Uruguay will implement program to improve secondary education access and quality with IDB support

Program seeks to improve educational performance, strengthen early learning and teacher development, and build, enhance and equip 31 education and training centers

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $200 million Line of Credit for Investment Projects and an initial loan of $50 million to finance a program that will help improve secondary education’s access and quality in Uruguay and strengthen the continuity and thoroughness of the schooling system.

The program will implement actions to improve students’ performance, including defining graduates’ required learning achievement levels and learning progression that take account of a student’s complete track record; implementation of a curricular framework with a national reference scope; and adoption of a strategy to extend the school day in order to improve learning and educational equality.

It will also strengthen teachers’ initial training and development, as well as the ability of the National Administration of Public Education (ANEP), of the Secondary Education Board, of the Technical and Productive Education Board, and of the country’s education centers to manage and ensure quality public education.

Additionally, the program will finance construction of 14 new facilities, expanding the secondary education service supply by adding 2,525 new vacant positions and 1,925 extended school day positions. Furthermore, it will enhance and supply with new equipment 14 learning centers –benefiting 1,850 students–, as well as 13 centers of initial education, which will add 525 new positions. It will also support efforts to strengthen ANEP’s ability to seek public-private partnerships to promote school infrastructure development.

The IDB’s $50 million initial loan is for a 25-year term, with 5.5 years of grace, at a LIBOR-based interest rate. It includes an additional $24.7 million in local counterpart funds.