USAID Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP)
Report # 35 for the month of August 2014
Component
Progress
Government to Government
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Program
Management and
Implementation
Unit (PMIU)
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Secretary Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh chaired
introductory meeting with the SBEP staff and other stake holders. Program Director
SBEP delivered a presentation on Sindh Basic |Education Program’s overview and
progress to Secretary Education, Education & Literacy Department, Govt. of Sindh.
The meeting was also attended by USAID delegation led by Dr. Randy Hatfield,
Deputy Director, USAID and M/s. Halcrow Pakistan.
SBEP communication meeting was held with USAID and other components on
August, 27th 2014 at the U.S. Consulate to develop SBEP news supplement.
Account and Finance Officer joined PMIU in August 2014.
Mr. Shaban Panhwar Design construction and Supervision officer visited Dadu and
Johi. He resolved the land related issues. Furthemore, additional land was granted to
Government of Sindh by private parties for reconstruction of schools in their area
2nd IPC of Fazal & Brother as contractor for Package 3 was recommended by M/s
Halcrow.
M&E Specialist, M&E Officer and Manager LR&CM visited the implementing sub partner i.e. NGO HANDs office and discussed the various issues of on-going
activities of community mobilization program i.e. school enrollment campaign and
SMC trainings being conducted in the different Districts of Sindh.
Monthly M&E staff meeting of PMIU and other implementing partners was held,
under the chair of Program Director SPEP at PMIU. Director Monitoring &
Evaluation, Education and literacy Department also attended the meeting.
M&E team uploaded the progress report for 3rd quarter (April-June 2014) in USAID
info websites reporting system.
M&E team compiled /prepared monthly bulletin report and PC III for the month of
July 2014 of SBEP -PMIU.
27th Procurement Committee meeting was held under the chair of Program Director
SBEP; for the opening of bids for the construction of six schools in Khairpur,
(Package 1a) (for balance works).
28th procurement committee meeting was held under the chair of Program Director
on 26th of this month. Mr. Sohail Siddiqi of M/S Halcrow presented the bid
evaluation report about as received for Package 1a. The PC recommended KB + BS
JV for the award being the lowest evaluated bid.
PM LR&CM coordinated with Directors’ School Education – Sukkur, Larkana and
Karachi to get notifications on school consolidations.
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PM LR&CM facilitated DSEs (Larkana and Karachi) by sharing school
consolidation policies. LR&CM section of PMIU reviewed SMC manual and
community mobilization manuals submitted by IRD/CMP. Feedback and findings
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were shared with IRD management and changes were suggested for further
improvement
Communication specialist submitted SBEP success story to USAID
Program Director and other team members of PMIU attended the MOU signing
ceremony between USAID, GoS and Rotary International
Submitted SBEP content and photos for development of SBEP website
Program Director held a meeting with office bearers of Daily Awami Awaz
Newspaper on August 27th 2014 and shared information and photos bout the
SBEP
To enhance the skills of PMIU staff, a capacity building program has been initiated by
HR Dept. They developed “E – Learning series of articles” to improve interpersonal
and overall grooming of the staff
PM IU organized a cake cutting ceremony to celebrate 68th Independence day of
Pakistan.
Three management trainees completed their three-month internship period and their
performance was then evaluated by HR.
Package 1: Construction of six (6) Schools in District Khairpur
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For the re-award of the work bids were opened for balance works on 18th Aug, 2014
contractors submitted their bids.
Halcrow evaluated the bids and recommended KB + BS JV for the award being the
lowest evaluated bid. The results have been sent to SPPRA for hoisting on website,
the bid can be awarded in 7 days after hoisting on SPPRA website.
Package 2: Construction of seven (9) Schools in District Khairpur
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School
Construction
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Construction work is on-going in nine schools namely Jhajh Regulator, Karoondi, Pir
Essa, Hussainabad, Sami, Satabo, Drib Mehar Shah, Fakirabad and Kolaab Jaial.
However construction work is slow in such sites as per approved schedule, possibly
due to Ramadan and Eid.
Raft foundations have been poured at three schools and preparing RCC short
columns in these same schools as well as preparing for one more raft foundation in
Pir Essa school. It is expected to be completed by September 10th , 2014
The overall physical progress of construction work is 1.5 % against 2% planned.
3rd IPC PKR 7496819.00/- for the work done upto 15th August has been submitted by
the Engineer.
Package 3: Construction of eleven (11) Schools in District Sukkur
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Construction work is progressing as planned. The demolition work is in progress at
all the sites in foundations, while construction work continues at two schools, Arain
Sukkur and Kamal Khan Indhar Pano Aqil where Raft foundation concrete (1:2:4)
pouring and lean concrete (1:4:8) is complete respectively.
