The World Bank has approved a $47.9 million grant to improve primary education in Punjab, Pakistan. The funding, aimed at expanding early childhood schooling, increasing enrolment, and supporting teachers, is set to benefit over four million children in the province, including 80,000 out-of-school children and 140,000 differently-abled students.
In a significant development for Pakistan’s education sector, the World Bank has approved a $47.9 million grant to enhance primary education in Punjab. Funded by the Global Partnership for Education Fund, the project aims to boost school enrolment, improve early childhood education, and strengthen teacher support systems in the province.
The initiative comes after the successful completion of the 12th mission by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and World Bank teams, which reviewed the progress of the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project. The new grant is part of the ongoing efforts to improve education in Pakistan and tackle issues such as learning poverty and inequitable access to quality education.
The project will target four million children, including 80,000 who are out of school, 3 million enrolled in School Education Department (SED) schools, 850,000 in the non-formal education sector, and 140,000 students in Special Education Department (SpED) schools who are differently-abled. Over 100,000 teachers, school leaders, parents, and community members will benefit from professional development and awareness initiatives designed to improve education quality and governance.
According to Izza Farrakh, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the project, this initiative aligns with the Punjab government’s broader education reform agenda, which seeks to create a more effective, accountable, and inclusive education system. By improving governance and capacity, the project aims to make education more accessible and effective, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Bolormaa Amgaabazar, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, described the project as an important step towards addressing the challenges of learning poverty and ensuring equitable access to education across Punjab. The project aligns with the World Bank’s goals of eradicating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity.
This grant is part of the World Bank’s broader efforts in Pakistan, where it has been a member since 1950 and has provided more than $48.3 billion in assistance. Additionally, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has invested approximately $13 billion in sectors such as renewable energy, financial inclusion, healthcare, and agribusiness.
The World Bank’s commitment to improving education in Pakistan continues with projects like the $100 million “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan” project, which aims to benefit 250,000 students in Balochistan by improving enrolment and literacy rates.
