ADB approves $75m for Sindh education project.

Byline: Khaleeq Kiani

ISLAMABAD -- The Asian DevelopAment Bank (ADB) on Monday announced that it has approved a $75 million loan for a project in the education sector of Sindh.

In a statement issued here, the Manila-based lending agency said the project was aimed at improving the quality, accessibility, and gender responsiveness of the secondary education system and infrastructure in Sindh.

Pakistan has 22.8 million out-of-school children, 28 per cent are in Sindh. The province also has the second lowest gross enrolment ratio and net enrolment rates at all education levels in the country.

The secondary education sector faces challenges ranging from outdated and dilapidated infrastructure, lack of access to schooling - particularly for girls - and poor teaching and learning quality, especially for core subjects, including language, mathematics and science.

Loan will be spent on improving quality, accessibility and gender responsiveness of secondary education

'Given the province's strategic location, economic importance, and young workforce, Sindh has the potential to transform itself into a key driver of economic growth and development in Pakistan,' said Norman LaRocque, ADB Principal Education Specialist for Central and West Asia.

He said efforts to improve the education system and infrastructure in the province were important to ensuring that graduates have the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute productively to the country's growth and development.

The Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project will finance the construction of about 160 new secondary school blocks within existing government school compounds, largely in 10 districts in southern Sindh. The new blocks...