Asian Development Bank (ADB) and EU granted USD $ 26 million technical assistance to improve local education in Myanmar

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU) have announced that they are preparing a US$26 million technical assistance grant to support reforms that will improve the quality and relevance of secondary education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes in Myanmar.

The grant will complement ADB’s ongoing support for Myanmar’s education sector, which includes the Equipping Youth for Employment (EYE) Project approved in 2016 to strengthen the country’s education, while promoting inclusive growth and job creation. The project is focusing on improving the country’s secondary education curriculum and teaching quality to help equip graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills demanded by the emerging job market.

“ADB remains committed to supporting the government of Myanmar’s reform efforts, which are vital to helping young people gain valuable skills needed in the current and future job market,” said ADB Education Specialist Yumiko Yamakawa in a statement announcing the grant.

“The project will help Myanmar produce a highly skilled and educated labour force, which is key for the country’s future growth and development,” Yamakawa added.

Myanmar’s economy has grown steadily over the last few years, but the government needs to improve education quality and skills of the country’s labour force - through ways such as updated curricula and teaching approaches - to ensure that growth remains inclusive and sustainable. The government has been making progress in improving the country’s education system, with the Ministry of Education initiating reforms under the National Education Strategic Plan, 2016-2021. ADB and EU’s continued support is aligned with this plan.

In 2019, the EU and the government of Myanmar signed an agreement for a financing of up to €221 million (US$245 million), including this grant and the budget support of €175 million for secondary education and TVET reforms.

Building on the key reforms supported by EYE and complementing the budget support provided by the EU, the new grant will support the Ministry of Education in advancing critical follow-up reforms for improving skills development, teaching and learning, professional development for teachers, and diversifying TVET programmes to meet industry demands. The technical assistance is expected to be implemented from January 2020 to December 2024 .

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/us26-million-grant-set-boost-local-education.html )

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