Overall progress achieved during the month is 1.5 % against 1.0% planned.
2nd IPC PKR 50,805026/= has been recommended by the consultant for the works
done till the month of August, which is in process.
Package 4: Construction of seven (7) Schools in District Larkana-1
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No progress has been reported in this package this month. However, the Project
Implementation Letter (i.e. PIL #9) from USAID to finance the construction of these
schools under Package 4 has been signed by both the parties.
Approval of PC-1 from PDWP forum is the final step left before the work is awarded
to the successful contractor.
Package 5: Construction of five (5) in Karachi ( Karachi-1)
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Designs for the schools are complete and tender documents were approved in the 24th
procurement committee.
PC-I has been prepared and submitted. It will be presented in Technical Committee.
Tenders are planned to be invited once process of 3rd round of prequalification is
complete.
Package 6: Construction of Schools in Larkana ( Larkana-2)
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Matter of land acquisition is complete, with all legal formalities for 5 schools.
Halcrow is doing the design & tender documents for the schools which is expected to
be complete by mid Sep. Following which PC-1 will be prepared.
Package 7: Construction of seven (7) Schools in District Dadu-1
Seven schools in taluka Dadu & Johi are taken up for the first package in Dadu.
Mr. Shaban Panhwar Design construction and Supervision officer visited Dadu and Johi
for resolving land issues and acquiring additional land from private parties as gift. All
mutations of land have successfully been got as per requirement.
Furniture Procurement :
Halcrow Pakistan is finalizing the specifications & tender docs for the furniture for first
schools. It is expected these will be ready by 1st Oct 214. Following which tendering
process will be started, and PC-1 will be submitted for the approval of the Govt.
3rd Round of Prequalification of construction contractors:
Third round of PQ of the construction contractors is almost complete. Halcrow Pakistan
has completed the evaluation report . PQ documents were issued to 76 contractors, 59
submitted their documents and 11 were declared successful after the evaluation. For
approval, the evaluation report will be produced in Procurement Committee's meeting to
be held in first week of September, 2014.
Non-Government to Government
School enrollment campaigns:
Sindh Community
Mobilization
Program (CMP)
42 Enrolment walks were arranged in total 106 schools of 41 Union Councils in the
project districts. The purpose of the walk was to motivate community and parents to
enroll their Children into schools, specially the girls . These walk were arranged with
close coordination of Education Department, School Management, Community Members
and Parents of the students. Details of the activity are given below;
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Student Participated 11431(5239 Girls, 6192 Boys)
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Community Participated 670(54 Females, 616 Males)
Parents Participated 868(95 Females, 773 Males)
Parents Participated 678(92 Females, 586 Males)
Govt. Official Participated 89(10 Females, 79 Males)
SMC Members Participated 286(39 Females, 247 Males)
SMC Training organized in District Sukkur and Larkana on Following Topics
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Training of SMCs and community on Gender, DRR and WATSAN
Training of SMCs and Community Members on increasing girls' enrollment
Training of SMC & Community Members to enable them to develop and
implement Social Mobilization Plan & School Improvement Plan
Total 23 males trained in district Larkana and Sukkur on Training of SMCs and
community on Gender, DRR and WATSAN, 45 (14 female and 31 Male) SMC SubCommittee members trained on Training of SMCs and Community Members on
increasing girls' enrollment and 32 males SMC Sub Committees members trained in
Training of SMC & Community Members to enable them to develop and implement
Social Mobilization Plan & School Improvement Plan.
Field visits and linkages development with the line departments :
CMP team conducted field visit to create network & linkages between SBEP taregeted
construction and neighboring schools & Health Units (DHQ, BHU, RHU & Dispensary)
in district Khairpur, Sukkur, Kashmore, Jaccobabad, Larkana, Kambar Shadad Kot,
Dadu and different towns of Karachi.
23 schools were linked to 5 nearby health units this month. In addition, Members for
SMC Sub committees of SBEP targeted schools were identified in August 2014. Each
school SMC consists of 04 sub committees i-e. financial management committee,
monitoring and evaluation committee and social mobilization committee. Out of 1616,
one hundred and seventy six sub committees were formed having total 880 members (5
members in each Sub-Committee).
Sindh Community
Mobilization
Program (CMP)
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Technical Assistance extended to Education Department
Education Department bifurcation: Draft Note prepared for Senior Minister
Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh and submitted to
Secretary Education, Government of Sindh. The proposed bifurcation annexes also
attached with the draft note.
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Public Private Partnership Board meeting held under the Chair of Chief Minister,
Sindh. Agenda prepared and shared with PPP Node-Education Department and
PPP Unit-Finance Department.
