The WB will allocate about $60 million in loans and grants to Moldova for the implementation of the Education Quality Improvement Project (EQIP).
In particular, our country will receive a loan of $40 million and grants for a total of $19.8 million for these purposes. This is provided for by the relevant loan agreements, which the parties signed in Chisinau on June 30, and the parliament at a meeting on July 13 approved their ratification in the first reading. According to the documents, in particular, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is part of the WB group, will provide Moldova with a loan of $40 million (36.5 million euros) for the implementation of the named project. These loans will be complemented by three grants from external partners worth $19.8 million, including a $4.8 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education, a $5 million grant from the Early Learning Partnership - ELP and a $10 million grant from the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF). The IBRD loan will be provided for 25 years, including a grace period of 15 years. The interest rate on the IBRD loan will be variable, with a commitment fee of 0.25% of the outstanding amount, and a flat fee of 0.25% of the loan amount. The project "Improving the quality of education" is planned to be implemented in 2023-2029. The funds will be used to build 3 new lyceums in growth pole cities in the north, south and center of the country, to modernize infrastructure, digitally transform the learning environment in about 200 schools in the country, and repair 15 schools and 15 kindergartens. The project provides for the introduction at the national level of professional standards for teachers and managers of educational institutions; strengthening human resources in the education system by improving the programs and procedures for organizing continuous training of specialists; preparation of materials on modern teaching methods, etc. “The implementation of this project will be a significant support for the modernization of our education system. With this WB funding, we will be able to reduce inequalities in access to educational services, improve the quality of services provided, paying special attention to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children in Moldova, as well as refugees from Ukraine,” said Minister of Education and Research Anatolie Topala. The head of the World Bank Country Office in Moldova, Inguna Dobraja, said earlier that the Education Quality Improvement Project (EQIP) is in line with the government's strategy to support the development of the human capital necessary for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Moldova. It will also support, as a cross-cutting area, efforts to implement systemic changes that promote the digitalization of education in order to increase the resilience of the sector. The EQIP project will aim to provide equal educational opportunities for disadvantaged students and thus promote shared prosperity. The stated goal will be achieved by improving the teaching practice of teachers, implementing a learning recovery program for students from disadvantaged families, improving the learning environment in targeted schools and kindergartens, and developing institutional capacity to design, implement and evaluate educational reforms and responses to the needs of refugees. // 13.07.2023 — InfoMarket
