Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education (LAISE) Project

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education (LAISE) Project

Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education

Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education Project (LAISE)

The LAISE program is designed to address critical challenges in secondary education, including learning recovery, enrollment, retention, and quality enhancement. By focusing on four key objectives—improving basic proficiency in Maths and Bangla, increasing retention rates, promoting blended learning, and fostering climate-conscious mindsets—we aim to create meaningful and lasting impacts for students across both general and madrasah streams.

Aligned with national priorities such as the National Education Policy, the Educator Sector Plan, and the 8th Five-Year Plan, the program also emphasizes digital innovation and sustainability. Our three result areas—student support, teacher competency, and system resilience—serve as the foundation for achieving our ambitious goals.

Project Summary on

“Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education (LAISE) Project”

1. Name of the Project	:	Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education Project
2. Sponsoring Ministry	:	Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education
3. Implementing Agency	:	Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education
4. Development Partner	:	World Bank
5. Estimated Project Cost (Crore Taka)	:	Total: 3304.08 [Project Loan (World Bank): 3255.60 (98.50%) & GOB: 48.48 (1.50%)]
6. Project Period	:	1 October 2023 to 30 September 2028 (05 years)
7. Main Objective	:	To accelerate student learning and enhance retention in secondary education.
8. Specific Objectives	:	>> To improve student learning and retention. - Students meeting basic proficiency in Grade 8 in Mathematics and Bangla increased respectively to 65% and 90% in 2028 (Baseline 28.70 and 66.30: NASS 2021) >> To improve teachers’ competency. - Improved secondary teacher competency by 15% (Baseline to be determined.) >> To Improve secondary systems and resilience. - Secondary institutions (18894 schools, 1420 school & colleges, and 9291 madrasahs) implementing formative assessments and remediation. - At least 40% of secondary students actively using blended learning programs by 2028. - Students in targeted schools (at least 45,000) exhibiting improved climate change mindsets increase at least 30% by 2028 over baseline (to be determined). - Library Development for Reading Habit Acceleration in all secondary level schools and madrasahs (18894 schools, 1420 school & colleges, and 9291 madrasahs).
9. Major activities of the project	:	A. Training of Secondary Teachers (School and Madrasah): Local training (total 367490), foreign training (1467). - Subject-based professional development training for secondary-level teachers (54,340); - Basic training for new secondary teachers (27,180); - Leadership Training for Heads of Secondary Level Educational Institutions (Schools and Madrasahs) (29,000); - Training of teachers on student’s mental health promotion, counseling and bullying prevention (118,980); - Teacher training on blended learning (60,480); - Training for librarians (30,225); - ICT training for teachers (30,585); - Teacher training to create awareness about climate change and prevention of environmental disasters (11,000). B. Setting up of multimedia classrooms [2 each in 10340 secondary education institutions (6928 schools and 3412 madrasahs)]. C. Library Development (29585 Institutions: Schools 18894; Schools and Colleges 1420 and Madrasas 9291). D. Anti Bullying Campaign: Installation of CCTV cameras on a pilot basis to prevent bullying in secondary level educational institutions (517 institutions). E. Workshops/Seminars/Conferences. F. Research, Studies and Sub-Contracts (Total 20) for implementation of Project Programs: - National Student Assessment (twice during the project period), - Development of Learning Management System (LMS) - Development of e-content (minimum 1000), - Development of online monitoring and evaluation system - Baseline study, training impact study etc. G. Grants: Development of libraries in secondary educational institutions and implementation of awareness programs to combat climate change.
10. Implementation Progress	:	i. A total of 72 million USD advance has been released to the govt. account from the World Bank; ii. A Project Operation Manual for the LAISE Project has been approved by the Secondary and Higher Education Division and shared with the World Bank; iii. An MOU signed with the IMED to perform as an Independent Verification Agency; iv. Allocation to the training agencies 14 TTCs, 5 HSTTIs, and 1 BMTTI to refurbish the training rooms; v. Frameworks of the 3 training manuals (basic training, professional development training, and leadership training) have been prepared in alignment with the recent decision on the national curriculum. The content writing workshop will take place in the first week of December 2024; vi. Framework of the vocational training manual has been prepared to train the teachers in the general stream; vii. Guideline for the prevention of mental health of secondary students has been prepared for consideration and approval by SHED; viii. Strategy and materials for dissemination of learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery developed; ix. Draft educational institution selection guidelines to install Multi-Media Classrooms (MMCs) have been prepared. x. Preparation of a guideline for School Related Gender Based Violence (SRDBV) in progress; xi. Existing Performance Based Grant for Secondary Schools (PBGS) is under review and revision in terms of the protocol of the DLR determined for LAISE; xii. Correspondence is being continued with the Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust to review and revise the existing Harmonized Stipend Program (HSP) manual in terms of the protocol of the DLR determined for LAISE.
11. Procurement Packages	:	(a) Number of Goods Packages: 100 (BDT 1020.74 crore; basically, for district-based packages to install Multi-Media Classroom); [Meanwhile, 5 packages processed] (b) Number of Service Packages: 26 (BDT 93.15 crore; PMC, Team Leader, DTL, etc.); [Meanwhile, 5 packages processed] (c) Number of Works Packages: 06 (BDT 10.50 crore; for the refurbishment of the training agencies).