World Bank boosts basic education in Yemen [Archives:2004/777/Local News]

WASHINGTON, September 23rd 2004 – The World Bank approved a US$65 million loan to the Government of Yemen to help increase access to basic education for all, especially girls and disadvantaged groups, to enhance the quality of education and improve the management and efficiency of the education sector.
Yemen has made great strides in improving access to education, but it still faces huge challenges to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of universal primary education and gender equality. Enrolment in primary education has increased from 25,000 students in 1970 to more than 4 million in 2003. However, a significant lack of access, quality and efficiency exists; enrolment is approximately 65%, and the adult literacy rate is only 48%. Gender equality is an especially severe problem, with only 55% of primary school-aged girls in schools country-wide and less than 30% in rural areas.
In response to these challenges, the Government of Yemen is working in partnership with donors in implementing the Basic Education Development Strategy, which focuses on increasing access to school, particularly for girls, improving and developing education curricular and improving management in the Ministry of Education.
In its first years, the Basic Education Development project will be launched in 10 governorates where new schools will be built and existing schools refurbished. The implementation of the Project will expand gradually to the entire country. The project will also emphasize on curricular review and development, and enhance the quality and provision of educational materials. It will support better teacher management and strengthen the system of educational supervision. The project will also help the Ministry of Education improve policy development, strategic planning, and evaluation, and curriculum review and development. By the time the project is completed, it is expected that enrolment in primary education will have increased by more than 20% across the country.
The Task Team Leader of the Project Ousmane Diagana said, “The project will have a far-reaching beneficial impact in Yemen. The reforms it supports are designated to create an education system in which the less well-off social groups – including girls, children with special needs, and children in rural areas – will benefit increasingly from the nation's investments in education. These reforms will help to gradually change Yemen's education system from one that is relatively costly and poorly managed, to a system that is more efficient and relevant.”
The Basic Education Development Project has a maturity of 40 years, including a 10-year grace period. The World Bank began its development cooperation and assistance to Yemen in 1971. Since then, commitments to the country total approximately US$2.3 billion for 135 operations.
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