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After successful completion of Emergency Education Rehabilitation and Development Project (EERDP) - implemented during 2004 - 2005 with the objectives of encouraging and facilitating initiatives of communities and schools to construct classroom space, enhance the girl enrolment and increase the capacity of schools to improve the quality of education, especially in under served areas, the contact for Education Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP), Cont. # MOE/371 -B, was signed between Ministry of Education , Islamic Republic Of Afghanistan and BRAC Afghanistan in April, 2006.

The essence objective of the Education Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP) is to provide grants to schools to achieve the two complementary objectives through a greater emphasis on school- and community-based decision making. First, school grants for quality enhancement will support efforts to improve teaching and learning and create effective school environment. Second, school grants for infrastructure development will support to construct / reconstruct classroom spaces at existing government registered primary, secondary and higher secondary schools. Priority will be given to (i) girls schools; (ii) schools with both “boys and girls” sections/shifts; and (iii) boys schools which have planned to open up sections/shifts for girls.

Specific Objectives:

•  Encourage school-based decision making and resource management through Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) / School Management Committees (SMCs) and active community participation in schools.

•  Build the capacity of communities and schools to envision and realize effective schools.

•  Rehabilitate and construct schools using upgraded local technology and community participation.

Project Duration : April 2006 to March 2008

Components of the Project:

1. Quality Enhancement
2. Infrastructural Development

Estimated Budget: The total estimated budget for the project is USD 4,310,934 including the operational cost. Out of which, the grants for infrastructural development and quality enhancement is USD 3,727,500.

1. Total budgeted amounts for Quality enhancement - 1,899,584 out of this grants for quality enhancement - 1,621,500
2. Total budgeted amount for Infrastructural development - 2,411,351 out of that grants for school infrastructural development - 2,106,000

Area covered:

Province - 2 (Parwan and Kapisa)

Districts - 17 (Parwan -10 and Kapisa -7)

Districts in Parwan province - Charikar, Jabulseraj, Saedkhel, Salang, Shenwaree, Ceogird, Shorkporcha, Shekhali, Bagram and Kohisafi.

Districts in Kapisa province - Mahamud Roqi, Koband, Kohistan -1, Kohistan -2, Nejrab , Tagab and Alasae .

School selection criteria:

Priority to select the school for both quality enhancement and infrastructural development is given on the basis of following criteria:

•  Girls schools

•  Schools with both boys and girls shift / sections

•  Boy's schools planning to open shift/sections for girls.

A. Quality Enhancement activities

School Grants for Quality Enhancement is going on based on School Improvement Plans prepared by School Management Committee and Parent Teacher Association receiving technical assistance from Provincial education director and District education directors and the implementing agency to implement quality improvement activities such as additional teacher support for supervision, teaching materials, education materials and supplies, supplementary readers, toolkits, expenditures for workshops, seminars, meetings and transportation for teachers and PTA members to participate in appropriate meetings. The specific objectives of school grants are to 1) encourage school - based decision making and resource management through parents teachers associations (PTA) / School management committee (SMC) and active community participation, 2) build the capacity of communities and schools to envision and realize effective schools 3) ensure education facilities.

Three types of grant amount for Quality enhancement provided on the basis of students' enrolment which is as a) the number of students 1,000 or above, b) the number of students 500 - 999 and c) below 500 students.

B. Infrastructural Development activities

School Grants for Infrastructure Development will be used based on priority criteria such as 1) girls schools 2) Schools with both boys and girls' sections/ shifts and 3) boys school that has plan to open up a section/ shift for girls, along with repair and rehabilitation of school facilities including limited new construction of school buildings already registered with MoE following the improved building model provided by the Construction Department of MoE.

The grant amount of the Infrastructural Development component will be used for three types of school buildings construction which is as a) Rural Improved -70% of targeted schools with the rate of $ 32,000 per school, b) Pre - Urban Conventional -15% of targeted schools with the rate of $ 50,000 per school and c) Urban standard Conventional - 15 % targeted schools with the rate of $ 100,000 per school.

Steps taken to make the Infrastructural Development Project successful:

The under mentioned steps / initiatives have been taken to run the project with the expected output.

•  Recruiting qualified and experienced graduate Civil Engineer at central office to supervise and monitor all the construction activities. Increasing the number of expatriate engineer at provincial level ensure the close supervision and monitoring of construction works.

