$100m WB grant for pry education

The government yesterday signed an agreement with the World Bank (WB) for a $100 million grant for the ongoing Third Primary Education Development Program (PEDP3).

The grant, from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), will help 19.5 million children receive primary education and complete grade V, says a WB press release.

Additional Secretary (Economic Relations Division) Kazi Shofiqul Azam and Acting World Bank Country Head for Bangladesh, Iffath Sharif, inked the financing agreement at the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

Thanks to PEDP3 and its predecessor programmes, today over 97 percent Bangladeshi children enrol in primary schools and nearly 80 percent of them complete their primary education, says the statement.

"The World Bank has been a long standing partner of Bangladesh in the education sector. PEDP3 and its predecessor programmes have been designed to ensure that every primary school-age child in Bangladesh is able to go to school, receive quality education, and complete the primary school cycle," said Iffath Sharif. "PEDP3 contributes to realise the government's vision of 'Education for all'," said Kazi Shofiqul Azam.  Through the grant, the Global Partnership for Education joins the World Bank and nine development partners who already support PEDP3, a government-led programme. 

"Pre-primary and early primary education are the key to getting children ready for a successful school life," said Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Partnership for Education.