Announcement of Nicaragua Receives Eleven Million US Dollars Loan for Education on April 22, 1976

eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 76/40 Ap r i 1 22 , 19 76 NICARAGUA RECEIVES $11 MI LU ON LOAN FOR -~~U-~1:~~t-! The World Bank today announced the approval of a loan for a second education project In Nicaragua, in support of the Government's rural education and training development strategy. The project, which will have a total cost of Sl9.8 millfon, will seek to expand and improve the education and training opportunities through the establishment of baste schools and community learning centers. Agricultural tratntng opportunities will be fostered through centers offering non-formal training to farmers and their families. To help meet manpower needs of the sector, agrfcultural secondary schools will be established in strategic geographical zones. The project wf 11 also seek to expand and improve secondary education for the semi-rural • population. The project is expected to contribute to the decentralization of education management through the creation of regional secondary education centers, and to Improve teacher qualfficatlons by establishfng In-service tratnlng prcgrams. The project includes the establishment of 18 Rural Educational Nuclei consisting of 152 four-grade primary schools and 18 rural community learning centers; 9 agricultural training centers; 4 agricultural secondary schools and 18 lower schools. It also includes in-service training programs for upgrading about 1,000 teachers and 100 administrators for the project Institutions, technical assistance and fellowships. It is expected that by 1981, when all the Rural ~ducstional Nuclei will be ln full op~.~!lon, about 48,000 students wlll be enrolled in formal education courses. In addition, some 7,000 youths and adults wi 11 be receiving non-formal training, and acceleratied primary education will be offered to the population 14 years and older. About 2,500 youth and adults will be trained annually at the Agricultural Training Centers, whl le 840 students wt 1ll receive Jnstructlon at the four new agrlcul tural secondary schools. It ts also expecteri that the l<Mer secondary schools wf 11 be able to enroll 8,640 students when In ful 1 operation by 1981. The Bank's loan to Nicaragua is for 25 years, fncludfng 7 years of grace, and will carry an Interest rate of 8-1/2 percent per annum. ______________ __ ~_ ... ... _____________ .__,.. _____ _ • _. ,,._.,_ NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9-75) PROJECT: T E C H N I C A L DA T A Second Education • COUNTRY: Nicaragua TOTAL COST: $19.8 million BANK FINANCING: $11 ml11ton, for a term of 25 years, Including 7 years of grace at 8-1/2 percent Interest per annum OTHER FINANCING: Government of Nfcaraqua IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Dtreccion General de lnversiones y Aslstencfa Ftnanclera Ministerio de Educacl6n, Managua, Nicaragua CABLE ADDRESS: MINiEDUCACION PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of: a) the establishment of 1A Rural Educational Nuclei consisting of 152 four-grade primary schools, 52 six-grade primary schools and 18 rural community learnlnq centers; 9 agricultural training centers; 4 agricultural secondary schools; and 18 lower secondary schools; b) in-service training program for upgrading about 1,000 teachers and 100 administrators for the project Institutions; and c) technical • assistance equivalent to 11 man-years of specialist services and 17 man-years of fellowship for local staff. PROCUREMENT: Contracts for cfvit works will be awarded to prequaltfied bidders on the basts of competitive bidding advertised locally and an accordance with procedures satisfactory to the Bank. Contracts for furniture and equipment will be awarded on the basis of International competitive bidding. Furniture and eaufpment will be grouped to form sizable packages for bulk purchasing. Ha.~ever, items that cannot be grouped fn packages of at least $15,000 and will not int~~ aggregate exceed $300,000 (equivalent to ab~ut 10 percent of the total cost of equipment and furniture) will be procured fn accordance with procedures satisfactory to the Bank. Since Nicaragua Is a member of the Central American Common Market, domestic and other member countrfes' manufacturers will receive preferential treatment in bid evaluation for procurement of furniture and equipment. The preferent t al margin ·for domestic and Common Market manufacturers wl 11 be 11ml ted to 15 percent of c.f.f. ba~~ costs of imports or 50 percent of the appllcable Import duties, whichever is lower . CONSULTANTS: local or foreign consultants wf 11 be contracted to provide ~pecialist services for primary school administration, primary teacher training, primary and secondary student evaluation, secondary school adm in Is t rat ton and teacher t ra Int ng and ag r i cu 1tu ra 1 educ at ton; a 1so short· term 1oca 1 or foreign consultants will be contracted to provide advice and assfstance In farm • management, irrigation, dalry, horticulture, extens1on services, farm shops and instructional materials. ' ESTIMATED CO~PLETION DATE: 1981