The Project will assist the MoE mainly for soft interventions in terms of educational curriculum reforms to roll out two innovations to the secondary school curriculum,(i) a vocational skills option will be added to the secondary education grades and (ii) STEM subjects will be introduced in the secondary and higher secondary grades. The focus will be on science and technology, including ICT and digital technology, which have become increasingly important in the post-COVID19 world. Project will finance for Professional Development (SBPD) of teachers to continuously improve teacher motivation, pedagogical skills, competencies and performance. Further it has been designed to support measurement of school performance through quality assurance (QA) reviews consisting of both self- evaluation by schools and external evaluations by the Quality Assurance Department (QAD). In terms of physical interventions, the Project will provide funds to set up STEM laboratories and vocational skills workshops through the refurbishment of classrooms, the provision of equipment and technology, and the delivery of teaching-learning material including textbooks and supplementary reading material. In addition, the Project will assist the development of ICT laboratories, especially through the delivery of equipment and technology. Negative environmental impacts that have moderate risks are associated with the interventions under this project and are most likely in the form of civil works related impacts such as dust, noise and worker and public health and safety as well as waste generation during the rehabilitation works. These impacts are mostly localised and can be managed via Environmental and Social screening and management plans with appropriate site specific mitigation actions. The project will also finance the procurement of ICT equipment such as computers, TV screens and data storage devices that will lead to the generation of E-waste post the useful lifecycle of their use. Potential risks to the communities and environmental hazards related to the disposal of e-waste at the end of the lifetime of the equipment which will be provided to ICT laboratories will be mitigated via risk management measures that will include product specifications and “cradle to grave” provisions in the contracts of suppliers of electronic equipment's such as computers and other accessories in accordance with international best practice. Due to these reasons, the environmental risk is rated moderate at the concept stage.