Announcement of Nine Million Dollars Credit for a Second Education Project in Cameroon on June 22, 1972

• INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON 0. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 72/39 Subject: $9.0 million credit for a second June 22, 1972 education project in Cameroon 'Ihe International Developrrent Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, has approved a credit equivalent to $9.0 million to help finance a project for education in the United Republic of Cameroon. The project is designed to help the Government implement a comprehensive program of educational reform, to meet specific needs for trained technicians and skilled workers and to help achieve economic and social targets over the next decade. Cameroon was previously divided into two East and West states but following a recent nationwide plebiscite, elected to become a United Republic. Cameroon's complex administrative and sociological structure ha'3 impeded the creation of a modern inte- grated educational system capable of satisfying the nation's needs for basic education, and for trained technicians and other skilled workers. The Government envisages that educational reform and the achievement of an integrated system will also help to unify the country as well as promote economic development as an essential part of its Third Plan. A previous education project was provided with an IDA credit of $10.5 million in • 1969 which included technical assistance to help in the establishment of a national planning department with responsibility for all levels of education for the East and West states of Cameroon. The project unit which was established under the first credit "Will be responsible for supervision of the project, with the participation of technical assistance provided under the terms of the present project. Besides assisting the government policy of education reforms, the project also provides financing to help the expansion of primary teacher training, secondary educa- tion and technical and vocational training. Specialists' services and scholarships related with the training for indigenous counterparts are provided. Pre-investment studies of agricultural education, rural training and technical education with specific references to the less advanced areas of northern Cameroon have also been included. A number of other features are expected to flow from the project besides the provision, on completion, of some 3,000 additional student places. The project will also go some way as a basis for .future investment in other sectors where technical and skilled training are necessary, w.i. th provision for training and instruction for women as well as men in fanning techniques. 'Ihe estimated total cost of the project is about $11.4 million and the IDA credit will cover the foreign exchange component and about one third of the local costs, the remainder of which will be borne by the Goveniment. The borrower is the United Republic of Cameroon and the IDA credit is for 50 years including a 10-year grace period. It is interest free except for a 3/4 of 1% service charge to meet IDA's administrative expenses. • - 0 -  June 22, 1972 TECHNICAL DATA PROJECT: Second education COUNTRY: United Republic of Cameroon TOTAL COST: $11.4 million equivalent IDA FINANCING: $9.0 million, 50 years, 10-year grace period, interest free except for 3/4 of 1% service charge to meet IDA's administrative expenses. OTHER FINANCING: Cameroon Government IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Cameroon. Project Unit, c/o Ministry of Education, Yaounde, PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A. Construction or rehabilitation and equipping of: three primary teacher training colleges, one of them to include a center for reform development and teaching material production; one • secondary teacher and primary inspector training college; one upper general secondary school; two technical secondary schools; and one adult vocational training center. B. Technical assistance for organization and implementation of training programs (including training of cotmterparta) and pre-investment studies: 21 man-years of experts' set.Vices; and five man-years of fellowships. c. Project unit: six man-years of architects' and procurement specialists' services; furniture and equipment. PROCUREMENT: iq_uiptnent: teaching equipment (general, technical, commercial secondary education; secretarial equipment; and school and office furniture. International competitive bidding procedures. CONSULTANTS: Professional services for architectural and engineering • consultancy. Technical assistance: (see project description para- graphs B and C above) • ESTIMATED COMPLETIOH DATE: December 19 78. - 0 -