Announcement of Oman to Improve Educational Access and Quality with Bank Loan on April 23, 1987

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 87/55 Contact: Fawzi Rihane (202) 477-5325 OMAN TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND QUALITY WITH BANK LOAN WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Oman is launching a project that will give thousands of children -- particularly girls -- a better chance to attend primary and secondary school, and help meet the country's demand for a skilled labor force. The project is being supported by a World Bank loan of $13.8 million. Despite recent economic growth, Oman's education sector is still under- developed, especially in rural areas. Only about three-fourths of the country's age-eligible rural population attends primary school, and only about a tenth are in secondary school. And because the country's school system is less than 20 years old, most of the adult labor force is unskilled and undereducated. Emplqyers, in need of skilled labor, have hired workers from other countries. Thus, Omanis comprise only two-fifths of the country's labor force. The project will help reduce Oman's dependence on foreign skilled labor by expanding educational access, upgrading the quality of curricula and by improving educational cost-effectiveness. Thirty primary schools will be constructed in rural areas for about 9,000 students, about half of them girls. Five secondary schools will also be constructed for about 3,000 students, about a third girls. In addition, the project will help modernize the education system by developing key planning, management and curriculum services in the Ministry of Education and Youth, and upgrading teachers' skills through a teacher training program. The total cost of the 7-1/2-year project is $27.7 million. The Government of Oman is providing $13.9 million. The World Bank loan is for 15 years, including three years of grace, at the standard variable interest rate, currently 7.92 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on the undisbursed balances. Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.  I - f; 4