ADB keen to expand support for skills development in primary education

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) wants to expand its support for non-formal education and skills development in Bangladesh. It will also continue its ongoing assistance to improve the quality of primary education.

ADB Country Director for Bangladesh, Qingfeng Zhang, expressed interest during a courtesy meeting with State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at the Bangladesh Secretariat today (12 November).

The meeting focused on improving primary education, making classroom teaching more effective, implementing the Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5) and future development cooperation.

Bobby Hajjaj said the government has invested in infrastructure, teacher training, curriculum development, educational materials and school improvement grants to strengthen primary education. He said the government is now focusing more on classroom realities, teaching methods and students’ actual learning outcomes.

On PEDP-5, the state minister said the government has decided in principle to divide the programme into six separate projects. This will make implementation and financing more specific, feasible and results-oriented.

The proposed projects will focus on infrastructure development and teacher training, clarifying development partners’ contributions and expected outcomes.

The state minister urged development partners to boost long-term investment in non-formal education, skills training and lifelong learning.

Qingfeng Zhang praised the state minister’s reform initiatives, particularly his field visits to schools and direct interactions with teachers.

He said the initiatives to improve classroom teaching and learning outcomes align with the ADB’s approach.

The ADB country director reaffirmed support for primary education and expressed interest in expanding assistance to non-formal education and skills development.