World Bank approves $25m grant for education in Afghanistan

The World Bank on Thursday approved the allocation of an additional $25 million in financing from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to increase access to primary and secondary education in Afghanistan, particularly for girls.

In a statement issued by the World Bank, the organization said the new grant for the EQRA project will help build 100 additional schools, further improve learning and access to education for girls, support teachers’ training, and promote community-based education.

“Afghanistan has made much progress in improving education in the last two decades, but 3.5 million children remain out of school, and half of the country’s schools still have minimal infrastructure,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan.

“This additional financing will help the Afghan government create a better learning environment and enroll more children in schools,” he said.

“Girls’ education is one of the smartest investments a country can make: it boosts economic growth, curbs infant mortality and improves child nutrition,” said Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer of GPE.

“GPE will continue to do its part so that millions of girls and boys, especially the most vulnerable, can go to school and learn.”

Over the past ten years, Afghanistan has made great strides in improving access to education, but learning poverty is among the highest in the world.