World Bank to Provide Bangladesh with $300 Million Loan to Improve Primary Education

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

The World Bank is providing Bangladesh with a $300 million loan to improve the quality of primary education and reduce learning gaps among students. The funding will be used to improve educational outcomes for approximately 26 million children from pre-primary to Grade Five, with particular emphasis on developing basic reading, writing and mathematics skills and providing additional support to students who are falling behind.

On Friday (November 6), the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in Washington, DC, approved the financing under a programme titled Learning Enhancement and Acceleration in Primary Education. The loan will support the implementation of Bangladesh’s Fifth Primary Education Development Programme.

According to a World Bank press release, the programme will seek to improve the learning environment in pre-primary and primary education, enhance teachers’ skills, and make school administration and management more effective.

Although Bangladesh has achieved near-universal access to primary education, concerns remain about the quality of learning among students. According to World Bank data, nearly half of all 10-year-old children in Bangladesh cannot read and understand a simple text appropriate for their age and grade level. The corresponding rates are 42 per cent in Malaysia and 47 per cent in Brazil.

Jean Pesme, the World Bank’s Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said quality primary education was essential to building a skilled workforce capable of competing in the global economy.

He said the World Bank had supported Bangladesh over the past two decades in creating opportunities for almost all children to attend school. The new financing aims to strengthen children’s learning abilities and ensure that they continue their education. This, in turn, will help create pathways to better employment opportunities in the future.

According to the World Bank, Bangladesh has one of the largest primary education systems in the world. More than 20 million students are enrolled at this level across government primary schools, private and NGO-run institutions, kindergartens and madrasas.

Under the new programme, special learning packages will be introduced to improve students’ basic reading, writing and mathematics skills. These packages will include teaching materials, structured lesson plans and necessary teacher training.

In addition, headteachers of 90 per cent of government primary schools will receive training in leadership and school management. The programme will also strengthen the overall systems for school administration and management.

Special remedial education and additional lessons will be arranged for children who are lagging behind academically. Areas where students are performing relatively poorly will receive priority in the implementation of the programme.

Tasmina Rahman, the World Bank’s Senior Education Specialist and Task Team Leader for the programme, said primary education laid the foundation for acquiring the skills needed to secure better employment in the future.

She said the programme included special support measures to ensure that no child was left behind in learning. At the same time, it would focus on improving the quality of teachers and school leadership, ensuring accountability in the use of allocated funds, and increasing the use of data in decision-making.

Under the programme, government primary school teachers will receive training and necessary support to help them teach reading, writing and mathematics more effectively in classrooms.

Plans are also in place to improve the quality of pre-primary education so that children are better prepared to enter school and develop the ability to learn.

The World Bank expects the programme to create 843,000 new and relatively better-paid employment opportunities in government primary schools.

The financing is being provided by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), which offers concessional loans and grants to low-income countries. The approved loan has a maturity period of 25 years, including a five-year grace period during which no repayment will be required.