The World Bank's Education unit, in collaboration with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery’s Safer Schools Thematic Area, has developed the RIGHT+ framework to enhance physical learning environments (PLEs) in low- and middle-income countries. This initiative aims to improve educational outcomes while addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Physical learning environments, often referred to as "the third teacher," include classrooms and school facilities that significantly impact student achievement. According to the "Clever Classrooms" study, these environments account for 16% of the variation in student performance. School infrastructure investments have a high potential to help education systems adapt to climate change and extreme weather events.
The RIGHT+ framework focuses on creating resilient, inclusive, green, healthy, teaching-and-learning-conducive PLEs. It provides strategies for improving education spaces by promoting resilience through risk-informed location selection and compliance with building codes. For instance, Kyrgyzstan's Enhancing Resilience project reduced earthquake risks for school facilities.
Inclusivity is emphasized by ensuring accessible spaces and gender-friendly facilities. Angola's Girls Empowerment project aims to create 135,000 new school seats for girls by 2025 through expanded classrooms and improved WASH facilities.
Green schools focus on energy efficiency and sustainable construction materials. Examples include Gujarat's Green & Sustainable School Program in India and Romania's efforts to reduce energy consumption through improved insulation.
Health is promoted by maintaining good indoor environmental quality. In Tanzania, painting school roofs white reduced peak temperatures by approximately 3°C. Panama has focused on maintaining schools with clean green spaces and repaired plumbing.
Teaching- and learning-conducive environments are designed with flexible spaces that accommodate diverse activities. Chile's CECREA Centers offer adaptable areas shaped by children's inputs.
Effective implementation of infrastructure investments involves robust policy frameworks and data management systems. Pakistan developed a data-driven tool post-2022 floods for planning educational resilience investments.
The World Bank supports PLE-related projects globally, focusing heavily on Africa and South Asia. Between FY14-23, over $14 billion was allocated towards PLE investments across various regions.
Early adopters of the RIGHT+ framework include Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. These countries are integrating RIGHT+ principles into national education strategies or preparing related projects with World Bank support.
For more information or inquiries about implementing RIGHT+, contact the PLE team at physical_learning_environments@worldbank.org