Announcement of Morocco to Improve Rural Primary Education, Increase School Female Enrollment on March 16, 1989

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. *Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 89/36 Contact: Fawzi Rihane (202) 473-2675 MOROCCO TO IMPROVE RURAL PRIMARY EDUCATION, INCREASE SCHOOL FEMALE ENROLLMENT WASHINGTON, March 16, 1989 -- Morocco is moving ahead with its goal of providing primary education to all boys and girls in rural areas through a project being supported by an $83 million World Bank loan. The $140 million project is designed to improve the quality of primary education in rural areas, increase enrollments of girls, and upgrade and build schools. The project will help the Ministry of Education construct and equip about 11,600 classrooms and school-related facilities, including 1,400 canteens and 2,900 staff-housing units. In addition, a pilot program will be launched to improve water and sanitation facilities in about 120 locations. Textbooks and other educational materials will be distributed to school cooperatives and lent out to children at low cost, making it less expensive for children to attend school. Students are expected to learn more and perform better on standardized achievement tests as a result of measures to improve curricula, teacher training and deployment, and availability of instructional materials. Since 1963, the World Bank has supported the development of Morocco's education system with eight loans totaling $485.5 million. The World Bank's lending strategy for the sector has shifted from reinforcing specific types of educational institutions to strengthening employment-oriented skills training and supporting broad reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and financial viability of education at all levels. The World Bank loan is for 20 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.65 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on the undisbursed balances. Note: Money figures are in U.S. dollar equivalents.