•  Recruitment of qualified national Civil Engineers has been done.

•  Formation of a team of engineers comprising National and Expatriate engineers to strengthen the engineering capacities up to expected level.

•  Identifying the number of schools monitored, supervised and designating the engineer to ensure the quality.

•  In quality control the standard codes and norms strictly followed.

•  Field engineers are oriented to ensure the quality of the construction materials.

•  Engineers are advised to remain vigilant so that contractor must comply with all the contractual obligations mentioned in terms of references (TOR) in the contract.

School survey: Information about existing school facilities in Kapisa and Parwan provinces has been collected from district and provincial education offices to categorize the schools considering the students size as mentioned above and to observe the present condition of school building for construction work. The information in Kapisa province collected on 144 schools of which 28 girls school, 30 mixed schools and 86 boys schools and found that on the basis of students size 22 is A category, 73 is B category and 49 is C category schools. In Parwan province, information on 308 schools was collected, of which girls 60, mixed 132 and boys' 116. On the basis of student category, 47 schools are in A category, 77 in B category and 184 in C category.

To ensure the accuracy of the information which was provided by the provincial education offices and identity the situation of the schools an extensive survey was carried out during the month of April - June, 2006. The survey indicates that in Kapisa province, out of 144 Schools there are 28 girl's school, 29 mixed school and 87 boy's schools. On the basis of students' number out of 144 schools there is a total number of 31 schools in “A” category, 72 in “B” category and 41 in “C” category.

In Parwan province the survey shows that out of 314 schools there are 76 girls schools, 128 mixed schools and 110 boys schools and on the basis of students' number out of 314 schools there are a total number of 70 schools in “A” category, 82 in “B” category and 162 in “C” category

Advocacy Workshop at provincial level : An advocacy workshop at provincial level in Parwan and Kapisa with presence of Provincial Governors and Deputy governors, provincial education officials, Director of planning, Districts education Directors, Representatives of EQUIP- MoE, Principals and Head teachers and other stakeholders was held with the objectives to create a comprehensive awareness on the EQUIP program. Through this workshop the present situation of existing schools facilities, objectives of EQUIP, detailed implementing procedure, formation of PTA/ SMC, importance of SIP, role of provincial education director and other relevant committees in SIP implementation is explained and called to get support from all corners to make the project successful.

Advocacy workshop at district level:

An advocacy workshop at district level in Parwan and Kapisa with presence of District Governors , Director of planning, Principal and head teachers and other stakeholders was held with the objectives to create a comprehensive awareness on the EQUIP program. Through this workshop the present situation of existing schools facilities, Objectives of EQUIP, detailed implementing procedure, formation of PTA/ SMC, importance of SIP, role of provincial education director and other relevant committees in SIP implementation is explained and set to get supports from all corners to make the project successful.

A total of 17 workshops, 10 workshops in Parwan and 7 in Kapisa province have been arranged and conducted.

School Management committee (SMC)

School Management committee is a unique strategy to ensure the effective community participation in the program. SMC Plays a very imperative role in organizing and managing school to ensure quality education. In afghan context on girls education SMC can plays significant role through increasing the girls enrolment, promoting female as teacher, motivating parents specially mothers to attend in parents meeting and encouraging community people to take part in schooling activities. A seven member School Management Committee ( SMC) comprising Principal/ Headmaster as chairperson, Teacher, Community leader, Education patronizing person , Influential person and parents of the students as members has been formed to administer the EQUIP program effectively.

A total of 389 SMC of which in Parwan province some of 250 PTA and in Kapisa some of 139 PTA formation has been completed.

Parents Teachers Association (PTA)

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) has been formed comprising by seven members of them five parents (3 female and 2 male), one Head teacher and one Assistant Teacher. In monthly PTA meeting the Imam of nearest mosque and some community leaders can take participation and play a very significant role in enter school activities towards ensuring quality education.

A total of 389 PTA of which in Parwan province some of 250 PTA and in Kapisa some of 139 PTA formation has been completed.

Provincial Technical Management Committee (PTMC)

At the Province level a technical management committee (PTMC) has been formed in each Parwan and Kapisa province comprising Provincial Education Director as chairperson, Assistant Provincial Education Director as member secretary and District Education Director, representative of facilitating agency, senior engineer of department of construction and EQUIPS representative as members to accelerate the whole implementation process. This committee is responsible to review and approve the school improvement plan (SIP), monitor the progress of program activities, recommend corrective actions if needed and prepare quarterly progress report and send it to EQUIP. The technical management committee is also responsible to assist the SMC to conduct bidding and contractors selection.

