By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 23, 2021: THE World Bank has signed a USD 68 million project with the Indian government to enhance the governance of schools across Nagaland as well as to improve teaching practices and learning environments in select schools.

The project will improve classroom instruction, create opportunities for the professional development of teachers and build technology systems to provide students and teachers with more access to blended and online learning as well as allow better monitoring of policies and programs.

As part of the strategy, approximately 15 out of Nagaland's 44 higher secondary schools will be developed into school complexes that operationalise the envisioned learning environment during the project period.

" Such an integrated approach will complement conventional delivery models and help mitigate the challenges posed by COVID-19. About 150,000 students and 20,000 teachers in the government education system in Nagaland will benefit from the State-wide reforms in schools ," said an official statement.

The education project will address the critical gaps faced by students and teachers, develop human resources and play an important role in the development of the State.

"Even as the number of children attending school in India has increased over the last few years, there is a growing need to significantly improve learning outcomes to meet the demands of the labour market and fuel future growth," said Mr Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director in India.

Nagaland is facing challenges of weak school infrastructure, lack of opportunities for the professional development of teachers and limited capacity on the part of communities to partner effectively with the school system, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic.

Strengthening the State's education management and information system will enable wider access to education resources, support professional development and performance evaluation systems for teachers and education managers, facilitate school leadership and better management and support examination reforms.