Mix School Policy: Consultation and sharing of revised draft with PMIU
Education Management Organizations:
Legal Services Firm: Revised RFP floated
EMO Policy Dialogue Preparation - However, workshop was postponed due to
uncertain political situation.
Induction of Program Officer – PPP into CMP
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Participated in a meeting @US Consulate Karachi with SBEP core staff to
discuss and deliberate on communication strategies of all programs running under
SBEP.
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The contract for CSR STTA has been finalized and sent for approval.
Held meetings with CSR key persons of 3iLogic and FPCCI to catalyze corporate
interest and explore potential support partnerships for schools under this program.
In addition to that CSR strategy paper and school support proposal for mobilizing
CSR funds (under development) is under process.
Sindh Reading
Program (SRP)
Improved teacher competencies for effective early grade reading and math
instructions
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The C1 technical team is revising the CTPD material for field mentors and
professional development of teachers including scripted lesson plans for teaching
math and early grades reading. This work will remain continued till the end of
September 2014.
1.2 Planning of upcoming C1 activities (August to October):
Planning and preparation for the upcoming Workshops for District Education
Officials, Supervisors/selected Head Teachers have been initiated with the
implementing partners.
Component 2:
Improved early grade reading and mathematics
assessment practice:
Three subcontractors were selected for EGRA and EGMA baseline study. A total
of nine firms participated out of which the best three were selected after a
competitive process.
Initiated Second Round of School Verification for Operational Test:
The operational sample of 70 schools per district (35G+35B) was physically
verified for head counts, contacts with head teachers and location of schools
before starting EGRA/EGMA baseline. During the first round of verifications
(May) certain schools did not qualify the minimum standards for the assessment.
To compensate for the non-complying schools an additional sample of schools
were drawn which is being verified at the moment.
Masters Trainers and Quality Control Officers trained on EGRA & EGMA:
Eight Master Trainers and eight Quality Control Officers (Cohort 1) were trained
to further train and support the enumerators during their field work. Prospective
vendors have been provided the list of available ADE graduates to select as
enumerators.
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Enumerators, supervisors and district coordinators trained on EGRA &
EGMA administration and quality assurance:
Ninety six enumerators (48 F + 48 M), 12 supervisors (4 F + 8 M) and 4 male
district coordinators trained for data collection from district Dadu, Qambar
Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and 5 towns of Karachi.
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Improved early grade reading and mathematics assessment practice
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STLM Gap Analysis report received from consultants: The STLM Gap Analysis
report internally reviewed and finalized. The team has planned one day workshop
to share findings of STLM gap analysis with technical team.
The main objective of proposed workshop is to motivate authors, publishers,
NGOs and government organisations to start planning for publishing of good
quality supplementary grade-level reading materials essential for early grade
students. Total 19 (11 M + 8 F) STLM technical team members from Sindhi
Language Authority (1), Sindhi Adbi Board (2), Sindh Text Book Board (3),
PITE (2), STEDA (1), Bureau of Curriculum (9), Govt. School Teacher (1) will
participate in workshop.
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Component 4: Enhanced participation of parents and caregivers in support
of early grade literacy and early grade numeracy for out of school children
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Planned meetings to initiate NFE strategy and identify materials:
Discussions have been initiated with AIOU and NFE institutions in Punjab. A
visit is planned for next week to discuss the NFE model and strategies in the
province and discuss possible replication of best practices. Materials for NFE will
be identified during the upcoming visit to AIOU and Punjab.
Meetings have been arranged with Beacon House publishing to arrange for
translating in Sindhi level readers available as supplementary teaching learning
materials. DCOP will be visiting Beacon House in Lahore for this purpose.
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New ‘Sindh Capacity Development Project (SCDP)’ has been developed to build the
capacity of PMIU and ELD, GoS in the following key areas: Back Office support for
PMIU, implementation of SBEP’s M&E plan, educational research and
strengthening education reforms in Sindh. The process is being initiated to have
contractor on board for this project.
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Halcrow checked and recommended IPCs for package 2 & 3.
M/s Halcrow has finalized design specifications of school furniture in consultation
with USAID
M/s Halcrow has submitted initial evaluation report for the 3rd round of PQ for the
construction contractors. The final report is due shortly.
Detailed designs for Larkana-2, as well as Dadu schools are in progress.
Halcrow has asked Nespak to visit 1 school of package 3 to certify achievement of
mile stone, which is due in September.
Technical
Assistance
A&E Services
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Monitoring and
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Evaluation (M&E) 
SBEP M&E Plan is in the final stages of preparation by MSI.
USAID Milestone Monitoring contractor M/S NESPAK visited three schools of
Package 2 during reporting period for verification of Milestone No. 2.
Tameezuddin Khero
Program Director
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