RURAL EDUCATION PROJECT

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The Rural Education Project for Colombia aims to improve access to quality basic education in rural areas. There are four project components. The first enhances educational access and quality by 1) financing research and evaluation of innovative educational models, strategies, and curriculum for grades K-12; and disseminates the results of this work; 2) pilot testing and evaluation of the programs of "Telesecundaria' and "Aceleracion del Aprendizaje"; and 3) designing reforms of pre-service teacher training programs and providing equipment and training materials. At the local level, this component funds sub-projects which may support reforming in-service teacher education programs, creating/strengthening education demand through targeted information campaigns, creating incentive schemes to increase school coverage, and implementing projects linking school learning with productivity. The second component provides technical assistance to strengthen the education ministry's capacity for project implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management; supports the formation of strategic partnerships; and builds the capacity of municipalities to create education plans and improve school governance. The third component supports the ministry's role in reinforcing participatory and democratic forms of school governance and developing social capital and civic values. The fourth component strengthens information systems and designs, implements, and evaluates pilot projects.