Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni held a meeting with the President of the Asian Development Bank Masatsugu Asakawa at the latter's office in the Philippines on Friday.
During the meeting, the minister and the ADB president discussed ongoing projects in the education sector of Bangladesh funded by ADB.
They also discussed future projects to be funded by ADB in Bangladesh's education sector.
Earlier, the minister joined a seminar on the theme, “How to Recover Learning Losses from Covid-19 School Closures”, organized by the ADB along with discussions on “IFFEd (International Finance Facility for Education) initiative and ADB Education Sector Directional Guide” and “Strategic Thrusts for Bangladesh Education Sector Operation” with the officials of the ADB on Thursday.
CollectedDr Dipu Moni thanked the ADB for its substantial support to Bangladesh during Covid-19 particularly for providing budget support and financing vaccine procurement.
She highlighted Bangladesh's achievements in development, its graduation from LDC status and plans to become a developed country under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She told the president that the government of Bangladesh accords the highest priority to education.
While acknowledging the ADB's contribution, Dipu Moni solicited further support from it in Bangladesh's education sector, particularly in ICT and technical education in Bangladesh.
She requested extended finance from the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) for which the ADB is an implementing partner.
She also mentioned that the government of Bangladesh is implementing huge stimulus programmes covering 6.23% of GDP to improve the livelihood of vulnerable people in the aftermath of the Covid crisis.
The education minister said that the Ukraine-Russia war has put more pressure on the economy because of a rise in fuel, fertilizer and food prices. She appealed for ADB Countercyclical Support Facility that the country has sought.
ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa welcomed the education minister and congratulated her on receiving the Gusi Peace Prize.
He praised the progress and achievements of Bangladesh, particularly in the social sector, female education and women empowerment.
The ADB president emphasized equitable access for all children to quality education, harnessing the technology shift in the education sector and addressing climate change in development plans.
He also mentioned the importance of an increase in domestic resources.
He congratulated the Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on being the champion in International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) and informed her that the ADB will invest $2 billion in the next three years in the education sector in Bangladesh.
He assured all support and said that cooperation between Bangladesh and the ADB will be strengthened.
Dr Dipu Moni invited him on behalf of the government to visit Bangladesh soon and see the massive development that has been taking place under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina. The ADB president accepted her invitation and said that he would be visiting Bangladesh in 2023.
