Sustainability mechanisms need to be incorporated into project design from the beginning. Even though many of the components of the sub-activity have been found to have short-term impacts, there is concern about the sustainability of some of the investments, and therefore the sustainability of impacts on outcomes. For example, the funding for scholarships for both secondary schools and ITCHA ended with the compact and it is now the responsibility of the Ministry of Education (MINED) to continue providing them or find another provider. Without continuation of the scholarship program, transportation and other indirect costs will remain significant barriers to student enrollment, particularly for boys. Another example is that while the project succeeded in bringing in new types of teachers with relevant practical experience – after the project, in some cases, they were replaced by more traditional teachers. Demonstrating a new model or approach through exceptions to rules can be a viable short term strategy, but they should be linked to longer term reform efforts to build on the demonstration effect.
Lesson Learned