Announcement of Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars Credit for First Education Project in Liberia on March 30, 1972

• INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPl\ffiNT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 72/24 Subject: $7.2 million credit for first March 30, 1972 education project in Liberia The International Development Association (IDA) has today approved a credit equivalent to $7 .2 raillion. to help finance a project designed to reshape Liberia's education sector to meet urgent manpower needs through expansion and improvement of her education system. The Bank Group's first education project in Liberia supports the new government's emphasis on the development of Liberia's human resources and improved planning and administration in support of increased development. Liberia's education system has suffered from a lack of teacher-training and a shortage of teaching materials. The system previously favored academic subjects with little relevance to economic growth. The present proj~ct envisages technical and agricultural training geared to the practical needs of the country and improve- • ment of general secondary education. The project will help the government to strengthen manpower, and improve education planning. It provides for the establishment or expansion of new and existing institutions with more pertinent curricula and education methods. The project provides an innovation in the country's secondary education system which will serve as a model for future improveuents in the education sector. It includes provision for training and equipping of two multilateral high schools with curricula in agriculture and mechanics, a new college of agriculture and forestry, expansion of the Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute and a demonstration school, and equipment and teacher training at Yekepa and Monrovia. Technical assistance in the form of fellowships for manpower and education planning, teacher training, secondary education and project implementation is also provided. Implementation will be through a unit established under the Department of Education with a qualified Liberian project director. The project unit will include advisors, an arei~itect and an equipment procurement specialist. The total cost of the project is estimated at $9.6 million of which the IDA • credit will provide 75%, including foreign exchange costs of $6 .65 million.. The Government of Liberia will finance $2.4 million of local costs • The IDA credit is extended to the Republic of Liberia for a period of 50 years, including a 10-year grace period. There is no interest but there is a service charge of 3/4 of 1% per annum to cover IDA's administrative expenses. - 0 -  March 30. 1972 • PROJECT: Education COUNTRY: Liberia TOTAL COST: $9.58 million IDA FINANCING: $7.2 million, 50 years, 10 years of grace, interest free except for 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses. OTHER FINANCING: $2.4 million (The Republic of Liberia). IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Special Project Unit, Ministry of Education, :td.onrovia, Liberia. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Improve and expand education system. Project will consist of construction of two new multilateral high schools, a new college of agriculture and forestry and extension of one elementary teacher training institute, including construction of a new demonstra- tion school; equipment for science teacher training at the University of Liberia and technical teachar training at two existing institutions; • provision of' technical assistance for manpower and educational planning, for school operations and for project management. PROCUREMENT: School furniture and equipment, construction work, consultant services through international competitive bidding. CONSULTANTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Consultants to design and supervise construction to be selected; technical assistance for manpower planning, education planning, technical teacher training, secondary education, university planning, and project implementation to be selected. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: January 1978. - 0 - •