The program seeks to improve teaching and learning opportunities in reading skills in primary education. To this end, it will include training 390,000 teachers to teach reading, among other initiatives.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$300 million loan to support initial literacy in Argentina, the first operation of a line of credit to support the improvement of comprehensive literacy in the country, for a total of up to US$1 billion.

The program seeks to improve teaching and learning opportunities in reading skills in primary education. To this end, it will include training 390,000 teachers to teach reading, among other initiatives.

In addition, the operation will fund the maintenance and expansion of the number of state primary schools that incorporate additional time for teaching reading skills.

Despite the high level of participation in the educational system, not all primary and secondary school students acquire the necessary skills in their educational path. Learning difficulties are linked to the poor development of foundational skills, which go beyond reading, writing, mathematics, science and the use of digital technologies. These skills are known as comprehensive literacy.

The loan, the first individual operation of a conditional credit line for investment projects (Cclip), will finance the delivery of literature books for primary school students, books for students with hearing or visual disabilities, mobile libraries and literacy boxes, among others.

In addition, the programme will strengthen the capacities of technical teams to monitor and evaluate educational programmes and will improve coordination between the national and subnational levels in education.

The US$300 million IDB loan has a 4-year disbursement period and an interest rate based on SOFR.