Announcement of the World Bank Approves Eight Million Nine Hundred Thousand US Dollars for Education in Tunisia on July 3, 1975

•World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 Bank News Release No. 75/69 July 3, 1975 WORLD BANK APPROVES$ 8.9 MILLION FOR EDUCATION IN TUNISIA The World Bank has approved a $ 8.9 million loan for Tunisia to help finance an education project which will help to introduce a more relevant cur- riculum and increase the efficiency of the primary school system. It will also expand the National Pre-Vocational Training (ITM) prograJn, which provides exposure to manual work at a pre-vocational level in primary schools and a foundation for employment-oriented education in agriculture (ITMA) and industry ( ITMI). The project includes: construction and equipment of 55 primary schools; expansion of the Tunisian Pre-Vocational Training (ITM) program for fifth and sixth grades conversion of existing facilities in 156 schools into indust:ry- oriented workshops • • It also comprises construction and equipment for new ITM workshops; extension of teacher-training schools; technical assistance to (i) the Planning Unit in the Ministry of Education to undertake educational reform studies and examine education, training a.nd employment requirements, and (ii) the Evalua- tion Unit in the Ministry of Education to monitor the ITM program and under- take studies on new education programs and teaching methods for primary schools. To belp the large number of primary shcools leavers who cannot secure jobs in the labor market, the project will finance an experimental post-primars program which will provide non-formal education and training related to local employment opportunities. To achieve this goal, two regional centers and related satellite centers will be established in Kairouan and Medenine. When fully operational, both centers will produce annually about 1.600 trainees. The United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, joined the Bank in preparing the project which will be completed in 1981. The loan is made to the Republic of Tunisia for a term of 25 years, including 5 years of grace, at 8 1/2% interest per annum. • Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents.  • T E CHNI CAL D A T A PROJECT: Third Education Project COUNTRY: Tunisia TOTAL COST: $ 27.6 million BANK FINANCING: $8.9 million, 25 years, 5 years grace at 8-1/2% per annum. OTHER FINANCING: Government of Tunisia IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: A project Implementation Unit will be set up in the Directorate of Primary Education of the education ministry: 22, rue d'Anglaterre Tunis, Tunisia PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction and equipment of 55 primary schools in urban areas; conversion and equipment for existing facilities in 156 schools into industry-oriented (ITMI) workshops in the same urban areas; constructi~ and equipment of new ITMI and ITM polyvalent workshops and equipment for new ITMA work- shops in rural areas; extension of teacher-training schools; technical assistance to (i) the Planning Unit in the Ministry of Education to undertake further educational re- form studies and examine education/training and employment requirements in preparation of the Fi~h Plan, (ii) the Evaluation Unit in the Ministry of Education to monitor the ITM program and undertake studies on new education programs and teaching methods for primary schools. PROCUREMENT: All major contracts will be awarded after international competitive bidding in accordance with the Bank's procure- ment guidelines. A margin of preference for goods manufactured in Tunisia of 15 per- cent, or the applicable custom duties, whichever is lower, will be .applied in the evaluation of bids. CONSULTANTS: Experts would be financed to assist the Education Ministry, (i) to continue its studies on the reform of Tunisia's education system, (ii) to undertake a new study on education/training and employment requirements, (iii) to prepare evaluation studies for the ITM and the post-primary pro- grams (iv) to design architectural plans for a possible follow-up education project suitable for external financing. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1981 •