Announcement of Three Million Eighty Thousand US Dollars credit to Mauritania for Education Project on January 31, 1974

~ (~~™1[ IU ·I·,. IYAJ~~) ·'- 17~ • INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET. N.W .. WASHINGTON D. C, 20433 TEL,.EPHONE· EXECUTIVE 3-6360 1---------------------------------------------------·----- Press Release No. 74/6 Subject: $3.8 million credit to January 31, 1974 Hauritania for education pt'."'.'.1 ~t The International Development Association {IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, has approved a credit of $3.8 million to Mauritania for a project which will help to fonn the basis for an innovative education program especially adapted to the country's developmental requirements. Mauritania is predominantly desert with less than a third of the land usable for livestock and only a narrow belt in the south adapted to agriculture. About 70% of the population of 1.2 million is nomadic and pastoral. The development of a modern sector, based mainly on the exploitation of iron ore deposits, began in 1960 and for the next 8 years the economy grew at a rate of about 10;~ annually. However, very little of the benefits reached the rural sector. By 1968 growth had slowed down to about 3-4% as mining companies reached their capacity and unprecedented • droughts reduced the cattle herd by 40% and agricultural production by 60% . While development of the modern sector through further investments in iron ore, manufacturing industries and the transportation network must continue, the main emphasis will have to be on the development of agriculture, mainly through irrigation, of livestock and fisheries. Skilled workers at all levels are needed both in the modern and rural sectors. This will require a major reorientation of the fonnal school system in which only 15% of the school age population is now enrolled and the provision of expanded training facilities. In addition to the modern education system, Mauritania has traditional education called the Koranic school in which the greater part of the population participate. Religious knowledge is the main objective although students may also learn some elements of their country's history and culture. A key element of the project being financed by the IDA credit is an experimental study of the traditional Koranic school system to explore the feasibility of introducing into it basic education (reading, writing and arithmetic). If this proves to be the case, a change in the structure of the education system could lead to the pro- vision of basic education for a larger proportion of the children. The study will • also explore the possibility of including more adult training in the Koranic system • Note: Honey figures are expressed in US dollar equivalentsu /more  - 2 - Other elements of the project consist of the establishment of a technician training program in Nouadhibou to facilitate the employment of Mauritanian • nationals in supervisory positions in the mining industry and a vocational training center in Nouakchott; equipment and technical assistance for the National Pedagogical Center for upgrading the quality of primary school teachers through radio programs and related teaching materials. To meet the needs of the adult rural population, a pilot farmer training center will be established in the irrigated rice scheme of H' Pouri: to train farmers and their families to changes in production and family life occasioned by their resettlement and new agricultural techniques; and a farmer radio programming center will he established at Kaedi in the center of Mauritania's agricultural region along the Senegal River to complement currently inadequate extension services. In addition to broadcasting information and advice, mobile teams will visit the farming areas to assess the effectiveness of the program and establish a dialogue between the people and Government agencies. Technical assistance through the provision of specialists for all aspects of the project will be substantial since highly specialized skills are crucial to • its success. However, emphasis will be given to training local counterparts both through fellowships for training abroad and on-the-job training. The project was identified, prepared and appraised under the cooperative program of the World Bank and Unesco, with assistance of the FAO. The IDA credit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is for a term of 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It is interest free but carries a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative costs. •  \1 \'.,,HI. 0 l',11 /.• <... ;, 0 -; - t/l I- !JI • INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION \[IDA]) 1818 H STREET NW. WASHINGTON 25. D. C TELEPHONE EXECUTIVE 3-6360 January 31, 1974 TECIUUCAL DATA PROJECT: Education COUNTRY: Islamic Republic of Mauritania TOTAL COST: $4,128,000 BANK FINANCING: $3,800,000 for 50 years, 10 years of grace, interest free except for service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover ioA's administrative costs. OTHER FINANCING: Government of Mauritania IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Project Unit in the Ministry of Planning and Industrial Development,headed by the Director of Planning, in Nouakchott • • PROJECT DESCRIPTION: (a) Constructing, equipping and technical assistance for a farmer radio programming center at Kaedi, a village training center in ~he irrigated rice perimeter of M'Pourie, a vocational training center at Nouakchott, a technician training program at Mamadou Tourl Vocational Training Center in Nouadhibou; and equipment and technical assistance for the National Pedagogical Center in order to upgrade primary teachers through radio programs; (b) an experimental study to explore the feasibility of introducing basic education into the traditional Koranic school system; (c) the provision of services of specialists both for the administration of the project and to participate in its several aspects. PROCUREMENT: Contracts for equipment and didactic materials ($500,000) will be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding. The borrower will try to ensure that contracts for lots of equipment will normally be at least $30,000. Lots of equipment below $30,000 will be awarded on the basis of locally advertised competitive bidding, except for those of less than $5,000 which will be procured locally up to a total of $45,000. Contracts for civil works and furniture ($554,000) will be awarded on the basis of locally advertised competitive bidding, with a 151. preference margin for local bidders. COMPLETION DATE: 1980 • - 0 - Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents.