Announcement of Jordan Receives Six Million Dollars for a Second Education Project on March 6, 1975

• INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET.NW. WASHINGTON DC 20.:i33 TELEPHONE EXEC-UTIVE 3-6360 IDA News Release No. 75/10 March 6, 1975 JORDAN RECEIVES $6 MILLION FOR A SECOND EDUCATION PROJECT The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, has approved a $6 million credit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to help finance a second education project. The United Nations Development Programme and foreign governments are expected to finance expert services and fellowships costing about $1.3 million~ The Government of Jordan will provide financing for the balance of the project's total cost estimated at $17.4 million equivalent. The project aims at (i) expanding and reinforcing vocational and technical education including adult training and retraining to produce the specialized • skills required for the development of priority sectors of the economy (mining, industry, agriculture, food processing, and tourism); (ii) supporting integrated rural development projects in the Jordan Valley through a pilot scheme of non- formal basic education; and (iii) promoting qual:tty improvements, rationalization and economy of operation in both the compulsory c~cle (which includes both elementary and preparatory education) and secondary education by replacing uneconomically small rented school buildings and providing schools with adequate workshops and other teaching facilities. The project includes the construction, equipping and furnishing of a polytechnic institute at Irbid for 240 students; a training complex at Aqaba with an annual output of 400 trained workers; a hotel training school in ,Amman (280 student places and 80 beds); a rural development center with approximately 1,000 trainees per year; three comprehensive secondary schools enrolling 6,300 students. Extensions to sixteen preparatory and secondary schools (science laboratories, prevocational workshops for boys, craft work- shops for girls); and a program of related technical assistance. The IDA credit is for 50 years including 10 years of grace • period. It is interest free 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.  PROJECT: T E CHNI CAL DAT A Second Education Project • COUNTRY: Jordan TOTAL COST: $17.45 million IDA FINANCING: $6 million OTHER FINANCING: The Government of Jordan, $10.18 million; multilateral and bilateral sources (UNDP and a number of foreign governments), $1.27 million. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATIOK: Projects Implementation Unit (established under the first project), Jordan--IDA Education Project, Ministry of Education, Amman, Jordan. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will comprise constrt..1ction, furniture and equipment for the following institutions: a polytechnic institute at Irbid; a training complex at Aqaba; a hotel training • school at Annnan; three comprehensive secondary schools; extension of preparatory and secondary schools (seven prevocational workshops, five science laboratorie~, four women's craft centers); and a rural development center. The project also includes about 20 man/years of expert services and 50 man/years of fellowships. PROCUREMENT: Contracts for civil works, furniture and equip- ment for all project institutions except the pro- posed extensions and the items included in the miscellaneous category for each institution will be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding. For the purpose of comparing foreign and local bids, local manufacturers of fur- niture and equipment will be allowed a margin of pref~· tce equal to the existing rate of customs duties applicable to competing imports or 15% of the c.i.f. price whichever is lower~ Competitive bidding, advertised locally and in accordance with local procedures, will be used for the procurement of furniture for the proposed estensions as well as for their construction, where the estimated value of each construction contract will not exceed US$100,000 and the aggregate cost of all such contracts will not exceed the equivalent of US$1,100,000. Local competitive bidding will be used for furniture and equipment items costing less than US$2,000, which are to be included in one miscellaneous category not exceeding US$50,000 for each institution. ESTI!vf...ATED COMPLETION DATE: The physical components of the project are expected to be completed by end 1979. •