KATHMANDU: The Government of Finland has agreed to provide Rs 2.36 billion grant assistance (20 million Euro) to Nepal Government for the implementation of School Sector Development Programme (SSDP).

An agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Baikuntha Aryal and Finnish Ambassador to Nepal Jorma Suvanto on behalf of their respective governments, amid a programme at the Ministry of Finance in Kathmandu  on Friday.

The SSDP is a continuation of School Sector Reform Programme (SSRP) and its objective is to improve quality, equitable access and efficiency of basic and secondary education in Nepal.

It also focuses on specific SSDP outcomes in main result areas, improved teaching-learning outcomes, improving equitable access to basic and secondary education and strengthening education system, sector planning, management and governance.

It will be implemented by the Department of Education of Nepal in the period  2016-2022 in a more harmonised and coordinated way through joint financing arrangement with other development partners, said a programme official.

Meanwhile, Nepal Government has expressed its appreciation to the Government of Finland for this assistance and expressed hope for receiving continued support in the socioeconomic development of Nepal in the future.