Advancing Innovative Methods to Promote Learning (AIM4Learning) in Eastern and Southern Africa MPA Program

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Comoros: Strengthening Education for Better Human Capital OutcomesProject Development Objective: Improve teaching quality and primary education completion rateThe project design is guided by two overarching principles. First, Comoros needs a programmatic approach to education sector development in the immediate, medium, and long term. This project will address some immediate and medium-term needs and lay systemic foundations for a longer-term outcomes-oriented reform. The project is the first phase of future engagements aiming to build essential basic foundations that are critical for better education outcomes and that future engagements can build on. Second, the project will adopt a multisectoral approach to addressing the demand and supply side barriers to education by ensuring that children are healthy to learn, girls are supported as well as the boys, the school environment is conducive to learning and primary school completion. The upcoming national curriculum reform will be at the core of all interrelated set activities aimed at student learning, teacher effectiveness, and systemic changes. At the same time, the project will coordinate with counterparts in health, social protection, WASH, and energy sectors to transform school as a space for learning and well-being.   Component 1: Implementing the first phase of a national curriculum reform aimed at foundational learning. Subcomponent 1.1 will support the first phase of a 10-year national curriculum reform focused on foundational learning, by developing a competency-based curriculum for preprimary and grades 1-3, adapting teaching materials, and establishing a national learning assessment system. Subcomponent 1.2 will provide systematic teacher professional development and pilot digital tools to support teachers in implementing the new curriculum effectively. Component 2: Transforming the school environment to support student learning and well-being. Subcomponent 2.1 will focus on improving school infrastructure by constructing new preprimary classrooms, rehabilitating and retrofitting disaster-affected schools, and establishing school-based digital centers for flexible use. This includes enhancements like gender-segregated toilets, water points, electricity access, and smart classrooms for digital learning and community use. Subcomponent 2.2 will enhance student support services by providing school-based annual health checkups, strengthening school snack programs, and promoting good nutrition and health-seeking behaviors. Component 3: Building capacity for sustainable sector reforms. Subcomponent 3.1 focuses on strengthening institutional planning and workforce management by improving the national Education Management Information System (EMIS), enhancing teacher workforce management through strategies like a new teacher management system, and engaging community accountability structures. It will also include developing a school health plan, including a GBV/SEA/SH mitigation strategy, and building capacity for MOE inspection and service oversight. Subcomponent 3.2 will support overall project management, including risk management, progress reporting, and beneficiary feedback activities. Component 4: Providing a Contingency Emergency Response (CERC). Following an eligible crisis or emergency, the Borrower may request a reallocation of project funding to support emergency response and reconstruction.Multiphase Programmatic Approach: Advancing Innovative Methods to Promote Learning (AIM4Learning) in Eastern and Southern AfricaThe AIM4Learning MPA aims to deliver a significant improvement in learning outcomes and increase equitable access to basic education in Eastern and Southern Africa. Through better and more efficient delivery of education services—including support for teachers, utilizing the latest tools and technologies, building systems, and transforming spaces where learning takes place—more children than ever will have the chance to secure foundational skills. Distinctive measures are being included to support girls’ education, particularly to reduce high levels of out-of-school status. Through a coordinated drive across countries, tailored to each situation, the program can better capture economies of scale, cross-country learning, and momentum for change. The MPA actions make up the pillars of the proposed MPA program. i.e., Pillar 1: Transforming Learning Spaces to provide students and teachers a healthy, and empowering learning environment including supporting countries with new and more cost-effective designs and standards; Pillar 2: Empowering a skilled and motivated teacher workforce (including modern training, assistance from learning and development officers, better recognition of performance, and more disciplined and tech-assisted management supervision); Pillar 3: Strengthening Systems, Finance, and Learning to ensure a focus on results, to foster an environment of learning and adaptation, and ensure sustainability; including introducing new approaches and interventions to improve equitable access and learning and strengthen policymaking and implementation systems and resource allocation systems to enhance learning: Pillar 4: Building Cross-Country Collaboration to maximize the benefits of cooperation and realize economies of scale to enable schools to become digital hubs serving students and youth.