Chad launches ambitious school development project: $30 million educational investment
Written by Omnia Hassan
In a move reflecting the growing interest in the sector educationAs a key pillar of development, Chad signed a new financing agreement worth US$30 million with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa to support the national education development project known as “SMARTED”, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank held in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.
The agreement comes as part of the Chadian government’s efforts to improve the quality of education and expand school enrollment opportunities, especially in areas suffering from a lack of educational services and infrastructure.
Development partnership to support education
The agreement was signed by the Minister of State and Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation of Chad, Taher Hamed Nguilin, with the President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Abdallah Ka Al-Mousseibah.
The funding is part of a broader support package involving a number of international partners, including the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development and the World Food Programme, as part of joint efforts to develop the Chadian education system.
Thousands of new classrooms
The “SMARTED” project aims to bring about a qualitative shift in educational infrastructure by building and equipping 2,848 classrooms distributed across 665 primary schools and 95 middle schools, covering all 23 regions of the country.
The project also includes developing school facilities and equipping them with modern equipment and educational tools necessary to improve the learning environment and raise the efficiency of the educational process.
Curriculum development and teacher training
The project is not limited to expanding educational buildings only, but also extends to updating curricula to meet the requirements of the times, in addition to implementing training and qualification programs for teachers and enhancing their professional capabilities.
It also includes providing modern educational resources and advanced teaching technologies that contribute to improving students' academic achievement levels and raising the quality of education at the national level.
More inclusive and sustainable education
The project also focuses on promoting inclusive education policies and ensuring access to schools for the most vulnerable groups, including girls and children with disabilities, with the aim of reducing educational gaps and achieving equity in learning opportunities.
This agreement reflects the continued international support for the education sector in Chad, as one of the most important drivers for achieving sustainable development and promoting economic and social stability, through investment in human capital and preparing generations capable of leading the country’s future.
