Today, the government of Madagascar and the World Bank, acting as grant agent for GPE, signed an agreement for a US$45.7 million implementation grant. The GPE Board in February had approved US$95.3 million to support education in Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Madagascar.
At the signing ceremony, Falihery Rajaobelina, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Budget of Madagascar, signed the agreement, and for the World Bank, it was Mark Lundell, Country Director for Madagascar. GPE CEO Alice Albright said a few words at the signing ceremony.
The GPE grant is complemented by an IDA grant of US$55 million. The funding will support the reforms outlined in the country’s education sector plan for 2018-2022. In particular, the program will aim to improve student learning in the first two years of primary education in public schools and reduce the repetition rate.
Teacher training will be strengthened, with a focus on teaching reading and math competency. Around 1,000 early learning centers are planned in partnership with local communities, along with the construction of 800 furnished classrooms with restrooms and running water.
The program also seeks to improve the management of public schools through an equitable national school grant system and professionalizing the role of school principals. If the expected results are attained, an additional US$29 million will be provided by GPE.
Over its 5-year period, the program plans to enroll 4.6 million children in primary school and 80,000 children in supported early learning centers, as well as train 35,000 primary school teachers, 6,500 preschool community educators, 4,000 community school-board members, and 20,000 school directors and local supervisors.