Announcement of World Bank Supports an Education Project in Bolivia on April 14, 1977

-Nor!dBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6?(~.·; BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 77/87 April 14, 1977 WORLD BANK SUPPORTS AN EDUCATION PROJECT IN BOLIVIA The World Bank announced today the approval of a $15 million loan to help finance an education and vocational training project in Bolivia. The project is aimed at improving primary and community education in the highland region of the La Paz Department and providing vocational training nationwide. The Bank loan will cover 70% of the total project cost estimated at $21.4 million. This loan will be the first Bank operation in the education sector of Bo l iv i a. The primary and community education component of the project will provide new basic school places for about 6,900 students annually; replace, expand and upgrade facilities for an additional 21,850 students; and furnish and equip school places for all 37,820 children in the project area • • In addition, 4,590 intermediate and 425 pre-service teacher training students will be accommodated annually in facilities to be replaced and expanded under the project; and 1,300 teachers, supervisors and directors wi 11 receive in-service training. The vocational training component of the project will assist the National Manpower Development Service to expand its operations at six vocational training centers to train annually about l ,900 new workers and to upgrade annually the skills of about 5,800 persons presently employed, In addition, two mobile training units will provide services to about 2,300 workers per year. The loan to the Republic of Bolivia will have a term of 20 years, including 4 1/2 years of grace, bearing an interest at 8.5% per annum. Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents • •  • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E CHN I CA L D A T A PROJECT: Education and Vocational Training Project COUNTRY: Bo 1 i vi a TOTAL COST: $21 • 4 mi l 1 ion BANK FINANCING: $15 million for a term of 20 years, including 4 1/2 years of grace, with interest at 8.5%. OTHER FINANCING: Government of Bolivia: $6.4 million IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: ~, Primary and Community Education: Min,sterio de Educaci6n y Cultura, La Paz, Bolivia. b) Vocational Training: Servicio Nacional de Formacion de Mano de Obra (FOMO), Avenida Arce 2180, Casilla 288, La Paz, Bolivia. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: a) Primary and Community Education:· (i) Construc- tion, furnishing and/or equipping of 955 basic classrooms, ten intermediate schools, one teacher training college and 287 houses for basic teachers; (ii) development of curricula and learning materials and in-service train- ing for about 1,300 teachers, teacher trainers, directors and supervisors; (iii) intro- duction of bi lingual education (Spanish and Aymara) in the first three grades; (iv) com- munity education and training activities; (v) a preinvestment study on the education and training needs of the low income migrant population of La Paz City; and (vi) related tech- • nical assistance comprising 8 1/2 man-years of specialist services and 54 1/2 man-years of fellowship for local staff. b) Vocational Training: (i) Construction, furnishing and/or equipping of six vocational training centers; (ii) two mobile training workshops for the mining trades and 15 sets of equipment and transport for training in agricultural and rural artisan occupations; (iii) preinvestment study on the socio-economic conditions in the major highland mining areas to identify employment generation possibilities and related training needs and recommend action programs; and (iv) technical assistance in- cluding 9 1/2 man-years of specialist services and 8 1/2 man-years of fellowship. PROCUREMENT; Except for the rural and teacher housing construc- tion, all contracts for civil works will be awarded to foreign or register~d local bidders on the basis of competitive bidding adverti5ed locally and in accordance with procedures satisfactory to the Bank. Since civil works are of small size (averaging $60,000 for the intermediate schools and $280,000 for the voca- tional training centers) and located throughout the country, and since Bolivia has a competitive local construction industry, foreign contractors are not expected to participate in the bidding although they will not be precluded for doing so. Contracts for furniture and equipment wi 11 be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding in accor- dance with Bank's guidelines. Furniture and equipment which cannot be grouped into packa- ges for bulk procurement of at least $50,000, not exceeding in the aggregate $750,000 (equivalent to about 15% of the estimated total cost of furniture and equipment) will be procured in accordance with local procedures. Local manufacturers will receive a margin of preference of 15% of cif price, or the actual tariff, whichever is lower. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1981. •