DUSHANBE, June 29, 2010, Asia-Plus — The World Bank will provide US$2 million as an additional financing for modernization of the education sector in Tajikistan through the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Banks’ fund for the poorest countries.
According to the Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), an appropriate agreement on additional financing for the Tajikistan Education Modernization Project was signed by Mr. Safarali Najmiddinov, Minister of Finance of Tajikistan, and Ms. Chiara Bronchi, the World Bank Country Manager, in Dushanbe on June 25, 2010.
The project aims to stop further decline in the Tajikistan education system by targeting improved enrollment and completion through grade five. It helps set the stage for change at the national level, through improving textbooks and curriculum and reviewing financing options. At the district and local level it improves the school environment through infrastructure rehabilitation and the purchase of equipment and books. The project also helps develop local and district capacity through community and district level grant schemes. The project covers seven districts of Tajikistan including Fayzobod, Vahdat, Roghun, Nourobod, Kulob, Vose and the Shohmansour district in Dushanbe.
The project includes four components: support for community initiatives through provision of grants to schools and district education offices to address issues of attendance and rehabilitation of infrastructure; support for capacity building focusing on real learning outcomes and building the skills needed for new market economy; strengthening service delivery through support for improvements in the physical infrastructure and equipment in the project districts to ensure good working climate at school level; and support for the Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Education.
As a result of this project, the poor students, education staff at both central and municipal level, as well as parents and community members will benefit from an improved school environment and upgraded curriculum, increased access to quality textbooks through additional printing and an improved textbook rental scheme and a greater synergy between the education system and school communities.
