Announcement of Three Million Dollar Credit to Sierra Leone of December 24, 1969

• INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPJMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET. N.W .. WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press R~lease No. 69/42 Subject: $3 million credit to December 24, 1969 Sierra Leone A credit of $3 million from the International Development AsstlCiation (IDA) will assist in financing a project in Sierra Leone directed toward improving the quality and cnntent of secondary and technical education and primary teacher training. Diversification of the secondary school curriculum will provide better training for the employment of secondary school graduates and improved technical training will partially fill the country's needs for skilled persons in trade, • industry and agriculture • Sierra Leone has about 26,000 enrolled in secondary schools, or 12.9% of the eligible age group which is about average for a developing country. Most receive only an academic education and there is considerable unemployment among this class of graduate, while vacancies for those with practical skills go un- filled. In order to remedy this situation, general secondary scho~ls should be provided with appropriate rooms and equipment for a new diversified curriculum, and technical schools improved so that training in skills can be given more effectively. Improving the quality of teachers and their training in technical subjects is no less important. Under the project being assisted by the IDA credit, 11 existing general secondary schools will be improved and provided with facilities for the teach- ing of agricultural, connnercial, scientific and industrial subjects. Two tech- • nical institutes and two trade schools will be extended and better equipped to permit an increase in enrollment from 740 to 1,928 full-time students. Fr~etown Primary Teachers' College, which is used mainly for upgrading courses The /more IDA P.P.• No. 69/42 ·· Sierra Leone-Education - 2 - for in-service teachers, will be expanded and improved to double its capacity to • 250 students. The IDA credit also includes funds for the emr,foyment of an a.rchi·· tect experienced in school construction and specialists in agricultural education, statistics, and curriculum revision. The Canadian International Devel~pment Agency will make a grant equivalent co US$600,000 for instructional equipment for all the schools. The United Nations Development Programne (UNDP) is expected to provide an 8-man team of specialists in technical education, vocational training and associated teacher training, costing a total of US$500,000. The Government of Sierra Leone will contribute the equivalent of US$1.5 million toward the project and will finance recurrent expenditures of the schools estimated at $370,000 a year. The IDA credit will be for a term of 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It will be interest free but will carry a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover • IDA's administrative costs. - 0 - . •