Kerala features among six states in India selected by World Bank for its aid toward public education system. The international financial institution will shell out grants aggregating to Rs 3431.88 crore under (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States )STARS program. Of this, which Rs 571.98 crore is marked for Kerala’s public schools. Other state beneficiaries include Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra. A 60:40 ratio fund participation is required of Kerala to utilise the World Bank grant against the education project budgeted for Rs 953.30.
The STARS program, that began in 1994, build partnership between India and the World Bank for strengthening the country’s public school education and works toward the national goal of “Education For All”. The World Bank through its education financing globally, aims to reduce learning poverty i.e. the share children aged 10 who cannot read and understand a simple story, and improve learning outcomes at public schools to enable smooth transit from school to work.
