Announcement of Twelve Million Nine Hundred Thousand US Dollars Loan to Iraq for Education on June 22, 1972

INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR .RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHOr~E: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 Bank Press Release No. 72/44 Subject: $12.9 million loan to Iraq June 22, 1972 for education The World Bank has approved a $12.9 million loan to assist Iraq in expanding and improving its education system to meet some of the country's pressing needs for skilled workers and technicians, and to initiate, on a pilot basis, reform of secondary and technical education, farmer training and educational television. The loan is the Bank's first for education in Iraq. It will help finance a $20 million project. The project will include the construction and equipping of four new comprehensive secondary schools providing a total of about 3,200 student places; one institute of technology at Basrah providing a total of a.bout 840 student places.; and two new agricultural institutes and five worker training centers providing about 1,500 student places. Additional facilities for science teaching will be provided at 12 secondary schools. The project will also initiate vocational training at 20 intermediate schools and farmer training at 10 agricultural secondary schools, and expand technician training at tr. e Baghdad Institute of Technology. Some 17,000. secondary students will get better science and vocational training faciliti~s. A further feature of the project will be the use of educational television to reinforce primary and adult education. Technical assistance for various project items will be provided through 55 man-years of specialists and 46 man-years of fellowships in educational planning, curriculum development and staff training. The Iraqi education system is being restructured to make it more respon- sive to the needs of academic devalopment. The traditional emphasis on literary and scientific courses at the seconc.ary level is giving way to tech- nical and vocational training. At the same time, steps are being taken for a wider range of academic and pre··vocatioual subjects to be taught. The project is designed to assist Iraq in implementing this strategy. The Bank loan will cover the foreign exchange costs of the project. It ~ is being made to the Government of Iraq, and is for 25 years, including a 10- year grace period, at 7~% interest per annum. - o\..:  • June 22, 1972 TECHNICAL DATA PROJECT: Education COUNTRY : Iraq TOTAL COST: $20.0 million equivalent BANK FINANCING: $12. 9 million, 25 years, 10 years grace, 7~ interest per annum. OTHER FINANCING~ Government of Iraq. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Planning, • Eaghdad, Iraq. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction, equipping: four comprehensive secondary schools, science laboratories in 12 existing schools, vocational work- shops in 20 existing schools, new institute of technology, two agricultural institutes, five work training centers, and farmer train- ing and demonstration facilities in 10 schools; equipment for educa- tional television and for Baghdad Institute of.Technology; technical assistance for educational plann:f.ng, curriculum development, and staff training and teaching. PROCUREMENT: International competitive bidding for const~ction equipment and furniture. 15% prefe·rence for locally manufactured furniture. CONSULTANTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Architectural and engineering consulting services for construction. Goveniment architects may be employed for additions to existing schools and work training centers. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: December 1976. - 0 - •