District Technical Management Committee (DTMC):

At District level a District technical management committee ( DTMC) has been formed in some districts of Parwan and Kapisa province comprising District Education Director as chairperson, Deputy Education Director as member secretary and Principals, representative of facilitating agency and community leaders as members to accelerate the whole implementation process. This committee is responsible to review and recommend the school improvement plan (SIP), monitor the progress of program activities, recommend corrective actions if needed and prepare quarterly progress report and send it to EQUIP. The management committee is also responsible to assist the SMC to conduct bidding and contractors selection.

A total of 17 MTDC of which 10 in Parwan and 7 in Kapisa Province has been formed.

Work shop on School Improvement Plan (SIP):

The objectives of workshop on school improvement plan is to facilitate how a comprehensive school improvement plan will be prepared focusing the major activities and its immediate and long terms consequence. Based on this plan the two year (Project period) project activities will be carried out to ensure the project goal and vision. So through this workshop the SMC and PTA members is informed about the technical and financial aspects of this project so that they can prepare an effective school improvement plan considering the crucial needs of their school regarding quality enhancement and construction / reconstruction works.

In Parwan Province a total of 51 workshops on SIP covering 250 schools with the presence of 1168 participants and some of 39covering 139schools with the presence of 769participants in Kapisa province has been arranged and conducted.

In Parwan province, a total of 276 SIP preparation of which 244 on Quality Enhancement and 32 on Infrastructural Development and in Kapisa province, some of 154 SIP preparation of which 139 on Quality Enhancement and 15 on Infrastructural Development has been completed.

SIP approval process :

The SMC with the assistance of PTA and BRAC engineer/team leader/program organizer prepare the School Improvement Plan covering the areas of School building construction, additional teacher support for supervision, teaching materials, education materials and supplies, supplementary readers, toolkits, expenditure for workshops, seminars, meeting and transportation for teachers and PTA members to participate in appropriate meetings. The SIP is forwarded to the District education director for recommendation and with the recommendation the District education director forwards it to the Provincial Education Director/ PTMC and BRAC for approval. Through necessary checking and verification if needed the SIP is approved by the Provincial Education Director/PTMC and BRAC authority.

Small and large group meeting:

At village or district level a several numbers of small and large group meeting with community people, parents, districts education officials and the members of SMC, PTA is arranged to make awareness on EQUIP program and to involve them in the SIP preparation and its proper implementation through selecting the right representative who, would be the SMC member on behalf of community people, take part in EQUIP activities.

Meanwhile, in Parwan province a total of 906 meetings with presence of 9060 participants of which 660 small and 246 large group meeting and in Kapisa province a total of 462 meetings with presence of 5062 of which 311 small and 151 large group meeting have been organized and conducted.

Community mobilization : C ommunity mobilization helps to ensure the effective implementation of EQUIP program, supports the projector implementers, observe the quality education, increase the regular students' attendance in school, and mobilize local resource through establishing regular exchanges with staff and teachers which contribute a lot to school development activities etc.

Training for capacity development:

Capacity development of teachers and SMC /PTA members is pivotal to make the program success and with the views of developing their capacity the under mentioned training courses have been taken.

Training on Project management including proposal preparation for Master trainers, SMC and PTA:

A training on project management including proposal preparation focusing on problem statement, SWOT analysis, SIP preparation, proposal preparation including cost effective budget and project implementation modalities will be provided to Master Trainers to ensure the effective implementation of EQUIP program. In each district 2/3 (total39) trained master trainers has been provided training on aforesaid course to the members of the SMC and PTA for administering the program successfully.

Training for Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) & School Management Committee (SMC) :

In order to ensure the effective community participation it is imperative to increase the skills and capacity of SMC and PTA members. So that they can mobilize the local resources, motivate community people especially key stakeholders in favor of education especially girls education, administer the school program and implement the EQUIP projects effectively. For enhancing the capacity of SMC and PTA members in Parwan Province a total of 181 schools with the presence of 2608 participants and some of 109 schools with the presence of 2097 participants in Kapisa province has been received training.