Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government and the World Bank have signed a financing agreement aimed at transforming the country’s education sector.
The agreement includes a concessional loan of $120 million from the International Development Association and a grant of $19.7 million from the Global Partnership for Education, according to a statement issued by the World Bank on Wednesday.
The funding will support the implementation of the government’s flagship School Education Sector Plan through the School Sector Transformation Program (SSTP). The program focuses on improving foundational skills, implementing the national integrated curriculum in early grades, and addressing learning losses caused by school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters. The program will also prioritize the improvement of equity in the education sector, particularly for girls, disabled students, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, through targeted scholarship programs.
Finance Secretary Arjun Prasad Pokharel and World Bank Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos signed the agreement.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Pokharel expressed optimism about the transformative potential of the School Sector Transformation Program, emphasizing the importance of equitable access and quality education for human capital development. Similarly, Hadad-Zervos said the investment in quality education and equitable access is crucial for developing human capital and fostering inclusive and resilient growth.
