(Ecofin Agency) - World Bank will relaunch the previously stopped $300 million education program in Tanzania, Hafez Ghanem (photo) vice-president for the institution in Africa, revealed on November 18, 2018.

The program which should support the construction of classrooms, hostels, and laboratories was stopped by the institution last week due to the resumption of a law aimed at forbidding school access to schoolgirls who got pregnant.

According to information reported by Reuters, the vice-president declared that this program was relaunched following discussion with local authorities. During these discussions, the government promised to set a strategy to facilitate those girls’ reinsertion into the school system.

Let’s note that the funding is still subjected to World Bank administrative board’s approval. Let’s also remind that the recent actions and statements made by the government of president John Magufuli in terms of human rights raised the concerns of many international backers.  For instance, Denmark (one of the country’s main backers) announced the suspension of a $10 million support to Tanzania due to human rights violations and "unacceptable homophobic comments".

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou