World Bank approves US$150 million to improve primary education in Punjab

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved US$150 million for improving primary school education and reduce drop-outs in Punjab.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the World Bank said: “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Punjab Project (GRADES) will focus on improving learning outcomes, recovering from learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the management of schools, and expanding school participation levels.

“Punjab has more than seven million out-of-school children. GRADES will help the government of Punjab substantially reduce this number and, in parallel, improve foundational learning outcomes for boys and girls who are already in school,” Najy Benhassine, the World Bank country director for Pakistan, said in a statement.

“This will be done through scaling up and strengthening public-private partnerships, improving school preparedness among young children, enhancing the quality and use of teaching and learning materials and assessments, and improving the learning environment in schools.”

Given Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate shocks, the project will also follow a climate-resilient approach with measures to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, including construction of approximately 5,400 additional climate-smart classrooms in primary schools. It will introduce low-cost climate-smart features such as raised plinths and reflective roofs, according to the statement.

The project will prioritize reconstruction of schools damaged during the 2022 floods, especially girls’ schools, overcrowded institutions and those in locations with high numbers of out-of-school children. In addition, measures to strengthen disability inclusion, such as making school infrastructure more accessible and integrating inclusive education principles in teacher coaching is also part of the project’s inclusive design.

“The World Bank and the government of Punjab have a strong history of collaboration on education reform,” said Izza Farrakh, the task team leader for the project.

“GRADES will leverage this partnership for further innovation, such as climate-resilient classrooms and integrating climate change education into the curriculum. Reforms such as these will help ensure a safe and conducive learning environment and at the same time prepare the next generation to be more resilient to climate shocks and natural disasters.”

Pakistan has been a member of the World Bank since 1950 and has since received more than US$46 billion in assistance. Its current portfolio includes 55 projects and a total commitment of US$14.7 billion.