INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET
CONCEPT STAGE
Report No.: 43518
Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 04/03/2008
I. BASIC INFORMATION
A. Basic Project Data
Country: Kazakhstan
Project Name: Education
Task Team Leader: Alberto Rodriguez
Estimated Appraisal Date: May 30, 2008
Managing Unit: ECSHD
Project ID: P102177
Estimated Board Date: October 30, 2008
Lending Instrument: Specific Investment
Loan
Sector: Vocational training (40%);Tertiary education (40%);General education sector
(20%)
Theme: Education for the knowledge economy (P)
IBRD Amount (US$m.):
15.00
IDA Amount (US$m.):
0.00
GEF Amount (US$m.):
0.00
PCF Amount (US$m.):
0.00
Other financing amounts by source:
Borrower
15.00
15.00
B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN]
The proposed Bank project will aim to restructure and rebuild the Technical and Vocational
Education (TVE) system in order to (i) increase youth employability and capabilities for
continuous skills upgrading, and (ii) offer business a trained workforce with the skills and
competencies that will enable them to compete in the global economy.
The proposed Bank project will achieve this objective by:
(a) streamlining the secondary and post-secondary TVE network of institutions and programs
of study;
(b) introducing a competency based-curricula and teaching practices that prepare youth for
continuous learning and equip them with high level foundational skills, and broad workplace and
technical skills and competencies for high productivity, professional flexibility in the workplace,
for acquisition of new skills and for on-the-job training; and
(c) introducing governance and management practices that make the TVE system more
accountable, flexible and efficient.
Progress towards the achievement of this objective will be measured through the following
indicators:
•
Youth employability, measured as time to first job after graduation.
•
Participation of graduates from TVE programs in retraining or other type of continuous
education programs.
•
Employers’ satisfaction with skills and competencies of graduates of TVE programs.
C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN]
The Technical and Vocational Education Restructuring Program seeks to rebuild and to improve
the efficiency of the current TVE system by transforming it from a supply-driven system into a
demand-driven system that has the capacity to offer programs that are responsive to the learning
and skills development needs of students and business in a cost effective manner. The proposed
project will consist of two main components:
Component 1: Improve quality and relevance of TVE by reforming the structure and programs
of study of TVE at the secondary and post-secondary level. The main objectives of this
component are to (i) rebuild the programs of study of secondary TVE by promoting a full
integration of general and TVE secondary education programs and institutions; (ii) restructure
and streamline the current network of post-secondary technical and vocational education
institutions and programs of studies, including the introduction of a credit system, to make it
more responsive to the demands of graduates from secondary education and the needs of the
local economy.
The proposed project would fund technical assistance for: (i) the development of a standard set
of occupational “concentrations” or families that would be offered to all secondary school youth;
(ii) the establishment of a new outcome based system for attestation and certification of skills
and competencies; and (iii) conducting background studies and stakeholder consultation to guide
the consolidation of institutions. It would also finance the development and provision of new
programs of study, development, printing and distribution of new textbooks and teaching
materials, training of teachers, management training of education administrators at all levels of
the system and provision of equipment and upgrade of workshops.
Component 2: Improve system efficiency and accountability through reform of governance and
financing. By and large the aim of this component is to upgrade management and governance
capacity throughout the TVE system and to rationalize funding allocation mechanisms so that the
allocation of resources is done using transparent criteria based on real demand and results. This
will be done through the following set of interrelated interventions.
(i)
Introduction of a national qualification framework to help guide the integration of
programs, the introduction of the credit and a competency-based system for the accreditation of
skills and competencies.
(ii) Develop a reliable system for attestation and certification of skills and competencies.
This system will make available a transparent signaling system that would help students market
their skill and would guide employers’ hiring decisions.
(iii) Introduction of quality management practices at all levels of the system, including
capacity to monitor and evaluate the performance of the TVE institutions and the quality of TVE
programs, as well as capacity for collecting, analyzing and using information for the systematic
identification of skills development needs of individuals and enterprises, for assessing and
monitoring the performance of the system, and for allocating resources based on demands, needs
and results.
(iv) Introduction of funding mechanisms that allocate resources based on needs and results
using a per-capita budgeting mechanism that is transparent and easy to monitor.
The proposed project would fund technical assistance for the establishment on of a national
qualification system, for the introduction of new funding mechanisms and for all the related
management training required for the successful implementation of these changes. It would also
finance the purchase of equipment and software required for the establishment of a management
information system.
D. Project location (if known)
Nationwide
E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN]
n/a
F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists
Mr Alberto Rodriguez (ECSHD)
II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY
Safeguard Policies Triggered
Yes
No
TBD
Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01)
X
Category C.
The project team does not envisage any financing for school buildings
rehabilitation/construction at this point. Discussions with the government on the project design
and financing are still in early stage and the team is encouraged to seek the Safeguard
Coordinator advice if the project design is changed to include works as the environmental
category would likely change and environmental safeguards be triggered.
Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04)
X
Forests (OP/BP 4.36)
X
Pest Management (OP 4.09)
X
Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11)
X
Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10)
X
Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12)
X
Given that no works are envisaged as part of the project, none of the social safeguards are
triggered. However, should the project design change so as to include works then this would
need to be revisited.
Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37)
X
Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50)
X
Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60)
X
Environmental Category: C - Not Required
III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN
A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS
would be prepared: 04/23/2008
B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage
ISDS: N/A
C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed.
The specific studies and their timing1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS.
N/A
IV. APPROVALS
Signed and submitted by:
Task Team Leader:
Approved by:
Regional Safeguards Coordinator:
Comments:
Sector Manager:
Comments:
1
Mr Alberto Rodriguez
03/28/2008
Ms Emilia Battaglini
03/28/2008
Ms Mamta Murthi
03/28/2008
Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the
InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected
persons.