Announcement of Four Million to Expand Rural Education In Liberia on May 27, 1976

• World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 76/61 May 27, 1976 $4 MILLION TO EXPAND RURAL EDUCATION IN LIBERIA liberia•s aim of diversifying its economy mainly through agriculture will be supported by a World Bank loan of $4 mill ion that will help improve education in rural areas. Agriculture development is the cornerstone of Liberia's plan to reduce its dependence on iron-ore mining, rubber plantations and forestry. A number of .institutions and Government agencies have been set up to ensure that Liberians are given education and vocational training that will be relevant to this effort. The loan will expand the support given to this program by a previous credit of $7.2 million approved in 1972 by the World Bank affiliate, the International Development Association (IDA). The project will provide 100 primary school units for replacing or extending schools or establishing new ones in about 50 villages in the counties of Bong, • Lofa, Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Nimba and Montserrado. Enrollment ratios in these areas are the lowest in the country. About 12,0.00 primary school places wil 1 be provided, and enrollments increased by 4,000. The Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute wil 1 also be improved and expanded by provision of a 70-place women's hostel, new staff accommodation and technical teaching centers. A new curriculum will emphasize rural and literacy education, and the institute's community extension service strengthened. In addition, the project wil 1 reinforce the educational services of the Ministry of Education by improvements to curriculum development, textbook production and educational testinq and planning, and finance a comprehensive review of the Ministry's structure and organization to be carried out by the Institute of Public Administration. The adult education service of the Ministry will be strengthened through technical assistance and provision of transportation and audio-visual equipment for the village literacy program. The entire community schools program will be evaluated under the project. Technical assistance will also be provided for Lib~r1a's long-term development of vocational training; and the project will specifically finance studies for a vocational training center in Monrovia and a forest-ranger training center. Fellowships will be granted under the project to Liberians in primary teacher training, adult education, educational planning, administration and central services and forest-ranqer training. • The loan to Liberia is on Third Window terms, namely 25 years, including 7 years of grace, and carrying interest at 4!% per annum, An additional 4% will be paid to the Bank by the Interest Subsidy Fund, representing the difference between the Bank's standar~ rate and the charge to the borrower. NOTE: Mon-ey figures are expressed fnlf.s:-dofTar-equivalents. 0  T E C HN I CA L • DA T A PROJECT: Second Education COUNTRY: Liberia TOTAL COST: $5.4 million BANK FINANCING: $4 rdll ion, Third Window loan, for a term of 25 years, includ- ing 7 years of grace, with interest at 4t% per annum. OTHER FINANCING: The Government of Liberia IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Education Monrovia, Liberia Cable address: Ministry. < Education Monrovia, Liberia. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project comprises assistance to the community schools program by providing for: a) construction, furnishing and equipping of 100 primary school units in about 50 vi1lages and the expansion and improvement of a rural teacher training institute; 10 man-years of technical assistance and 12 man-years of fellow- ships in primary teacher training; b) 2 man-years of technical assistance, 10 man-years of • fellowships and equipment to establish an efficient administrative system for adult education; c) 2! man-years of specialist services, equipment and supplies to evaluate the program. Also strengthening of the Ministry of Education by providing for: a) minor works for preparing a bu i 1ding for textbook production; b) 14-!t- man-yea rs of techn i ca 1 assistance, 12 man·-yea rs of specialist services, 25 man-years of fel lmvships, equipment and supplies to effect administra- tive reform, and improve curriculum deveiopment, testing, textbook production, planning, oroject administration and a feasibi 1 ity study on educational broadcasting. Also preparation of future projects by providing: a) l! n~n-years of technical assistance for vocational planning and 4 man-years of fellowships in the training of forest rangers; b) funds for architectural studies and design 1,,-1ork on two training centers--one for tradesmen and crafts- men, the other for forest rangers. PROCUREMENT: CARE (Cooperative for America Relief Everywhere) wi 11 build the primary schools. The civil works for the teacher training institute and the provision of main equipment by international competitive bidding. ESTIMATED Cot1PLETION DATE: About May 1979. 0 •