Development bank to boost aid for primary education in Bangladesh

Jul 5, 2011, 10:04 GMT

Manila - The Asian Development Bank said Tuesday it would extend a 320-million-dollar loan to help fund a project to improve the quality and reach of primary education in Bangladesh.

The Manila-based bank said the project would build on earlier reforms that have already increased enrollments in Bangladesh to almost 96 per cent in 2010.

'Despite the progress made to date, primary schools still suffer from high student dropout rates, as well as low completion levels and significant student and teacher absenteeism,' said Sultan Rahman, director general of the bank's South Asia Department.

Rahman said the project would help address issues still plaguing Bangladesh's primary school system, one of the world's largest.

'The project will also expand support for early learning by providing funds for one year of pre-primary education and for non-formal and second chance primary schooling,' the bank said.

Assistance would also be given to disadvantaged groups such as tribal children and ethnic minorities, it said.

Eight other development partners, such as the World Bank and the European Union, are also providing assistance while the government would shoulder the bulk of the project's cost of 8.3 billion dollars.

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