ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has committed $47.9 million in funding to Pakistan, specifically directed toward Punjab, to improve school participation, learning outcomes, and access to quality education for both girls and boys. The funding, sourced from the Global Partnership for Education Fund (GPE), is set to play a transformative role in reshaping the educational landscape of Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
This initiative comes at a time when Pakistan faces one of the world’s highest numbers of out-of-school children, with millions of young learners still unable to access proper schooling. The World Bank’s intervention is expected to create long-lasting impacts by addressing systemic challenges and ensuring inclusive, equitable education opportunities.
Expanding Access and Improving Learning Outcomes
The project, officially titled “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services and System Transformation in Punjab”, has been designed to target the root causes of low enrollment and poor learning outcomes.
According to the World Bank, the program will:
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Expand Early Childhood Education (ECE): Ensuring that children have access to structured learning from an early age, which has been proven to significantly improve lifelong academic performance.
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Re-enroll Out-of-School Children: Targeting vulnerable groups, particularly those in rural areas and underprivileged communities, to bring them back into mainstream education.
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Strengthen Teacher Training & Support: Enhancing the professional capacity of teachers, school leaders, and principals to improve classroom teaching quality.
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Build Climate-Resilient Education Systems: Ensuring schools can continue functioning during natural disasters, floods, and emergencies, which often disrupt education in Punjab.
This broad approach ensures that the project not only focuses on enrollment numbers but also tackles the quality of education and systemic weaknesses that hinder long-term progress.
A Strong Push for Human Capital Development
World Bank officials highlighted that this project is aligned with their global vision of strengthening human capital in developing nations. By providing equitable access to quality education, the initiative seeks to empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills required for economic growth and social development.
“This project represents a vital step towards tackling learning poverty and ensuring equitable access to quality education across Punjab,” said Bolormaa Amgaabazar, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.
She emphasized that foundational learning—the ability of children to read, write, and perform basic math at the right age—would be at the heart of this project. In her view, strengthening early education and remedial learning opportunities would contribute significantly to long-term economic resilience and prepare Pakistan for a more competitive future.
Reaching Millions of Children Across Punjab
The scale of this project is substantial. According to official figures, more than four million children are expected to directly benefit from the initiative. The breakdown of beneficiaries includes:
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80,000 out-of-school children who will be reintegrated into formal education.
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Over 3 million students enrolled in Punjab’s School Education Department (SED) institutions.
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Approximately 850,000 children in the non-formal education sector, who will gain access to improved facilities and teaching support.
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Nearly 140,000 differently-abled children enrolled in Special Education Department (SpED) schools.
Beyond students, the program will also support over 100,000 teachers, principals, and school leaders through enhanced professional development. Community members, parents, and caregivers will be engaged through awareness campaigns to build a collective culture of valuing education.
In addition, indirect beneficiaries will include all children currently enrolled in SED, SpED, and non-formal schools, as they will benefit from broader systemic reforms and improved governance.
Addressing Structural Challenges in Education
Punjab, despite being Pakistan’s most developed province, faces deep-rooted challenges in education. Large disparities remain between urban and rural areas, with rural communities experiencing lower enrollment rates, inadequate facilities, and limited teacher training.
The World Bank’s project aims to bridge these gaps by working alongside the Government of Punjab’s education reform agenda, which focuses on creating a more accountable, efficient, and inclusive education system.
According to Izza Farrakh, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project, this initiative will improve governance, strengthen coordination, and empower schools to operate more effectively. She explained:
“This project will not only provide resources but also strengthen management capacity in the education sector. By coordinating across school education, special education, and non-formal departments, we can ensure a sustainable impact and long-lasting reforms.”
This alignment with the government’s priorities ensures that the project will integrate seamlessly with existing policies and reforms rather than functioning as a stand-alone initiative.
Education as a Tool for Poverty Reduction
Education has long been seen as one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. Punjab’s education reforms, backed by the World Bank, are expected to narrow inequalities, empower young girls and boys, and create pathways toward better employment opportunities.
The World Bank also pointed out that investing in human capital strengthens resilience against future economic shocks. By equipping children with foundational learning, Pakistan can build a workforce that is better prepared to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.
Tackling Climate and Emergency Disruptions
Another notable element of this program is its focus on climate resilience. Punjab has been severely impacted by floods and natural disasters, which often disrupt schooling for weeks or even months.
The project will integrate systems to ensure that schools can adapt to such emergencies, allowing children to continue learning without interruption. By addressing both climate challenges and digital learning opportunities, Punjab’s education system will become more future-ready and adaptable.
A Vision for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
By focusing on early learning, inclusivity, and system transformation, this World Bank-funded project is more than just an investment in schools—it is an investment in Pakistan’s future.
Key outcomes expected include:
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Higher enrollment and retention rates in primary schools.
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Reduced learning poverty by improving foundational literacy and numeracy.
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Increased inclusion of differently-abled children and vulnerable groups.
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Stronger teacher-student engagement through training and mentoring.
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Better governance and accountability in the education sector.
Ultimately, the program is expected to lay the foundation for a more educated, skilled, and resilient population, which will contribute to both social stability and economic growth in Pakistan.
Conclusion
The World Bank’s $47.9 million support for Punjab’s education sector represents a significant step toward transforming the future of millions of children. By focusing on inclusivity, climate resilience, teacher training, and system-wide reform, the initiative seeks to build a robust education ecosystem that will reduce inequality and create opportunities for all.
As Pakistan continues to face challenges in its education sector, this partnership underscores the importance of global collaboration in achieving sustainable development goals and empowering future generations.
With over four million children set to benefit, the project not only promises brighter futures for Punjab’s youth but also strengthens the province’s role as a model for education reform in Pakistan.