World Bank approves $300 million loan for primary education

On Saturday (7 November), this information was disclosed from the World Bank's Dhaka office. The program titled ‘Learning Enhancement and Acceleration in Primary Education’ will contribute to implementing the government's Fifth Primary Education Development Program; under it, children will be helped to acquire basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics according to their age and grade.

The World Bank said that although near-universal access to primary education has been achieved in Bangladesh, quality remains a major challenge; about 50 percent of 10-year-old children in the country cannot understand a simple age-appropriate text.

Under the program, a package focused on basic literacy and numeracy will be introduced through classroom teaching materials, structured lesson plans and improved teacher training; about 90 percent of head teachers of government primary schools will receive leadership training. The International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank Group institution, is providing the funds; this 25-year loan has a five-year grace period.