World Bank approves $120 million to support education sector

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved $120 million in financing to support the implementation of the Nepal’s flagship School Education Sector Programme (SESP).

The School Sector Transformation Programme operation builds on the government’s previous school education sector programmes and puts a greater focus on quality learning by establishing a teacher mentoring system at the local government level and ensuring a full complement of subject teachers (English, Math, and Science) at upper-basic and secondary levels, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner.

“Investing in quality education is key to developing human capital which goes to the heart of ensuring greater equity and economic growth,” World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said, adding that the operation supports Nepal’s vision to enhance quality of and equitable access to education to fulfill the ambitions of the new federal state.

The operation focuses on improving foundational skills by implementing the national integrated curriculum in early grades. To address the learning losses as a result of school closures due to Covid-19 and other disasters, the operation supports the government’s programme through the development and implementation of the Recovery and Accelerated Learning Plan, construction of green and resilient classrooms, and strengthening digital teaching and learning materials, the press note reads, adding that the operation also supports improving the equity of the school sector by including girls, disabled students, and those of lower socio-economic status, and by expanding targeted scholarships to students in grades 6-8 (upper-basic level) to help disadvantaged students.

“School closures had the largest impact on students of lower socio-economic backgrounds and deprived communities, as they have even more limited access to teachers and remote learning opportunities,” World Bank’s Programme Task Team Leader Karthika Radhakrishnan said, adding that the new operation supports the implementation of the Recovery and Accelerated Learning Plan and supports children from poorer socio-economic backgrounds through targeted scholarships.

Nepal to receive $200 million concessional loan from ADB

Nepal and Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a concessional loan agreement amounting to $200 million (equivalent to Rs 26.51 billion) for supporting the first five years of the School Education Sector Plan (SESP-2022–2030) and a grant agreement of $12 million to implement the Strengthening Systems to Protect and Uplift Women Project.

According to a press note issued by the Finance Ministry, the project will benefit survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) across Madhesh, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschchim provinces through the establishment of long-term rehabilitation centers, development of survivor-friendly facilities for the Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Centers within selected district and area police offices and strengthening of survivor-friendly services in these provinces. "The project will also build a new national long-term rehabilitation center in Bhaktapur," it adds.

Joint secretary at the ministry Ishwori Prasad Aryal, and ADB Officer-in-Charge for Nepal Saugata Dasgupta signed the agreements on behalf of their respective institutions. The proposed assistance is expected to support the implementation of the government’s School Education Sector Plan in a sector-wide approach supported by eight development partners, including ADB under the Joint Financing Arrangement.

“The programme will enhance learning provisions for basic and secondary schools, strengthen teaching and learning skills in schools, accelerate the recovery from learning losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and improve the capacity of local governments in education planning, monitoring and reporting,” the press note reads.

"Nepal has done significantly in terms of improving access to education in the past decades however, much more needs to be done to further improve equity of access and the quality of education," said Aryal after signing the agreement. The programme will be crucial to operationalising Nepal’s holistic approach in improving the overall learning outcomes."

"The agreement is a key part of ADB’s overall efforts to help Nepal accelerate reforms and transform the country’s education system to develop human capital, reduce social inequity, and attain sustainable growth," Dasgupta is quoted as saying, "The plan is designed towards eliminating inequities in access and participation in school education, and improving quality and resilience of school education."

UNICEF and Finland continue their partnership to support the education sector of Nepal

 Finland and UNICEF have signed a partnership agreement for the years 2023-2027. Finland is committing 4.2 million euros (approximately Rs 590 million) to UNICEF’s efforts in Nepal to enhance quality services for children, according to a press note issued by UNICEF.

Finland and UNICEF have been collaborating in the education sector in Nepal since 2019, and the agreed support is a continuation of this partnership.

At a ceremony held in Kathmandu today, the ambassador of Finland to Nepal Riina-Riikka Heikka and  UNICEF representative to Nepal Usha Mishra signed the partnership agreement for the years 2023-2027, on behalf of their respective institutions.

Finland is committing 4.2 million euros for the enhancement of quality services for children in Nepal, the press note reads, adding that Finland and UNICEF have been collaborating in the education sector since 2019 – the agreed support is a continuation of this partnership. “With the signed agreement, the partners reaffirmed their aspiration to strengthen inclusion and quality education for children in Nepal.”

The renewed partnership will focus on strengthening school readiness, foundational learning and inclusive education models, targeting particularly the most vulnerable children. “It also addresses those children who have been particularly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic or other disasters eg floods, in terms of their access to education participation and learning outcomes,” it claims, adding that the partnership also supports the new School Education Sector Plan (SESP) of the government of Nepal, to which both Finland and UNICEF are contributing.

“UNICEF is one of Finland’s long-term partners in Nepal,” Finland’s ambassador Riina-Riikka Heikka said, after signing the agreement. “The good relations are based on mutual understanding, common goals, common commitment and joint efforts to promote sustainable development in Nepal,” she said, adding that education is one of the key pillars of Finland’s Country Programme for Development Cooperation in Nepal. “We need strong partnerships in order to jointly strive for inclusive quality education.”

The strong and strategic partnership with Finland over the previous years has allowed us to continue supporting the Government in their pursuit of expanding access and improving the quality of public education in Nepal, so as to serve the children of the country, especially those left behind,”  UNICEF representative Usha Mishra said, after signing ceremony.