Marshallese girl, Majuro Cooperative school, Marshall Islands. 2012. Credit: World Bank / Patrick Rose

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$17,566,008

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • Girls' Education Accelerator
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Partnership Compact

Priority: Have motivated, capable teachers delivering evidence-based learning in a suitable environment, to give all children strong foundational skills – including traditional knowledge and climate education.

Other key documents

Coordinating agency: Pacific Resources for Education and Learning

GPE Team lead: Daisuke Kanazawa

Transforming education in the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands has expressed a strong commitment to transforming the education sector and addressing the needs and challenges of the Marshallese people.

National assessment data from 2023 shows that 55% of grade 3 children cannot read and understand simple text in Marshallese, and this figure jumps to 78% when assessing the most at-risk primary schools.

The government is working with GPE and other partners to have motivated, capable teachers delivering evidence-based learning in a suitable environment to give all children strong foundational skills, including traditional knowledge and climate education.

The Marshall Islands’ Partnership Compact details plans to achieve its priority reform. This includes support for teachers to address students’ individual learning needs, strengthen literacy and numeracy instruction, develop multi-level teaching skills, and incorporate ICT in their teaching.

Efforts to enhance the learning environment include more and better learning resources, and menstrual hygiene products and facilities for girls. A focus on family life education aims to expand counselling services for family planning, gender-based violence and health issues.

Result story

Planning ahead in the Marshall Islands mitigates interruptions in learning

GPE is supporting the government of the Marshall Islands to ensure the continuity of learning for all children before, during and after health-related emergencies.

Key data

91%

of children start learning one year before entering primary school

52%

of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications

13%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of November 21, 2024)

 
  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2024 - 2025

    Allocation: US$199,289

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2023 - 2024

    Allocation: US$670,554

    Utilization: US$98,552

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2021 - 2025

    Allocation: US$14,997,510

    Utilization: US$3,073,318

    Grant agent: ADB

** This is a regional grant for Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu.

* The program development grant is a regional grant for Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. The sector plan development grant covers the Pacific region.

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