Announcement of Philippines Reinforces Elementary Education on July 5, 1990

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. *Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 91/1 Contact: P. Sison (202) 458-0344 Leandro V. Coronel (202) 458-1354 PHILIPPINES REINFORCES ELEMENTARY EDUCATION WASHINGTON, July 5, 1990 -- The Philippines is taking steps to further improve its elementary school system through a project to be supported by a $200 million World Bank loan. Enrollment rates in the Philippines are comparable to those in developed countries. There is extensive private-sector participation in education and female enrollment rates are high. The project will focus on strengthening the education sector's management, reduce dropout rates among elementary students, and boost school achievement levels, particularly among students from poor households. The project supports the investment program for 1990-92 of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS). The program includes building school facilities to reduce classroom shortages and meet expanding enrollments; rehabilitate or replace damaged classrooms and workshops; and provide about 1.5 million desks. About 47 million textbooks and other instructional materials will be produced to help reach the government's goal of providing one book for every student. Training for teachers and school administrators will be strengthened. Dropout prevention measures will be introduced on a pilot basis in poor communities in six regions in the country with the participation of non- governmental organizations. The project will stress targetting of educational resources to poor and disadvantaged areas, and expanding literacy training for out-of-school youths and adults. Measures to strengthen DECS' planning and management operations will include an annual program to assess elementary school performance; improvement of DECS' management information system; and more effective enrollment and financial projections. The government will provide the remainder of the financing for the $410 million project. The World Bank loan is for 20 years including five years' grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.75 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.25 percent on the undisbursed balance. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.