ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: USAID on Friday announced $100 million assistance for Pakistan to support the education sector during the next five years.

An agreement was signed by USAID director Mark Wart and Economic Affairs Secretary Waqar Masood. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Education Minister Zubaida Jalal witnessed the signing ceremony.

The agreement formalized the beginning of the USAID assistance to the education sector reform plan which is integrated with poverty reduction and the devolution plan.

Ms Jalal said the government and USAID had agreed to jointly monitor the education-related activities in the country.

Mr Aziz said substantial funds would be spent for development in the social sector. Religious schools, he pointed out, had played a positive role in increasing literacy ratio. These institutions were being brought into the mainstream education system so that students could also get skill training.

“Today, I am very pleased to witness the signing of USAID’s first agreement since its reopening in Pakistan last month, to support education sector reform,” William T. Monroe, acting US charge-d’mission in Pakistan, said.

USAID resumed its activities in Pakistan some weeks ago. “This could only have been accomplished with strong cooperation and commitment form both governments. This is a most auspicious beginning for USAID’s return,” he added.

The education sector reform is critical to Pakistan’s economic and social development. “The agreement we signed today will help improve primary school enrolment, increase training opportunities for teachers and school administrators, support public-private partnerships for education, increase literacy and narrow the gender gap between girls and boys in school.”

The USAID support will assist the federal government and provinces to strengthen their capacity to use experiences gained in Pakistan and other countries for improving the education sector policies that lead to more effective primary education programmes with an emphasis on education for girls, according to details provided to reporters.

The USAID assistance will also improve Youth and Adult Literacy, and strengthen the managerial and administrative capacity of the National Literacy Commission and some of the selected district literacy offices as well as analyze the use of technology for distance education.