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	Objectives and Justification Scope and Coverage Summary of Main Activities Program Management and Monitoring Financing Plan

Objectives and Justification » Up

The main objectives of this program are: (i) continuing to reduce cost burdens on parents of children in primary grades 1-6 through Government funding for school operational budgets, linked to the abolition of all illegal fees; (ii) to improve grades 1-6 progression rates through strengthening of remedial classes for under-performing students, linked to introduction of tests of minimum standards in selected primary grades, including strengthening and expanding child friendly school program and inclusive education through cluster schools; (iii) to improve quality through increase in per-pupil spending on school operating budgets for school supplies and instructional materials; (iv) to strengthen inspectors' capacity at all levels for school inspection and financial monitoring and reporting at all levels, linked to the introduction of school performance monitoring system to increase transparency and accountability in school management.

A further objective is to achieve a higher promotion rate through regulating promotion to 95% in each grade through providing remedial classes during the school year. Students will be able to progress quickly and effectively through primary school and make the transition to lower secondary. This will also effect a substantial cost saving. The further expansion of school facilities will enable some incomplete schools to become complete schools and to expand some primary schools to become basic education schools. This will ensure more equitable access for students in remote areas, including disadvantaged and disabled groups, ethnic minorities and girls. It will also improve the transition rate from primary to lower secondary.

Scope and Coverage » Up

The program will provide operational budgets for all primary schools, including incomplete primary schools. The program will improve efficiency to meet the ESP target of 95% promotion rates in grades 1-6 through strengthening of remedial class arrangements during the school year.

The program will also enable implementation of various quality improvement initiatives including strengthening of primary school student performance monitoring and introduction of minimum standards on student assessment to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The program will further contribute to increased transparency and accountability of schools through introduction of the school performance monitoring and report card system, alongside strengthening the mechanism for coordinated inspection linked to on-the-job training, and strengthening inclusive education program policies to ensure equitable access, especially disadvantaged and disabled children and girls, and focusing on life skill for preventing HIV/AIDS and other health problems.

Summary of Main Activities » Up

The main activities are:

1. School Operational Budgets aim to improved equitable access and quality of primary education, through increased and pro-poor school operating budgets nationwide, based on agreed modification to the block grant and per capita spending formula.

2. Strengthen quality of teaching and learning (i) revise the remedial class in school year through training on Thursdays, regularly assist in class and prepare program to help the pupils in grade 1 who did not attend pre-school, (ii) strengthen teaching activities in assisting the student, (iii) strengthen and expand the child friendly school program, inclusive education, special education and revised curriculum including local life-skills programs.

3. Strengthen Monitoring through operational costs to central, provincial, district and cluster staff to support planning, management and monitoring activities. Establish district coordination team for capacity building in cluster schools where appropriate, in order to improve decentralized basic education.

Program Management and Monitoring » Up

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will continue to strengthen budget management centres set up in 2000/01 at District Education Offices in all provinces/municipalities. The BMCs will be headed by the Chief of the District Education Office, supported by the Deputy Head and the members of BMC. Regular progress monitoring will be the responsibility of district and provincial primary school inspectors and supervisors against agreed work plans and school development plans. Financial expenditure progress monitoring will be the responsibility of a designated staff member within each budget management centre. Each District BMC will be required to report monthly to the Provincial BMC on program technical activities and financial situation. Program allocations should be provided to cluster schools where appropriate for their assistance in monitoring and school support.

The BMC at the provincial education office will be responsible for broader progress and output monitoring of the program technical activities and financing, troubleshooting where needed, and ensuring timely reports are submitted monthly from district BMCs. The provincial BMC will report quarterly to the Primary Education Department BMC on both technical and financial issues for the PAP Primary Education.

Financing Plan » Up

The indicative financing plan is shown below.

» Topic List
	Objectives and Justification Scope and Coverage Summary of Main Activities Program Management and Monitoring Financing Plan