JICA to provide Tk37.8cr for primary education development

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide Tk37.8 crore to implement activities of the Fourth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP4).

To this end, JICA today (19 December) signed an agreement with Economic Relations Division (ERD) at a ceremony at the NEC-2 Conference Room, Planning Commission Campus, reads a press release.

ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori and Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Ichiguchi Tomohide were present.

The event is a significant milestone toward improving the country's education system.

Since the 1990s, the Bangladesh government has been working to enhance the quality of primary education through PEDP (Primary Education Development) and has attained impressive results over the years.

However, the expansion of quality education continues to be a challenge; thus, in 2011, JICA and other development partners started supporting the government in the PEDP.

PEDP4 is a five-year programme that aims to provide quality education to all children in Bangladesh from pre-primary to Grade 5 through an inclusive and equitable education system.

The project started in July 2018 and will continue until June 2025, after two years of extension.

JICA has been providing both technical and financial support to Bangladesh.

JICA will provide Grant Assistance of 500 million Japanese Yen (Tk37.8 crore approx) for PEDP4. Previously, JICA signed four agreements of 500 million Japanese Yen each for PEDP4.

JICA has provided technical support to Bangladesh for PEDP2 and PEDP3, mainly targeting improving the quality of primary mathematics and science education.

For PEDP2, JICA Support Programme 1 (JSP1) supported the development of the Teaching Packaging for primary mathematics and science.

For PEDP3, JICA Support Programme 2 (JSP2) upgraded the mathematics and science textbooks and teacher's guides from Grade 1 to Grade 5.

The JSP2 has also implemented a few teacher's development courses by creating manuals and textbooks and advising and monitoring the course implementation.

JICA has provided 2,490 million Japanese Yen as a grant for the PEDP3. For PEDP4, JICA Support Program 3 (JSP3) and Education Advisor are working on the Strengthening Mathematics and Science in Primary Education Project.