By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has committed $47.9 million to transform primary education in Punjab province, targeting improved access and learning outcomes for millions of children in a region grappling with systemic challenges.
Funded by the Global Partnership for Education Fund, the grant aims to bolster participation in pre-primary and primary schooling while strengthening remedial education at the elementary level, a move seen as critical to addressing Pakistan’s persistent learning poverty.
The initiative, named the “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services and System Transformation in Punjab Project,” zeroes in on expanding early childhood education, re-enrolling out-of-school children, enhancing teacher training, and fortifying the education system’s resilience against climate change and emergencies.
It’s a strategic effort to build human capital and align with the World Bank Group’s twin goals of eradicating extreme poverty and fostering shared prosperity, as outlined in its Country Partnership Framework with Pakistan.
“This project represents a crucial step towards 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 behavioral change, the project will support long-term human capital development and economic growth in the province.”
The program is poised to directly benefit over 4 million children, including 80,000 currently out of school, more than 3 million students in schools managed by the School Education Department (SED), approximately 850,000 in the non-formal sector, and 140,000 differently abled children in Special Education Department (SpED) institutions.
Beyond students, the project will reach over 100,000 teachers and school leaders through professional development programs and engage parents and community members through awareness campaigns. System-wide reforms are expected to indirectly improve conditions for all students across Punjab’s public, special, and non-formal education systems.
Punjab, which houses over half of Pakistan’s 240 million people, faces significant hurdles in its education sector, including high dropout rates and disparities in access, particularly for girls and rural communities. The province’s education system has struggled to keep pace with population growth and economic demands, making initiatives like this one pivotal.
The World Bank’s grant dovetails with the provincial government’s broader reform agenda, which emphasises accountability, inclusivity, and governance improvements. “The project is aligned 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 do so by supporting 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.”
Pakistan’s relationship with the World Bank dates back to 1950, with the institution providing over $48.3 billion in assistance to date. The current portfolio includes 54 projects with commitments totaling $15.7 billion, spanning critical sectors like energy, health, and infrastructure. Separately, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private-sector arm, has invested approximately $13 billion in Pakistan since 1956, supporting diverse projects in renewable energy, financial inclusion, agribusiness, manufacturing, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and trade.
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