The World Bank has approved an $11.35 million funding package to enhance Djibouti's education system and broaden learning opportunities. This additional financing supports the Expanding Opportunities for Learning Project, which focuses on increasing access to basic education and improving teaching practices. The project aims to establish quality preschool education, expand primary and lower secondary education access, strengthen educational systems, and improve management within the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training.
This initiative targets students in pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary schools, particularly those from vulnerable groups such as refugees, rural communities, girls, and children with special needs. It also benefits families and key stakeholders in education including teachers, school leaders, pedagogical advisors, inspectors, and teacher trainers.
"COVID-19 severely disrupted Djibouti’s education system," stated Fatou Fall, Joint Resident Representative of the World Bank Group for Djibouti. "This additional financing will help increase equitable access to preschool and basic education while also enhancing the quality of learning for each child in the classroom."
Djibouti's education system faces gender disparities; 71 percent of girls complete primary school compared to 80 percent of boys. Transition rates to lower secondary are 90 percent for girls versus 98 percent for boys. Infrastructure gaps further limit learning environments—only 7.6 percent of students have reading books at home; this drops to 1.9 percent in remote areas. Refugee children face extra challenges due to under-resourced schools.
The new funding builds on previous successes from earlier phases of the Expanding Opportunities for Learning Project by deepening reform efforts and addressing ongoing sectoral challenges. It supports the government’s Schéma directeur de l'éducation et de la formation (2021–2035).
The operation is funded by a $6.5 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) and a $4.85 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), bringing total project financing to $41.7 million.