Pakistan: Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project

Education / Secondary

The proposed Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project (SSEIP) will support investments, institutional capacity building, and reforms in secondary education. The project is aligned with, and will support the implementation of, the SESP 2014-2018 (and subsequent SESP 2019-2023).

Education indicators for Pakistan are grim, with a low adult literacy rate, low expected years of schooling, as well as considerable challenges in terms of access and quality of learning. Educational challenges in Sindh are more acute than in Pakistan generally. They include limited access to education, poor quality education, and weak education governance and management. The performance of the education sector is weak in Sindh, especially at the secondary education level. At least 4.9 million 1016 year olds are out of school in Sindh. Sindh's grade 9 and 10 net enrolment rate, at 25%, is significantly lower than the average of 62% for lower middle income countries. Fully 31% of grade 5 public school students drop out before middle school. There are wide disparities in access to schooling across gender, geography, and socio-economic quintiles in Sindh. The net enrolment rate for girls at the lower secondary level was 20% in 2015 nine percentage points below that for boys, while the gap in literacy rate for girls and boys aged 1524 was 17 percentage points. Public girls' schools make up just 33% of all public high schools in the province.

The project will support the strengthening of inclusive growth, which is a key objective of ADB''s country partnership strategy 2015-2019. The SSEIP is in the draft Pakistan country operations business plan 2018-2020 as a firm 2018 program.

Inclusive and equitable quality education for all ensured (Sustainable Development Goal 4)a

Inclusiveness of secondary education system in Sindh increased

New secondary school blocks constructed, and operated under EMO program

Teaching capacity in five key subjects improved

Secondary education examination system strengthened

An environmental assessment review framework (EARF) has been prepared to guide SELD-PIU on screening, assessment and preparation of environmental checklists for project schools sites, including site specific baseline conditions and specific environmental management plan (EMP) provisions to address potential short-term impacts from project civil works. The government and ADB endorsed EARF has been disclosed.

Contractors will be supervised and monitored on a daily basis to ensure compliance with the requirements of the initial environmental examination and EMPs. Monitoring results will be compiled by the contractors and presented to the construction supervision consultants in monthly project progress reports. Besides, the environmental safeguards compliance will be reviewed and monitored periodically, and semi-annual environmental monitoring reports will be prepared and submitted by PIU to ADB for its review acceptance and disclosure. Such semi-annual monitoring reports will be made available to ADB within thirty days from the end date of each reporting period.

The semi-annual environmental monitoring reports will include, inter alia, a review of progress made on the implementation of the EMP provisions, grievance redress mechanism and consultations carried out during execution of works as well as issues encountered during execution of works with remedial/corrective measures actions adopted and implemented at site.

The project civil works are to be implemented within the compound of existing school sites and acquisition of additional land is unlikely. However, at some school sites, resettlement related impacts may emerge due to third-party land use (formal or informal) of existing school land by the local community. Following the finalization of the school sites and detailed design of the school buildings, each school will be screened for land availability and IR impacts outlined in the resettlement framework. A social due diligence report (SDDR), including screening and assessment checklists for all 160 project school sites, will be prepared and included as a condition for award of civil works contracts. SDDRs based on the number of civil work contract packages for the districts covered under the project will be prepared. SDDRs will be submitted to ADB for review and will be disclosed in both the ADB and SELD websites. ADB funds will not be used to finance resettlement and land acquisition. The preparation of SDDRs and monitoring of project implementation including emerging land acquisition and resettlement (LAR) issues will be funded under the loan. SELD will need to provide the funds for resettlement and land acquisition as part of their counterpart funds.

A Resettlement Framework (RF) including procedures and provisions to be followed for screening, identification and assessment of potential IR impacts and guide the EA on measures needed to address any emerging LAR issues during project implementation has been finalized for the project to ensure compliance with ADB's IR safeguard requirements of SPS 2009. The government endorsed and ADB accepted RF will be disclosed.

If IR impacts on third-party land users are identified on some of the project site, a resettlement plan endorsed by the government and accepted by ADB will be prepared before award of civil works. Commencement of works in contract packages with IR impacts will be conditional to the full implementation of the RRP.

Social safeguards compliance will be reviewed and monitored regularly through PIU Safeguards staff assisted by safeguards experts mobilized through project implementation and supervision consultants. The monitoring results will be compiled and reported as periodic social monitoring reports to be submitted semi-annually by the implementation consultant's and PIU's staff for EA's and ADB's review and acceptance. Semi-annual social monitoring reports will be made available within thirty days from the end date of each reporting period and accepted semiannual social monitoring reports will be disclosed on EA's and ADB's web site.

