Basic Education Improvement Program
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
SECTOR: Education
PROJECT NAME: Basic Education Improvement Program
(897/OC-DR)
TOTAL COST: $100.0 million
FINANCING:
IDB $ 52.0 million
OTHER $ 36.5 million (World Bank)
LOCAL $ 11.5 million
DATE OF APPROVAL: October 25, 1995
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The objective of this program is to increase the
equity, efficiency, and sustainability of pre-school
and basic education in the Dominican Republic. The
program consists of two main components.
Educational Inputs Component, which will: (a) assist
the Secretar¡a de Educación, Bellas Artes y Culto
(SEEBAC) in introducing a revised national curriculum
related to national and regional needs and
institutionalize the provision of updated educational
materials based on a cost recovery system; (b) deepen
SEEBAC's capacity to provide training for about 12,600
teachers and administrators in core subjects and
teaching techniques; (c) adapt, improve and attune the
student assessment system to the revised national
curriculum; (d) support SEEBAC's ability to design,
deliver, and coordinate expanded school nutrition
programs; (e) rehabilitate and expand 7,200 classrooms
(mostly for rural schools offering fewer than 8
grades) and finance preventive maintenance for 4,900
schools based on a cost-sharing arrangement between
community organizations such as parents' associations
and SEEBAC; and (f) support a pilot program to assist
private schools in peri-urban barrios and rural areas
that serve low-income students to finance improved
learning materials, in-service teacher training and
physical plant improvements.
Management Inputs Component, which while include,
within the context of gradual deconcentration of
responsibilities, training, technical assistance, and
equipment for: (a) a system to provide management
training and support to administrators; (b) improving
and extending information management at the central
SEEBAC, regional and district offices, and schools;
(c) extending the roles and capacities of parents
associations in the areas of school planning,
performance, financial monitoring and development
projects; (d) supporting monitoring and evaluation of
basic education and selected studies; and (e) the
Project Coordination Unit.
CONSULTANTS: Individual consultants, consulting firms, universities
and other institutions will be hired to carry out
technical assistance, studies, institutional
strengthening activities and training.
GOODS AND EQUIPMENT: Computer equipment will be purchased for 504 schools,
11 regional offices, and 81 district offices. Basic
education materials, curriculum innovation, management
and reform materials, and other printed materials will
be produced. Teaching materials and equipment, a
library, implementation materials, materials and
equipment for the installation of the SIGE network,
materials and equipment for schools, and motorcycles
will be procured.
CIVIL WORKS: The following infrastructure works will be carried
out: (a) repairs in more than 5,100 classrooms;
(b) maintenance on 4,900 classrooms; and
(c) enlargement and rehabilitation of more than 400
schools.
EXECUTING AGENCY: Secretaría de Educación, Bellas Artes y Culto
Avda. Ma´ximo Go´mez
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: (809) 688-9700; 687-5260; 689-9161
Fax: (809) 687-0788; 687-8907
Contact: Lic. Ramo´n Morrison
Deputy Secretary, Education
