With the approval Thursday (8 July) of a 50 million US dollar credit, the World Bank will join Denmark, Finland, Norway, and the United Kingdoms Department for International Development in supporting Nepals Education For All program.
The program aims to increase primary enrollment rates, especially of girls and children from socially disadvantaged groups, and to improve the quality of education.
Nepal has made substantial progress in education, as evidenced by the increase in primary enrollment from 69 percent in 1998 to 81 percent in 2001.
Despite this accomplishment, achieving the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015 remains a challenge. More than 25 percent of children are still out of school, with girls, children from dalit (low-caste Hindus) and disadvantaged ethnic communities disproportionately under-represented.
– Much needs to be done if Nepal is to maintain recent gains in education as well as momentum towards education for all goals, says Chingboon Lee, World Banks Lead Education Specialist.
– This is an extremely challenging task, given the difficult country conditions arising from political instability and the insurgency. A key strategy will be the shift in service delivery by central units to empowerment of local communities in managing schools and the resources they will receive through block grants.
As part of a sector-wide approach led by the government and subscribed to by all donors, proceeds from the 50 million dollar credit will be pooled with about 100 million dollar in grant funding from Denmark, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom to finance basic and primary education expenditures over the next five years.
Consistent with the harmonization agenda, donors and the government have committed to reduce transaction costs through adoption of a common results framework for monitoring progress on Education For All goals, and reliance on government rules and procedures with few exceptions, for financial management, procurement, reporting and auditing of pooled donor and government funds.
The 50 million US dollar credit from the International Development Association (IDA), has a 35-year maturity, with a 10-year grace period, and a 0,75 percent service charge.
For more information on the World Banks activities in Nepal, visit www.worldbank.org/np
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