ADB's no-objection to the commencement of civil works for project school sites (if any) with IR impacts will be conditional to ADB's review of the RP monitoring report confirming completion of the compensation payment and delivery of other entitlements. Since, it is likely that the RP completion could be achieved before or after due date for the periodic social monitoring report, so to confirm RP implementation special monitoring report focused on RP payment progress can be required and submitted as and when RP implementation is deemed complete

The project is screened as category C project for Indigenous peoples planning requirement under SPS 2009 and EA shall ensure that project school sites financed under the loan do not have any indigenous peoples' impacts within the meaning of the Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). And if during detailed design stage or implementation of the project or consequent to any change of site and scope any impacts are identified to the indigenous people, EA shall take all steps and measures to avoid impacts to IPS and ensure that the project complies with the applicable laws and regulations of Pakistan and the ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement 2009.

All individual consultants and firms will be recruited in accordance with ADB's Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers: Goods, Works, Nonconsulting and Consulting Services (2017, as amended from time to time).

As of 29 April 2021, 4 key PIU staff (Project Manager, chief proc spec, admin officer and FM) have been recruited. The other 4 PIU staff (gender, environment, community mobilization and M&E) ae expected to start work in Q2 2021. The teacher training firm EOIs are expected to be evaluated in May 2021. Design firm's proposals have been received. All recruitments are pending awaiting finalization of CSC members.

As of 29 Jul 2021: PIU M&E and Environment have been engaged and will start work in August 2021. Gender and Community Mobilization PIU will have to be advertised again, the selected consultants refused to accept the offers.

PIU Engineer, Teacher training will be advertised in the first/second wk of August 2021, together with PIU Gender and Community Mobilization and International FM specialist.

Design and construction supervision firm submission 2 received for ADB review and no-objection. The firm is expected to be mobilized by September 2021. Teacher Training & Assessment firm's RFP was issued on 16 Jul,, deadline for submission of technical proposals on 30 August.

Update as of 4 Nov 2021: The design and supervision firm is expected to be mobilized by end Nov-Dec 2021. The contract negs took place on 2 Nov 2021.

"2 PIU staff EOIs (Gender & Community Mobilization Specialists) have been evaluated and candidates have been interviewed. Expect that PIU staff commence work by end Nov 2021. .

"Evaluation of tech. proposals for Teacher Training & Assessment Firm is on going and expected to send to ADB the submission 2 document for ADB review in the week of 8 Nov 2021.

"EOIs for 2 PIU positions (Engineer and Teacher Training Specialist) have been advertised and deadline for submission of EOIs on 8 Nov 2021.

Update as of 26 Jan 2022: The contract for design and supervision firm was signed in Dec 2021. The teacher training and assessment firm (TTAF) financial proposals have been opened, awaiting overall ranking. It is expected that the firm will be mobilized by end Feb/early Mar 2022.

Internal audit firm's TORs have been reviewed by PRM FM focal, changes sent to PIU. Expected to be advertised in Q1 2022

Update as of 2 May 2022:

TTAF draft contract agreement forwarded to ADB for review, comments shall be sent to PIU.

Evaluation of Internal Audit firm's EOIs is ongoing

Update as of July 2022: Contract for TTAF was awarded to MSL, contract signed in the amount of approx $1.5m

Update as of Oct 2022: PIU Chief Teacher Training recruitment for finalization. Shortlisting of remaining PIU staff positions has been finalized pending interview. (community mobilization, gender, engineer). Internal audit firm RFP issued to first ranked audit firm.

Update as of 29 Apr 2021: PIU Furniture has been procured and delivered. PIU office equipment is expected to be procured and delivered in Q2 2021

Update as of 29 Jul 2021: Air conditioners, generators for PIU use have been awarded. RFQ for PIU office equipment will be re-tendered. All bids received were rejected.

Update as of 4 Nov 2021:

G02 (A)Supply of Office Equipment (Air-Conditioners) for PIU-SSEIP:

This contract has been awarded. Contract Agreement with supplier was signed on 30-06-21. Air-conditions installed in PIU Office in August-21.

G02 (C) Supply of Office Equipment (Power Generator) for PIU-SSEIP:

This Contract has been awarded. Contract Agreement with supplier was signed on 30-06-21. Power Generator installed in PIU office in August-21.

RFQG-02 (IT & Allied Equipment) was re-tendered as the suppliers refused to extend the validity.

Update as of 26 Jan 2022:

RFQG-02 (IT & Allied Equipment) was awarded in Nov 2021 for PIU use.

Update as of 2 May 2022:

1 double cabin and 2 units sedan (for PIU use) has been awarded to Toyota. Audio Visual eqpt awarded.

Bid docs for OMR machines (for BISE) has been forwarded to ADB for review, prior to advertisement

Update as of July 2022: OMR machines advertised, deadline for submission of bids on 18 August 2022.

Awaiting bid docs for SEF lab equipment for review prior to advertisement

Update as of Oct 2022: FInal OMRS BER awaited from PIU for review of ADB. Lab equipment bids have been submitted and opened, awtg BER.