Türkiye - Safe Schooling and Distance Education Project

Overview & Synopsis

Ratings of the Safe Schooling and Distance Education Project for Turkiye were as follows: outcome was satisfactory; Bank performance was moderately satisfactory; M&E quality was substantial. Lessons and recommendations include the following: adopt a flexible and adaptive project design that can pivot as needs evolve from home-based remote learning to classroom-based blended learning, as demonstrated by the timely restructuring that prioritized strengthening the existing national digital platform over building a new system; incorporate a Contingency Emergency Response Component to enable rapid response to unforeseen shocks. Use multiple delivery channels such as online platforms, mobile phones, and television, and tailor content and equipment to diverse learner needs to improve reach and equity, including targeted support for disadvantaged schools and accessible materials for students with disabilities. Build ministry capacity early for adherence to Bank procedures, particularly in procurement and financial management, with hands-on support to project units to use competitive international bidding and achieve value for money. Pair infrastructure investments with early, scalable, and competency-oriented teacher professional development (PD), provide clear guidance for classroom integration of digital tools, and include mechanisms to assess PD impacts; encourage teacher participation through communication campaigns and professional networks to sustain uptake. These measures collectively strengthen resilience, sustain equitable access, and enhance the effectiveness of technology-enabled teaching and learning.