Chad has secured a US$30 million financing agreement from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to support efforts to modernise the country’s education system and expand access to quality learning facilities.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Chad’s Minister of State, Minister of Finance and Budget Tahir Hamid Nguilin, and BADEA President Abdullah Almusaibeeh.
The funding forms part of the SMARTED project, a multi-partner education initiative aimed at improving learning conditions and strengthening human capital development in Chad.
The project is also supported by other international partners, including the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Under the initiative, Chad plans to construct and equip 2,848 classrooms across 665 primary schools and 95 secondary schools located in the country’s 23 provinces.
The investment is expected to address major infrastructure gaps within the education sector, where overcrowded classrooms and limited learning facilities have affected access to quality education for many children.
However, the SMARTED project goes beyond building schools and classrooms. It also focuses on improving the overall quality of education through curriculum reforms, teacher development and the supply of appropriate learning and teaching materials.
The programme will include measures aimed at strengthening teachers’ skills and ensuring that students receive more effective instruction.
Special attention will be given to vulnerable groups, including children from disadvantaged communities, girls and students living with disabilities.
The initiative reflects Chad’s broader development strategy, which places human capital investment at the centre of efforts to improve social and economic outcomes.
Education remains a key challenge for Chad, one of the world’s least developed countries, where limited resources, population growth and regional inequalities have placed pressure on public services.
Authorities have increasingly identified improvements in education and skills development as essential to creating employment opportunities, reducing poverty and supporting long-term economic growth.
The BADEA financing agreement comes as African countries continue to seek stronger partnerships with international development institutions to expand infrastructure and strengthen essential services.
For Chad, the investment is expected to contribute not only to improving school access but also to building a more skilled future workforce capable of supporting national development priorities.
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The SMARTED project’s multi-partner approach is designed to combine infrastructure investment with reforms aimed at ensuring that increased access to schools translates into better educational outcomes.
Officials say the collaboration between Chad and development partners demonstrates a shared commitment to improving education systems and creating opportunities for young people.
With a large and growing youth population, Chad faces increasing demand for schools, teachers and learning resources.
The government hopes that investments such as the SMARTED project will help close education gaps and support broader economic transformation by strengthening the skills and capabilities of future generations.
