Plan to improve environment of govt primary schools

25 December 2011, 18:00 PM

Unb, Dhaka

The government has taken an initiative to build improved infrastructures and facilities for primary schools and create an improved environment for students and teachers. To achieve the objectives, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council recently approved a Tk 169.33 crore “Primary Education Development Project”. Directorate of Primary Education under Ministry of Primary and Mass Education will implement the project by June 2014. Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk 32.53 crore while Tk 136.80 crore will come as project assistance from Islamic Development Bank (IDB), said a planning ministry official. The project also aims at enrolling all children at primary schools and provide teachers and students in the project areas with improved sanitation, safe drinking water and education related materials. The project will cover 75 upazilas of 20 districts -- Naogaon, Pabna, Sirajganj, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Bagerhat, Jessore, Khulna, Gopalganj, Kishoreganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Sherpur, Chandpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Sunamganj and Sylhet. Under the project, a total of 180 buildings, including 160 two-storied buildings with a four-storey foundation, will be built in the plains and 20 three-storied buildings in flood-prone and low lying areas. Besides, there will be separate toilets for male and female students, arsenic-free tube wells, facility to preserve rainwater and solar panels. The planning ministry sources said the government struck a US $ 18 million loan agreement with IDB on July 2, 2011 for the project. The loan carries an annual service charge of 2.50 percent, including a seven year grace period, with the principal amount to be repaid in 25 years. They said two projects, including the government primary school construction project (second phase), completed in June 2009, were implemented under IDB's financial assistance. Later, a survey carried out by Local Government Engineering Department found that a notable number of schools across the country are in dilapidated condition.