The World Bank has approved two projects worth $ 1.05 billion (over Rs 4,800 crore) for India, aimed at expanding the reach of primary schools and the quality of engineering education in the country.
“The World Bank today approved two education projects worth USD 1.05 billion for India, designed to boost the number of children enrolling in and completing elementary school, and to improve quality of engineering education across the country,” it said in a statement.
It further said India has made significant progress in meeting its education goals, especially at the primary level.
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Through its 86th constitutional amendment in 2002, India mandated elementary education as a fundamental right of every child.
The same year, the government also launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a nationwide program to take quality elementary education to all children.
The Bank has supported the SSA with total grants of USD 1.1 billion since 2003, it added.
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“SSA -- now the largest ongoing Education for All (EFA) program in the world -- has been remarkably successful, particularly in achieving greater access to elementary education,” said Roberto Zagha, World Bank Country Director for India.
Between 2003 and 2009, the number of children reportedly enrolled in elementary education in India increased by 57 million to 192 million.