EU to provide 205m euro to boost edu sector

Bangladesh and the European Union sign a financing agreement to implement the Human Capital Development Programme 2021 (HCDP-21) at Economic Relations Division of the finance ministry in Dhaka on Tuesday. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh and the European Union sign a financing agreement to implement the Human Capital Development Programme 2021 (HCDP-21) at Economic Relations Division of the finance ministry in Dhaka on Tuesday. Photo: Collected

The European Union will provide 205 million euro to Bangladesh for the development of the country’s education sector.

An agreement was signed in this regard to implement the Human Capital Development Programme 2021 (HCDP-21) at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) office in the city on Tuesday, according to a press release.

It said 150 million euro will be spent for primary education, 50 million euro for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and five million euro for technical assistance in four years.

The EU-funded programme aims to provide quality education and training to Bangladesh's young population, the media release added.

HCDP-21 supports Bangladesh to progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 4 on quality education.

EU ambassador Rensje Teerink said continued investment in quality primary education and establishment of a sustainable TVET system is critical to enhance employment opportunities as the working population is anticipated to increase by 21 million people over the next decade.

“The goal is to use the potential of the demographic dividend and contribute significantly to inclusive growth and poverty reduction,” said the EU ambassador.

“The EU contribution is meant to support education policy improvements and system strengthening with a specific focus on primary education and TVET.”

The ERD secretary Monowar Ahmed said, “We are looking forward to further strengthening our solid partnership with one of our key donors and together making an important contribution to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.”

It will promote the implementation of long-term sustainable education policies towards a lifelong learning approach, bringing together primary education and TVET, the release said.

Under the EU supports and other development partners, the primary and mass education ministry is implementing Bangladesh's National Primary Education Programme (PEDP4), putting special emphasis on the following key targets: quality education through better trained teachers and revised curricula, including learning materials, increased enrolment of out-of-school children into the formal education system and equal access.

TVET, the EU programme with the education ministry, aims at contributing to the establishment of a sustainable and comprehensive TVET system and increasing the number of certified teachers, the enrolment rate of TVET students and degrees recognition through a National Qualification Framework.

HCDP21 additionally seeks reinforcing planning and monitoring capabilities of the partners' institutions.

Bangladesh has made commendable progress over the past decades in human development, including in the education sector, with near universal access to primary education and gender equity at the primary and secondary education levels.

Basic education and a skilled and capable workforce are a precondition for inclusive growth, key for Bangladesh to become a middle-income country.