Announcement of Seventeen Million US Dollars Loan for Basic and Non-Formal Education in El Salvador on June 6, 1974

INTERN/.\TJONAL BAr'1K FOR • RECON.STRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASH:NGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 Bank Press Release No. 74/43 Subject: $17.0 million loan for basic and non- June 6, 1974 formal education in El Salvador The World Bank will help finance a second education project in El Salvador with a $17.0 million loan. Although in recent years the World Bank Group financial assistance for primary education and non-formal rural training programs has been growing steadily, the project in El Salvador is the first one exclusively for primary and non-formal education. The project is e>t:pected to serve both social and economic aims by reaching groups of the Salvadorean population, especially in rural areas, at present outside the existing educational system. To achieve this main objective, the project will assist in extending basic education and training facilities. Those • groups are expected to participate in further work-oriented training to enable diversificatio"J. of their econowic activitf.es, thereby broadening opportunities to increase their incomes. Also, the project will seek to improve the quality of basic education in selected urban areas. Once in full operation, the project schools will provide a total of 56,500 student places, of which 56,000 will be in b&sic education and 500 in teacher training. This increase in enrollment will be achieved, in basic education by the establishment of 143 rural connnunity schools, the replacement of 299 unsuitable schools, the expansion of 121 existing schools, and the equipment of 146 work- shops. The Government teacher training college will be provided with additional classrooms, wo:rkshops and laboratcries. For non-formal rural training, the Bank loan will provide funds for the pilot phase of a national mobile training scheme and to cover operational costs during a three-year period. A first education project, supported by a Bank loan in 1969, c.oncentrated on the expansion of secondary education and the broadening of its curriculum to include agricultural, industrial and commercial options. All new schools included in th,e first project are now in operation and employing the revised, diversified cu-rriculurn. The new p·roj ect will be implemented by the School Construction Office and the Planning and Organization Office (!f the Ministry of Education. • The loan is being made to th.; Republic of El Salvador for a term of 30 years, including 10 y,~ars of grace, with interest at 7-1/4% per annum. Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents. :- 0  June 6, 1974 • TECHNICAL DATA PROJECT: Second education project COUNTRY: The Republic of El Salvador TOTAL COST: Estimated at $24.2 million equivalent BANK FINANCING: $17.o million at 30 years, including 10 years of grace, at 7-1/4% per annum. OTHER FINANCING: The Government of El Salvador IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Direccion de Arquitectura Administrativa (DAE), the School Construction Agency iu the Ministry of Education, San Salvador, El Salvador, will be responsible for the construction, equipment and furniture of schools. The Planning and Organization Office (ODEPOR), in the Ministry of Education, San Salvador, El Salvador, will be responsible for the project's technical assistance component, and the teacher and non-formal rural training programs. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction, equipment and furnishing of 143 new • rural schools, replacement of 299 unsuitable schools, expansion of 121 existing schools, and equipment of 146 workshops, all for basic education; extension of a teacher training school; equipment for the pilot phase of a mobile non-formal rural training program, and technical assistance support services. PROCUREMENT: Contracts for civil works, equipment and furniture to be awarded by international competitive bidding. Sup- pliers from Central American Coanon Market countries will receive a margin of preference in accordance with the existing Central American agreement. CONSULTANTS: Experts will be retained for the implementation of tLe revised basic education curriculum and the non-formal rural training program, training of national staff, and to assist in curriculum development and school administra- tion and other techniques. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1978. Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents. •