Balochistan, home to eight of the ten most deprived districts in Pakistan, is the poorest of Pakistan’s four provinces with limited economic opportunities, lagging social indicators and large gender gaps. In addition the province is plagued by tribal, ethnic and sectarian conflict which has been exacerbated in recent times by a low- level nationalist insurgency and the fallout from the war on terror in Afghanistan. Overall literacy rates in Balochistan, at 37% (17% for females), compare unfavorably with that for Pakistan at 52% (38% for females). Gross enrollment rates in primary education in Balochistan have improved from 62% in 2001-2 to 72% in 2006-07. But this compares unfavorably with the Pakistan average of 72% and 91% respectively. Clearly, other parts of Pakistan have shown faster progress in getting students enrolled in school. The difference in enrollment rates is mostly explained by the expansion of non-government and private provision of education in the rest of Pakistan where they account for 38% of all primary enrollment, in contrast with Balochistan where the corresponding figure is 11% only. Over the years, low public investment in education and dissipating administrative capacity at all levels has led to a system that is characterized by low enrollment, high teacher and student absenteeism, little or no engagement by communities that feel unempowered. Challenges In this atmosphere the Bank team set out to design a project that would actively engage the communities on a long-term basis, and tap the entrepreneurial spirit of the private and non-government sector to deliver primary education, in particular for girls, to the poorest communities. Approach As first step the Balochistan Education Foundation (BEF), originally mandated to encourage private sector participation in education service delivery, and was identified as a potential pivot for all project activities. The Bank team and the Government of Balochistan worked together to restructure the BEF into an autonomous, well governed and private sector managed apex financing and monitoring body. BEF in turn competitively selected NGOs’ and other organizations as Implementing Partners to help in identification, establishment, monitoring and capacity building of communities, schools and teachers in poor rural areas. The BEF was tasked with setting up 650 Community Schools in poor rural communities which would be free at the point of use. The communities were given control of all school resources, including teacher hiring and firing, salaries, and school construction. For urban and semi-urban areas BEF competitively selected private school operators set up 300 low-fee schools over the project period, with a promise to subsidize them up to 6 US$ per student per month for 3 years. In addition they were allowed to charge up to Us$ 5 in monthly fees. Over 90% of schools actually charge less than US$ 2 per month. In all cases schools were to be set up in communities without schools, with an emphasis on enrolling out of school children, especially girls.
Impact in the first two years
In the first year BEF and its partners set up 197 new rural Community Schools in 17 districts of Balochistan, with an enrollment of over 8000 students, including over 3900 girls. An additional 237 new community schools have been established in the second year with enrollment at over 8,500 students, over 4,000 of which are girls. As a result, 434 BEF community schools, with total enrollments of 16,000 children have now been set up in 29 of the 30 districts in Balochistan as against an initial target of 350 schools with an enrollment of 10,500 students by end June 2008. It is heartening to note that Parent Education Committees of community schools were proactively involved in managing the schools and were acutely aware of their authority and responsibility in ensuring teacher hiring and attendance, student attendance and management of school funds and records are being reasonably well maintained.
In addition to the 83 low-fee Private Schools established in 2007 in peri-urban and urban areas, a further 55 have been set up in 2008. The total enrolment in 134 private schools is over 10,000 (with around 4000 girls) against a target at appraisal for the first two years of 200 schools with around 10,000 students. Schools have been opened in low-income communities where private operators were unlikely to open schools without BEF support, however it is already apparent that there is less scope for fee charging private schools than was envisaged at appraisal stage. Capacity building activities including intensive and regular training of teachers, communities, NGOs, and BEF staff is underway.
The Road Ahead BEF and its partners are on target to identify 217 additional community school sites by January 2009 (one year ahead of schedule). In addition BEF will be inviting applications for establishment of additional private schools, and progress is being made to open all these schools to be opened by March 2009 (two years ahead of schedule). There is an intensified focus on improving quality of education though off-site and ongoing on-site teacher training, and regular student and teacher assessment are underway. Two rounds of assessments have already been carried out and a third round is scheduled for March 2009. A mid-term review of project activities is scheduled for December 2008. |
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