSHE developed using sexEstablish gender-based monitoring disaggregated data for all and quality assurance (MQA) system monitoring indicators, i.e. student enrolment, drop-out etc. Link www.emis.gov.bd Orientations of SMCs, PTAs and Head Teachers being implemented Orientation of SMCs, PTAs, Head by TQI-SEP and SEQAEP. Teachers through other projects SESDP arranged orientation for 36,000 SMC members and Head Masters (18000 + 18000). SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)
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SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 1: Strengthened Management & Governance
Progress/ Achievement Baseline data collected for all Include genderbased information institutions under DSHE in 2012 under in the operations and reporting EMIS including gender-based info, i.e, number of students, number of systems. teachers, teachers training etc. Online data update for 2013 in progress. Increased decentralization of A report with policy guidelines & management responsibilities to recommendations for decentralization of management responsibilities of include at least 40% women at all DSHE developed and under review at levels MoPA. Some recommendations implemented (post up-grading, school transfer of public school teachers). GAP target of 40% women is suggested to be revised not at all levels but in urban areas only. SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP) 9
for Creative Change and Development

Select Activities, Indicators/Targets

SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 2: Higher Quality Secondary Education
Select Activities, Indicators/Targets Progress/ Achievement
New curriculum for grades 6-12 completed after a review from gender perspective. The objectives, Review curriculum from gender targets and learning outcomes of designed perspectives and modify as needed the new curriculum include gender perspectives. Gender Specialist, SESDP-TACT guided. Example: pictures like girls doing odd jobs while a boy operating a computer by the side, dropped from the textbooks.

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SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 2: Higher Quality Secondary Education
Select Activities, Indicators/Targets Progress
Madrasah curricula modernized from a gender perspective having six subjects (i.e. Bangla, English, Maths, ICT) common with general stream and new textbooks addressed gender issues. New curriculum framework included ICT, Home Economics, Garments and Sewing, Food Management etc. to ensure girls education in diverse areas. The new B. Ed. curriculum developed is effectively genderfocused.
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Modernize and revise Madrasah (Islamic religious schools) curricula from gender perspectives Introduce Skill-based curriculum to ensure girls education in diverse areas Ensure gender-focused curriculum for the teachers, teachers-trainers and administrators

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

for Creative Change and Development

SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 2: Higher Quality Secondary Education
Select Activities, Indicators/ Targets Progress
65,000 teachers and community members (including women) received orientation on new SBA system. School clusters regularly supervised by field officers recruited under SESDP. PTA meetings (including women) supported by SESDP staff review SBA and other reforms.

Arrange orientation on the new School Based Assessment (SBA) system for schools and community (including women)

410,000 teachers trained (including all Ensure female teachers women in relevant subjects: 30%) on new orientation on the new exam exam system. The project has trained 6,234 master trainers, with 2,751 (44%) women, system on new examination system.

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 2: Higher Quality Secondary Education
Select Activities, Indicators/Targets Ensure implementation of Govt. circulars in recruitment and training of female teachers in schools and madrashas. Encourage and ensure girls access to ICT through issuance of directives and taking measures Progress New MoE circular re-fixed the women quota for recruitment of teachers in schools and Madrasahs: urban (40%), sub-urban (30%) and rural areas (20%).

Ensure gender segregated data collection, analysis and information flow for decision making levels.

In the new curriculum for grades 6-10, ICT is compulsory for all. Laptop and projectors supplied to all secondary schools. Access for 1,500 girl students ensured through establishment of ICT lab in 20 pilot schools and 33 model madrasah under SESDP. Ensured through modifications of EMIS software under SESDP support. Link www.emis.gov.bd

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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SESDP Gender Action Plan: DMF Major Achievements

OUTPUT 3: More Accessible Access to Secondary Education
Select Activities, Indicators/Targets Progress

Ensure 30% of enrolled girls in 30% girls and 10% boys covered by the poverty targeted stipend poverty targeted stipend scheme of SESDP. In total 934,899 st-yr (girls policy
701,437 st-yr; boys 233,462) benefited since January 2007. Ensure participation of women Female labourers are included in labourers in the new school construction of new schools as far as practicable. construction.

Engineering Department Arrange orientation on equal Education wage for equal work for the provided orientation on equal wage for equal work to total 353 contractors at the contractors

Ensure classroom facilities for girls

and

time of award of contract. toilet Toilet and tube-well facilities provided to 146 schools enrolling girl students.
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SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

for Creative Change and Development

Challenges
Retaining girl students in senior grades.
Sexual abuse & violence: a cause for early marriage & school drop-out. Social outlook and views towards future responsibilities of girl students. Male dominated social outlook and institutional arrangements. Less participation of girls in science and job oriented subjects.

Insufficient rate of on-going stipend program (details follow).

Reluctant attitude of female teachers towards training programs .

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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Critical Factors in Improving Girls Access to Secondary Education

New rules keeping compulsory inclusion of female members in SMC (School Management Committee) Increased decentralization of management responsibilities and new HR Management requiring at least 30% women at all levels. New gender-inclusive curriculum. Large scale training for the teachers including the female teachers. Poverty targeted stipend scheme for 30% girls and 10% boys out of total enrolled. Gender-sensitive facilities development (classrooms/toilets)

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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Poverty Targeted Stipend Scheme

SESDP covers 53 sub-districts and 175,000 students. Poor students (30% of girls/10% of boys in total enrollment) are targeted for stipend distribution. Criteria for Selecting Poor Students: Parents are owner of less than 50 decimal of land. Annual income of parents less than 30,000 taka. (US$ 400) Vulnerable and helpless group of the society (i.e. orphans). Parents are disabled (i.e. blind) or and not able to earn income. Children of homeless river erosion affected and insolvent family. Low income family (day laborer, rickshaw puller etc)

Children of insolvent freedom fighters.

Contd

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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Poverty Targeted Stipend Scheme

Stipend Distribution Rate for each

US$
Grade
VI

Monthly Rate
1.32

Monthly Tuition Fee

0.20

VII
VIII IX X

1.32
1.64 2.24 2.63

0.20
0.20 0.26 0.26

Contd
SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)
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Poverty Targeted Stipend Scheme

Impact of Poverty Targeted Stipend Scheme:
GER 2007: Total 42.66% (Girls: 47.17%) GER 2011: Total: 61.89% (Girls: 66.91%)

Increased girls enrollment rate in secondary education:

Increased attendance rate of poor & meritorious students in secondary education.

Reduced gap between rich and poor section of society with respect to secondary education. Early marriage discouraged and population growth rate reduced.
2007: Total: 57.37% (Girls: 54.74%) 2013: Total: 89.03% (Girls: 87.06%)

Increased pass rate at secondary level. SSC pass rate:

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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Lessons Learned
Enthusiasm and ambition of girl students for continuation of education.

High enrollment and pass rates of girl students.

Encouraging examples of incredible successes of disadvantaged girl students. Difficulties in policy formulation and implementation. Social outlook and mindset being a setback.

Insufficient allocation to support all disadvantaged girls and to create facilities for girl students and teachers.

SECONDARY EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SESDP)

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Way Forward

Execution of recommendations on decentralization and HR management.

Implementation of gender-sensitive curriculum. Increasing the stipend rates and coverage to address the needs of ultra poor segment. Developing a congenial outlook and mindset as well as creation of training facilities for the female teachers. Creating more congenial situation and facilities for the girls in the schools and ensuring safety on their way to school.

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Thank You
9/24/2013 SESDP_BAN_Loan No. 2266
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