Announcement of International Development Association (IDA) Assists Second Education Project in Mali on July 11, 1977

eWorldBank 1818 H Street,. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Tetephone: (202) 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 78/4 JULY 11, 1977 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (IDA) ASSISTS SECOND EDUCATION PROJECT IN MALI The International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank affiliate, today announced a credit of $10 million to assist the Second Education Project in Mali. With a per capita Grqss National Product of $95 Mali is one of the poorest countries in Africa and one of the least-developed countries identified by the United Nations. Illiteracy is extremely high. Government priorities include the development of low-cost programs to provide basic education to a greater number of Malians and improvement in Science and Technology instruction in secondary schools. Consistent with the educational strategy established in the First Education Project and Government priorities, the Second Education Project • objectives are to extend the reform of science/technology and related in- struction to rural and secondary schools and to develop low-cost basic education programs. The Project also aims at training and upgrading managers and planners for all priority sectors; training junior agricultural and live- stock field technicians; and extending the functional literacy and numeracy programs to farmers. The Project's basic education programs will be coordina- ted with the UNICEF-aided project. The First Education Project improved the quality of science and technology education in lower and secondary schools and in technical and vocational education. It provided technical assistance in planning, inclu- ding a study carried out by specialists to identify low-cost literacy pro- grams and basic education for a greater proportion of children and adults. Six science and technology centers were built to serve urban schools. The IDA credit will be on standard IDA terms of 50 years including 10 years of grace. The credit is interest free except for a charge of 3/4 of 1% for administrative expenses. NOTE: Monetary figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents . • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C HN I CA L DA T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Second Education Project Mali $12 mi 11 ion • FINANCING: $10 million at standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Repub 1 i c of Ma 1 i IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministere de l'Education Ministere du Developpement Rural Bamako, Ma 1 i PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Second Education Project will include: Construction or conversion of buildings~ equipment and furniture for science labs, technology and domestic science workshops for about 2,000 urban and 3,000 rural lower secondary students; renovation of a teacher training college specializing in science, technology and agriculture; • two agricultural and one livestock training centers for junior technicians; a national management institute; and offices and houses for a functional literacy program. It will also provide equipment, materials and operating expenses for a Project Unit" for a functional literacy program, and for the development and testing of new progr•ms, as we 11 as 142 man-yea rs of speci a 1 is ts, fe 11 owsh i ps and support staff. PROCUREMENT: Equipment and materials, estimated at $2. 1 million, will be grouped whenever possible in lots of not less than $50,000 and contracts will be awarded in accordance with IDA's guidelines for international competitive bidding. CONSULTANTS: 142 man-years of specialists, fellowships and support staff will be needed for the development of government services responsible for agriculture management training, school construction and the development and evaluation of educational and training programs. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1982 - 0 - •