Japan will provide Japanese Yen 500 million in grant for the development of primary education in Bangladesh.
A signing ceremony on "Japanese Grant Aid for the 4th Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP4)" was held at Economic Relations Division (ERD) on Monday, said a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi and ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed signed an exchange of notes on behalf of the respective sides.
Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office Hitoshi Hirata also signed the Grant Agreement on the programme.
Japan has been supporting PEDP, national development strategic plan for primary education, in cooperation with other development partners since 2011 under the sector-wide approaches (SWAPs).
Under the PEDP3, 25 million students in primary schools received 'refined' textbooks, approximately 500,000 teachers were empowered and more than 25,000 classrooms were built.
The PEDP4 is aimed at improving the quality of education including improvement of learning achievement.
The press release said Japan has provided support with a focus on improving the quality of primary education for all.
For more than a decade, various approaches including policy strengthening, development of textbooks and teaching materials, strengthening school management and improvement of teachers' training as well as this financing support have been taken.
Japan's approach with a focus on the quality assurance through technical cooperation, Japanese volunteers and policy advisors makes a good synergy with SWAPs and financing support because those who have been working in the field can provide feedback to policy decision-making at national level, it added.
smunima@yahoo.com