The Government of Japan is providing a grant of Taka 38.93 crore to Bangladesh under the Fourth Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-4). An agreement in this regard has been signed between the governments of the two countries.
The agreement was signed at the Economic Relations Department (ERD) in the capital on Monday. ERD Secretary Fatima Yasmin on behalf of Bangladesh and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki signed the agreement on behalf of the Japanese government.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is implementing 'The Fourth Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-4)' between 2018 and 2023. Under the program, Japan has provided grants for curriculum revision and textbook development, teacher training and professional development continuity, methods and budgets.
Japan had previously provided 2490 million Japanese Yen (equivalent to Tk. 198 crore) for the implementation of the Third Primary Education Development Program (PEDP 3) project from 2011 to 2018.
The Fourth Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-4) project, implemented since 2018, is the first and for the second year, Japan provided a grant of 1,000 million Japanese yen (approximately Tk. 75.75 crore or 9 million US dollars).
Japan is one of the important development partners of Bangladesh. Till June 2021, the Government of Japan has provided 16.16 billion US dollars in loans and grants to Bangladesh in various development sectors. Japan has also stood by Bangladesh in the implementation of various mega projects like Metrorail.