Both parties have pledged $100m to the country’s Decentralising Funding School Project.

The World Bank said it would provide an $80m credit agreement through its International Development Association, which provides concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest developing countries.

In addition, the Australian government has promised $20m in grants through its Myanmar Partnership Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

Under the Decentralising Funding School Project, an estimated 8.2 million students from poor, rural areas in Myanmar will benefit from better-financed schools, said the World Bank.

It added that more than 100,000 deprived students will receive financial support to attend classes.

‘The project provides direct support to the Ministry of Education to expand funding for the national schools grants programme that benefits all schools under the Ministry of Education, and a student stipends programme that will focus on 40 townships,’ the bank said.

‘The project will also strengthen the ministry’s capacity to monitor and implement these programmes.’

Bronte Moules, Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar, added that school grants and stipends (internships and apprenticeships) for poor students, would help more children attend and learn at school.