World Bank Approves Additional Financing to Improve Secondary Education in Maldives

WASHINGTON, October 30, 2024-The World Bank today signed a grant agreement in the amount of $2.7 million from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) which will provide additional financing for Atoll Education Development Project (AEDP).

The AEDP, approved by the World Bank's Board in September 2022, is helping Maldives improve its education system by improving teacher effectiveness and student learning outcomes at the secondary level. It places special focus on mathematics, science and English language, and on improving education outcomes in the outer atolls.

"The additional financing is a step towards achieving the government's vision of a stronger education system in the Maldives," said David Sislen, World Bank Regional Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. "By enhancing evidence-based decision-making and building the capacity of education officials and school staff, we are helping to create a more resilient education system capable of withstanding future challenges."

The additional financing under the GPE's Multiplier Grant, with the World Bank as the grant agent, supports the government's policies to introduce new activities and indicators to strengthen capacity for evidence-based decision-making in the Maldives' education sector. A new component focuses on human resource development and establishing a digital-based Education Management Information System (EMIS).

The new financing aims to build resilience by improving crisis management and climate adaptation skills among education staff. The EMIS will consolidate scattered data, including student, HR, and administrative information, to support efficient planning and policy-making. It will track attendance, identify dropouts, and monitor infrastructure for energy efficiency, enhancing resilience to economic and climate-related challenges.

"The Atoll Education Development Project has made steady progress. Students and teachers in nearly all the 100 target schools are benefiting from interventions in English, mathematics, and science. We aim to utilize the additional financing to further modernize the performance of the education system in Maldives," said Harsha Aturupane, World Bank Lead Economist and Task Team Leader.

The Maldives Atoll Education Development Project is implemented by the Ministry of Education. With the latest approval, the total financing is $12.775 million, which is comprised of a $4.5 million grant and a $4.5 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessional credit window for developing countries; a contribution of $1 million of counterpart funds from the Government of Maldives; and $2.775 million under the GPE Multiplier Grant.