Objectives and Justification » Up

The lower secondary education program objectives are to reduce access barriers for students, and improve quality and efficiency in order to increase grades 7-9 survival and grade 9-10 transition rates.

Indicators and targets » Up

• Increase net enrolment rate (NER) in grades 7-9 from 26.1% in 2004/05 to 39% in 2008

• Reduce gender gap in net enrolment rate (NER) at lower secondary from 2.5% in 2004/05 to effectively 0.0% in 2010

• Increase grade 9-10 transition rate from 56.1% in 2004/05 to 78% in 2010

• Introduce minimum learning standards in all schools

Strategy and Coverage » Up

The Ministry’s strategy to assure equitable access is through increased Government funding for pro-poor school operational budgets to reduce cost barriers for poor families. This program will be complemented by the scholarships/incentives program (PAP 12) to provide poverty-targeted scholarships for grades 7 to 9 students to further reduce the cost burden on poor families. It will be linked to the planned expansion of lower secondary facilities and teacher deployment and training reforms, to ensure sufficient supplies of qualified teachers for the new facilities.

In addition to reducing costing barriers achieving the objectives will also be done through various quality improvement initiatives, including 1) strengthening of the grade 9 examination systems, 2) introduction of minimum standards on student assessment to improve the quality of teaching and learning, 3) increased transparency and accountability of schools through introduction of the school performance monitoring and report card system.

Main Programmes and Activities » Up

• Nationwide provision of pro-poor school operating budgets, at increased levels based on annually agreed modifications to the block grant and per capita spending formula.

•Implementation of the new financial planning and accountability system for school operating budgets through involvement of parents and community management.

• Extension of existing primary schools to become basic cycle grades 1-9 schools (covered by capital program).

• Nationwide provision of scholarships for poor students, particularly girls, to reduce cost barrier of entering lower secondary.

• Provision of MoEYS peer-education Life-skills for HIV/AIDS program, in cooperation with selected NGOs²

Program Management and Monitoring » Up

The HQ Department of Secondary Education will manage the monitoring of the program. Regular progress monitoring will be the responsibility of district and provincial secondary school inspectors and supervisors against agreed work plans and school development plans. 185 districts BMCs will manage program funds channelled to schools. 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 Secondary Education Department BMC on both technical and financial issues for the PAP Secondary Education.

Financing Plan » Up

Table 4: Lower Secondary Education Access, Quality And Efficiency Financing Plan

Activities	Costs in Riels millions
	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
1. School Operating Budgets	13,500	17,000	22,100	26,400	30,700
2. Strengthen capacity in management and teaching	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000
3. Strengthening Monitoring	800	870	965	1,048	1,130
Resources: Total	16,350	19,870	25,065	29,448	33,830

Capacity building needs » Up

• Strengthen MoEYS capacity for school inspection and financial monitoring and reporting at all levels, linked to the introduction of a school performance monitoring system to increase transparency and accountability in school management.

• Support the strengthening of school directors and teachers' performance, focussing particularly on strengthening of school management, teaching-learning methodology and school development planning.

• Support the implementation of the life skills, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health policies, and programs through the provision of Life Skills textbooks, resources and specific life skills teacher training.

• Develop strategies and programs to further strengthen community participation in education and school management to support school development, reduce drop out.

• Support the strengthening of the management and implementation of semester examinations in all grades and national examination grade 9 and grade 12. In particular through issuing examination guidelines, regulations and developing stronger examination mechanisms to ensure quality and efficiency of the exam system.

• Support the development of clear guidelines and mandates on the roles, responsibilities and procedures related to the management of lower secondary activities at central head quarter, provincial / district offices and school levels

• Support for the strengthening of monitoring and reporting systems and procedures at central, provincial, district and school level. Together with support for the strengthening of data collection and analysis at all levels.

²Supported through Inter-Departmental Committee on HIV/AIDS (ICHA)