Bihar Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness Program
The Bihar Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness Program was a US$250 million operation implemented by the Government of Bihar with support from the World Bank to improve the effectiveness of elementary school teachers in the state. The program was primarily funded through a results-based financing (RBF) model, specifically using the World Banks Program-for-Results (PforR) instrument. It aimed to address key challenges affecting teacher effectiveness, including:
- Lack of adequate accountability and incentive mechanisms
- Deficient institutional linkages for teacher planning, monitoring and management
- Low number of certified teachers and teacher training institutions
- Need for improved classroom pedagogy and effectiveness
- Lack of school leadership skills
The program focused on five key results areas:
1. Developing high quality teacher education institutions
2. Certification of unqualified teachers and continuous professional development
3. Developing an effective teacher management system with robust monitoring
4. Improving accountability mechanisms at the school level
5. Improving financial and governance mechanisms
Key interventions included upgrading teacher training infrastructure, implementing open and distance learning programs to certify unqualified teachers, establishing ICT-enabled continuous professional development, strengthening teacher monitoring systems, and enhancing school management committees
Pros
Focused on improving teacher quality and effectiveness rather than just increasing teacher numbers
Used results-based financing to incentivize achievement of outcomes
Comprehensive approach addressing multiple aspects of teacher effectiveness
Leveraged technology for teacher training and management
Cons
Implementation delays, especially in hiring technical agencies
Some planned activities had to be dropped or scaled back
Ambitious initial targets had to be revised downwards
Partners
Government of Bihar
World Bank