$68 million loan agreement signed with World Bank to improve teaching in Nagaland schools post Covid-19

The Centre and Nagaland government signed a $68 million loan agreement for a project to enhance the governance of schools across Nagaland and to improve teaching practices in select schools.

The project, Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project seeks to improve classroom instruction, create opportunities for the professional development of teachers; and build technology systems to provide students and teachers with more access to blended and online learning as well as allow better monitoring of policies and programs.

"Such an integrated approach will complement conventional delivery models and help mitigate the challenges posed by Covid-19. About 150,000 students and 20,000 teachers in the government education system in Nagaland will benefit from the statewide reforms in schools," said a statement issued by World Bank.

The agreement was signed by CS Mohapatra, additional secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance, Shanavas C, principal director, directorate of school education, Nagaland and Junaid Ahmad, country director (India) of the World Bank.

Nagaland faces challenges of weak school infrastructure, lack of opportunities for the professional development of teachers and limited capacity on the part of communities to partner effectively with the school system. The Covid-19 pandemic has further accentuated these challenges and created additional stress and disruptions to the state’s school education system, it said.

"Even as the number of children attending school in India has increased over the last few years, there is a growing need to significantly improve learning outcomes to meet the demands of the labour market and fuel future growth. This project is designed to support the Government of Nagaland’s ongoing efforts to improve and develop a more resilient education system in the state,” said Junaid Ahmad said.

As part of that strategy, approximately 15 out of Nagaland’s 44 higher secondary schools will be developed into school complexes that operationalize the envisioned learning environment during the project period.

The $68 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of 5 (five) years, said the statement.