The Basic Education Project: Peru

Context and Problem

Despite achieving near-universal primary education access and increasing enrollments in preschool and secondary education, Peruvian students lagged significantly behind in mathematics and literacy. The primary issue was not accessibility to education, but the quality and effectiveness of the education that was being delivered. The government of Peru recognized the need to improve the educational outcomes to enable inclusive economic growth and reduce social disparities in the long-term.

Solution

With the support of the World Bank, the Peruvian Government initiated the Basic Education Project under the umbrella of Programa de Educación Logros de Aprendizaje (PELA). The project had three critical areas. First, to scale up and benchmark student learning assessments. This involved introduction of additional cycles of national assessments across multiple grade levels. Through this mechanism, data was gathered on student performance, which then informed policy adjustments. Second, designing and implementing teacher evaluation utilizing a new evaluation methodology. This involved establishing a merit-based system for teacher recruitment and promotion, aimed to enhance the quality of education for students. Third, training and evaluation of teachers. This supported a competitive selection process for hiring teachers and evaluation of school management positions, to ensure positive educational outcomes.

The World Bank contributed US$25 million of the US$186 million total project costs, in addition to providing strategic and technical guidance throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Impact

Through 2013 to 2018, notable outcomes were achieved. First, insights from the assessments were utilized to refine educational strategies and curricula. Second, the project improved the evaluation of instructional practices, leading to significant pedagogical reforms based on empirical data. Additionally, through the competitive evaluation process, 18,477 positions for school management roles were filled. Moreover, the project benefited and will continue to benefit the 5.7 million students in Peru’s public schools.

The project included detailed assessments, fair teacher evaluations, and training for school leaders, all of which have shown positive effects on education quality. The project is made to last because it's part of Peru's national education laws, and the government continues to support it with new reforms and funding programs like Boosting Human Capital. By focusing on clear results and ongoing improvements, this project serves as a model for other countries looking to improve education and ensure that students are well-prepared for the future.