Announcement of Three Million Fifty Thousand US Dollars Loan and Three Million Fifty Thousand Us Dollars Credit to Mauritius for an Education Project on July 25, 1974

INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT INTI~RNATIONAL DI~~vI.;LOPM}~NT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET, NW WASHINGTON O.C.20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 --------------------------··"'"----------------------- Bank Press Release No. 74/70 Subject: $3.5 million loan and $3.5 million IDA Pre8s Release No. 74/~2 credit to Mauritius for an education July 25, 1974 project. The World Bank and its affiliate the International Development Association have approved a loan and a credit totalling $7.0 million to Mauritius to help finance an education project putting emphasis on practical scientific and agricultural subjects. As a result of the project, education in Mauritius will be able to meet the rapidly increasing demand for technical and craft skills. By the early eighties schools and centers included in the project will provide half the total institutional supply of craftsmen and skilled workers, and about 75% • of the secondary school graduates with a practical background • The project will alleviate socio-economic disparities between urban and rural areas and reduce the gap in terms of quality between public and private education. The project consists of the construction, furnishing and equipping of six centres for science laboratories and workshops, to be used by private schools, which will provide an additional 2,300 student places; six new lower se~ondary schools, with 3,300 additional places; an Industrial Trade Training Center (ITTC), with 200 new places; and five Rural Educational Centers, with 400 new places. The project also provides technical assistance staff for both ITTC and the Prog~am Implementation Unit, and fellowships to enable Mauritians to take over technical assistance positions. The project will be carried out by a Program Implementation Unit to be established within the Ministry of Education. The total project cost is estimated at $11.6 million. The Bank loan of $3.5 million and IDA credit of $3.5 million will together cover 63% of the total project cost net of taxes. They are both made to the Government of Mauritius. The Bank loan is for 25 years, including 10 years of grace, with interest at 7-1/4% per annum; the IDA credit is for 50 years, including 10 years of grace, without interest except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses • • Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents.  July 25, 1974 PROJECT: COUNTRY: Education Project Mauritius T E CHN I CAL DAT A • TOTAL COST: $11.6 million BANK FINANCING: $3.5 million, for 25 years including 10 years of grace, with interest at 7-1/4% per annum IDA FINANCING: $3.5 million, for 50 years including 10 years of grace, interest free except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses. OTHER FINANCING: Bilateral sources for the technical assistance. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Program Implementation Unit Ministry of Education, Port Louis, Mauritius PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction and equipment for(i) six science workshops for communal use by private schools; (ii) six new public lower secondary schools; (iii) an Industrial Trade Training Center (ITTC); and (iv) five Rural Education Centers. It would also provide specialist services and fellowships for the ITTC and the Program Implementation Unit. PROCUREMENT: Bank/IDA-financed supplies and equipment contracts would be awarded after competitive bidding in accordance with Bank/IDA guidelines. A preference margin of 15% over the c.i.f. price of imports, or the applicable customs duty, whichever is lower, will be applied to domestic suppliers in the comparison of bids. Civil works will be • carried out by the Development Works Corporation, a government agency. CONSULTANTS: Consultants will be employed under terms and conditions acceptable to Bank/IDA to execute designs, prepare contract documents for, assist in negotiations with, and to supervise the civil works carried out by, the Development Works Corporation. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: September 30, 1979 -0- •