Announcement of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollar Credit to Cameroon for Education on September 5, 1969

• INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET, N.W .. WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 iELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 69/30 Subject: $10.5 million credit to September 5, 1969 Cameroon for education A credit of $10.5 million announced today by the International Development Association (IDA) will assist the Government of Cameroon in carrying out an education project designed to increase the supply 0£ qualified teachers for ag:r.icultural and industrial subjects. In addition to providing functional and well-equipped buildings for secondary and post-secondary students, in- volving new construction or expansion of 24 schools, the project entails curriculum reform in which mathematics and science studies and workshop and • agriculture training are given prominence, and provides for specialist teachers in these subjects and experts to reinforce the planning services of the Ministry of Education. The IDA credit will be extended to the Federal Republic of Cameroon for a term of 50 years, including a 10-year grace period. It will be interest free but a service charge of 3/4 of 1% will be made to cover IDA's administra- tive expenses. Cameroon's education system at the primary level is well developed com- pared to those of most other African countries. In the past 12 years enroll- ment in primary education has increased threefold and is now equivalent to about 86% of the corresponding age group. Although enrollment in secondary education also increased, only 1'/o of the age group is enrolled. As a result there is a great shortage of skilled workers. Furthermore, expansion of en- • rollments has outpaced the provision of schools and qualified teachers and /IDDre  • IDA P.R. No. 69/30-Cameroon-Education - 2 - has not been accompanied by the necessary organizational, administrative and curricula reforms. The Government now intends to gear the educational system more closely to the requirements of the labor market and to reduce Cameroon's dependence on expatriate personnel in medium and higher level positions. The project being undertaken with IDA assistance is aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of the education system. It consists of the construction or expansion and equipping of 4 teacher training colleges; 15 general secondary schools; a post-secondary school of agriculture; 2 tech- nical schools and re-equipment of 2 others. The 24 project schools will be able to enroll 7,140 students, an addition of 5,500 student places. A special unit has been established within the Ministry of Education to supervise implementation of the project. Consultants will provide archi- tectural, engineering and supervisory services. The project is scheduled • for completion by mid-1973 at a total cost equivalent to $14 million. The IDA credit will cover 75% of the costs and the remainder will be met by the Government of Cameroon. Under the cooperative programs of the Bank/Unesco and Bank/FAO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization assisted the Government in the preparation of the project, and the Food and Agricul- ture Organization of the United Nations assisted in its appraisal. - 0 - •