ADB to provide loan assistance for School Reform Program

Kathmandu / Dec 2: The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide US dollar 120 million loan equivalent to Rs 13,111 million for the implementation of School Sector Development Plan (SSDP).

More, the ADB is to provide technical assistance worth Rs 54.5 million for the capacity development technical assistance project, supporting policies and implementation in the school sector. An agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged at the Ministry of Finance today, as stated by the Ministry.

The SSDP is a continuation of School Sector Reform Programme (SSRP) which was more focused on the quantity whereas SSDP focuses on the quality which supports the comprehensive interventions in improving quality in basic education and expands the coverage of quality secondary education. The programme ensures the new school construction meeting all disaster risk resilience standards.

Further building on SSRP experiences, this programme will be implemented in a more harmonized and coordinated way through Joint Financing Arrangement with other development partners as well. The SSDP shall be implemented by the Department of Education.

Shanta Raj Subedi, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and Mr Kenichi Yokoyama, the ADB Country Director, signed the Loan Agreement.

The government has expressed its appreciation to the ADB for the assistance and its continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal. RSS