BEST , Basic Education Strengthening and Transformation , is a project of the Ministry of Education financed by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education to modernise the foundations of basic education in Timor-Leste.
Financing
The project mobilises US$23.55 million in total: US$15 million from the World Bank’s International Development Association and US$8.55 million from the Global Partnership for Education trust fund. It is implemented by the Ministry with World Bank supervision.
Project Components
- Developing 21st-century learning spaces , safe, child-friendly classrooms and school facilities
- Improving teacher effectiveness , professional development and classroom support for basic education teachers
- Improving teaching-learning materials and assessment , textbooks, learning materials and stronger student assessment
- Data-driven planning, budgeting, financing and implementation , strengthening EMIS and evidence-based management
- Project management and implementation , supporting the Ministry’s capacity to deliver
Why It Matters
Timor-Leste has achieved near-universal access to basic education, but learning outcomes remain a serious concern. BEST tackles quality directly , better classrooms, better-supported teachers, better materials and better data , so that the years children spend in school translate into real learning.
Project documents are available from the World Bank. Related programmes: ALMA, EPRG and Curriculum Reform.