Dhaka:The World Bank has sanctioned $300 million in financing to enhance learning outcomes for 26 million children in Bangladesh, ranging from pre-primary to Grade 5.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the funding was approved by the World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors under the Learning Enhancement and Acceleration in Primary Education Program. This initiative aims to improve the quality of education, focusing on essential skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics that align with grade levels.
The program supports the implementation of Bangladesh's Fifth Primary Education Development Programme. Despite achieving near-universal access to primary education, Bangladesh faces challenges in learning quality, with about 50 percent of 10-year-olds unable to comprehend age-appropriate texts.
Jean Pesme, World Bank Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, emphasized the importance of quality primary education in building a competitive workforce. He noted that the World Bank has assisted Bangladesh in school enrollment over the past two decades, and the new financing aims to enhance learning and retention, ultimately improving future employment prospects.
Bangladesh's primary education system is one of the largest globally, with over 20 million children in various educational institutions. The program will introduce a foundational literacy and numeracy package and provide training for headteachers in 90 percent of government primary schools to strengthen management systems.
Tashmina Rahman, World Bank Senior Education Specialist and Team Leader, highlighted the program's focus on remedial learning for struggling students, particularly in districts facing significant challenges. It will also support improved teaching, leadership, budget accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
The financing, provided by the International Development Association (IDA), has a 25-year maturity period with a five-year grace period. The program is expected to generate 843,000 more and better-paid jobs in government primary schools.