Dhaka gets $3.5m EU grant for pry education

The European Union (EU) has given a US$ 3.5 million (around Tk 28 crore) grant to Bangladesh through Unicef for improving the country's primary education sector.
Unicef and the EU yesterday teamed up to support the government in the establishment of an efficient, inclusive, and equitable primary education system delivering child-friendly quality learning to all children from pre-primary level to class V.
EU Head of Delegation to Bangladesh Ambassador William Hanna and Unicef Bangladesh representative Pascal Villeneuve signed an agreement yesterday to build the partnership, said a Unicef press release.
Through the partnership, the EU has given a US$ 3.5 million grant to Unicef for four years (2012-2016) for the Third Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-III), which covers class I to class V and one year of pre-primary education.
Speaking on the occasion, Villeneuve said quality education is a basic human right. But for many children in Bangladesh this right has not yet become a reality.
Education requires involvement of all--parents, teachers, students, communities, civil society groups, NGOs, development partners and government, he said.
“Thus, we are pleased to have the European Union partnering with us on helping to make quality education a reality for all children in Bangladesh. We thank the European Union for its generous support,” said Villeneuve.
“Investing in children is a key priority for the EU,” said Ambassador William Hanna.
“We highly value this new constructive partnership with Unicef and believe that together we will achieve the best results,” he added.