Uruguay is set to enhance access and quality in its secondary education system with a $60 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This initiative represents the third operation under a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects approved in 2016, designed to support a broader program aimed at improving outcomes for secondary students.
The new program focuses on reducing dropout rates and minimizing grade repetition, particularly for students in vulnerable situations. It will expand an educational model that extends school hours, offering more learning opportunities and strengthening the connection between students and schools. The program also targets high absenteeism, which tends to be more severe in disadvantaged contexts, by implementing tutoring plans for first-time scholarship recipients to support their transition and close learning gaps.
In addition, the initiative will strengthen information systems and attendance tracking through the deployment of improved technological tools. It is expected to directly benefit students in vulnerable circumstances through 60,000 scholarships combined with social and educational orientation activities, while another 35,000 students will gain access to extended school day centers.
The IDB loan features a 22.5-year repayment term with an eight-year grace period, and the interest rate is linked to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), reflecting the Bank’s commitment to long-term investment in Uruguay’s education system.
