World Bank approves $105 million for Uzbekistan's primary education, $700 million for Jordan's economic reforms
Tashkent/Amman, July 2 The World Bank has approved a support package worth 105 million US dollars for Uzbekistan to implement its "Transforming Public Education for Economic Growth" program, according to a press release from the bank.
The financial package includes a 100 million dollar concessional credit from the International Development Association and a 5 million dollar grant from the International Finance Facility for Education, reports Xinhua news agency.
According to WB data, school enrollment in Uzbekistan is expected to exceed 7.6 million students in 2026. Driven by rapid population growth, the country needs to construct approximately 300 new schools annually to meet the growing demand.
Najy Benhassine, World Bank country director for Central Asia, noted that strengthening foundational skills in primary schools is central to building Uzbekistan's human capital base and advancing its long-term socio-economic development.
Under the program, scheduled to run until 2030, Uzbekistan plans to provide professional development for approximately 50,000 teachers and school administrators, and create 27,000 additional primary school seats across six regions. Around 2 million students in grades 1 to 4 are expected to benefit from the project.
Additionally, the World Bank has approved a 700-million-US-dollar loan to support Jordan's efforts to boost private sector investment and job creation, according to a statement released by the bank on Wednesday.
The loan, representing the second phase of the Jordan Growth and Competitiveness Development Policy Financing program, aims to stimulate private investment, expand financial access, create jobs, and accelerate Jordan's green and digital transition, it said.
Despite a challenging regional environment, Jordan has maintained macroeconomic stability, with real gross domestic product growing 2.8 per cent in 2025, it said.
It added that the kingdom has also maintained its stable outlook after securing its first sovereign credit rating upgrade in over two decades in 2024.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting how Uzbekistan is focusing on foundational skills - that's exactly what many developing countries need. Jordan's $700 million loan for economic reforms also makes sense given their stability in a tough neighborhood. But I wonder how much of this actually reaches the grassroots level. 🤔
As an educator, I appreciate the focus on teacher professional development for 50,000 teachers. That's a serious investment in human capital. But $105 million for education vs $700 million for economic reforms in Jordan - makes you think about priorities. Hope Uzbekistan uses this wisely. India could learn from their structured approach.
Impressive that Uzbekistan is planning for 7.6 million students by 2026. India has over 250 million students in schools - we need similar forward planning. The World Bank's support for Jordan's green and digital transition is also noteworthy. Global development should prioritize both education and economic reforms. 👍
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical about these big international loans. Look at how much debt developing countries accumulate. $700 million for Jordan - that's a lot of money. Hope the terms are favorable and the projects actually deliver results for common people, not just create more bureaucracy. India has seen both good and bad examples of such funding.
The focus on primary education is crucial - that's where the foundation for lifelong learning is built. Creating 27,000 additional seats seems modest compared to the need, but it's a start. For Jordan, maintaining 2.8% GDP growth despite regional tensions is commendable. India's own growth story could learn from their fiscal discipline.
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