World Bank approves USD 47.9m grant for Punjab’s primary education

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank on Monday approved a USD 47.9 million grant, funded by the Global Partnership for Education Fund, to boost girls’ and boys’ participation at the pre-primary and primary levels in Punjab.

The new support aims to improve learning outcomes at the primary level and strengthen remedial learning assistance in elementary education.

The “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services and System Transformation in Punjab Project” will expand early childhood education, re-enroll out-of-school children, enhance teacher support, and improve the education sector’s responsiveness to climate change and emergencies.

By building stronger human capital and increasing resilience to shocks, the project focuses on the poorest and most vulnerable populations, aligning with the World Bank Group’s twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity, as well as its Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with Pakistan.

“This project represents a crucial step toward addressing learning poverty and ensuring equitable access to quality education across Punjab,” said Bolormaa Amgaabazar, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“By strengthening foundational learning, enhancing system capacity, and promoting behavioural change, the project will support long-term human capital development and economic growth in the province.”

The project is set to benefit over 4 million children, including 80,000 out-of-school children, more than 3 million enrolled in School Education Department (SED) schools, approximately 850,000 in the non-formal sector, and 140,000 differently-abled children in Special Education Department (SpED) schools.

Additionally, over 100,000 teachers and school leaders, as well as parents and community members, will benefit from professional development and awareness campaigns. Indirect beneficiaries include all students in SED, SpED, and non-formal schools who will gain from broader system reforms.

“The project aligns with the Government of Punjab’s broader education reform agenda, which seeks to create a more effective, accountable, and inclusive education system,” said Izza Farrakh, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.

“It will support the government’s efforts to improve governance, management, and capacity in the education sector. This includes strengthening coordination between the school, special education, and non-formal education departments, empowering schools, and building partnerships with communities to ensure sustainable results.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025