Education is central to social and economic development. In addition to providing a wide range of technical, advisory and analytical services, we have transferred about US$36.5 billion in loans and credits for education since we started lending in the sector in 1963. The lending portfolio consists of 143 operations in 88 countries amounting to US$8.4 billion. We work closely with national governments, United Nations agencies, bilateral agencies donors, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to support developing countries in their efforts to provide education to all their citizens as a means to empower them and to boost national economic growth. Our support is tailored to the needs of the country and includes: ensuring that all children especially girls and disadvantaged children are enrolled in and able to complete a full course of quality primary education as an essential foundation for further education and training; equipping secondary and tertiary education students with skills, attitudes and values that are relevant for a growing competitive economy and expanding lifelong learning opportunities to enable all to participate in the knowledge society. The India Elementary Education Project supports the Government's efforts to universalize elementary education for 6-14 year old children, to close gender and social gaps and to improve quality by 2010.