World Bank approves $150 million loan to enhance education in Punjab

LAHORE: The World Bank has sanctioned a $150 million loan to enhance educational facilities in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

This initiative aims to directly benefit around 5 million children, 7,000 head teachers, 165,000 teachers, and over 3,000 teacher mentors in public schools, as well as those affiliated with the Punjab Education Foundation.

Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, highlighted the critical impact of the project: “Punjab has more than 7 million out-of-school children. The GRADES project will help the Punjab government significantly reduce this number while improving foundational learning outcomes for boys and girls who are already in school.”

The project focuses on scaling up public-private partnerships, enhancing school readiness among young children, improving the quality of teaching and learning materials, and creating a better learning environment in schools.

One of the key priorities of the project is the reconstruction of schools damaged during the 2022 floods, with a particular focus on girls’ schools, overcrowded schools, and those in areas with high numbers of out-of-school children.

Izza Farrakh, Task Team Leader for the Project, emphasized the longstanding collaboration between the World Bank and the Punjab government on education reform: “GRADES will leverage this partnership for further innovation, such as climate-resilient classrooms and integrating climate change education into the curriculum. These reforms will ensure a safe and conducive learning environment while preparing the next generation to be more resilient to climate shocks and natural disasters.”

Since becoming a member of the World Bank in 1950, Pakistan has received over $46 billion in assistance. The current portfolio includes 55 projects with a total commitment of $14.7 billion.

This latest initiative underscores the ongoing efforts to improve educational outcomes and resilience in the face of climate challenges in Punjab.

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