WASHINGTON, JUNE 8, 2010 — The World Bank’s Board of Directors approved today a US$60 million Development Policy Loan (DPL) to support the Government of Morocco in the implementation of the “Education Emergency Program 2009–12” to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery and educational outcomes.
The new project is the first in a proposed programmatic series of two DPLs. It would support key initial institutional and regulatory measures as well as the introduction of new approaches to improve service delivery effectiveness and efficiency.
“Although Morocco achieved significant results in closing gender and urban/rural gaps in access to primary education, major issues persist in quality of education and educational outcomes at all levels of the school system”, noted Ms Françoise Clottes, Acting Country Director for the Maghreb countries. “Through this loan, the World Bank is committed to working with the Government and other donors to support the implementation of an ambitious program that aims at increasing access further and raising the overall quality of services.”
Improving the quality of outcomes in the education sector is a key priority for Morocco. To overcome the challenges faced by the education sector, the Government embarked on a comprehensive reform of the education and training system, with the promulgation of the National Education and Training Charter (CNEF) in 1999; declaring 2000-2009 the decade for education and training; and establishing education and training as a national priority. The implementation of the program reforms was supported over the past four years by a World Bank sector-wide approach (SWAp) operation, Basic Education Reform Support Project (PARSEM).
More recently, a bold Education Emergency Program (EEP), spanning the period 2009-12, was drawn up by the Government to accelerate the education reform process, drawing on lessons learned from the previous decade’s programs.
The fundamental guiding principle of the EEP places the student at the heart of the education and training system. In this context, this Education Development Policy Loan (EDPL) would support the Government in its efforts to improve the accumulation of human capital through the implementation of policies and measures designed to: (i) achieve universal basic education; (ii) improve system performance (teaching, management and stewardship); and (iii) improve mobilization and utilization of resources. The project will support essential policy measures and actions while reinforcing results-based approaches.
The EDPL falls in line with the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS 2010-2013) for Morocco which spells out the education sector reform, and in particular improving access and quality, as a key priority as part of its two strategic objectives of “Enhancing growth, competitiveness and employment”, and “Improving service delivery to citizens”.
