Announcement of Turkey Strengthens Primary and Secondary Education on April 30, 1990

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 'Norld Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.* Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE 90/75 Contact: Fawzi Rihane (202) 473-2675 TURKEY STRENGTHENS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION WASHINGTON, April 30, 1990 -- Turkey is planning to strengthen primary and secondary education as part of the country's drive toward long-term economic development. Under a project to be supported by a $90.2 million World Bank loan, the country will improve the quality of education, teacher-training programs and the management of the education sector. Through the project, a framework for reviewing, upgrading and updating curricula, instructional materials and evaluation procedures will be established. The quality of teacher education will get a boost from improved teacher-training curricula, textbooks and instructional materials in universities. The teaching and research staff of education faculties will also be upgraded. At the Ministry of Education, internal communications will be strengthened, management-development programs will be launched and training for school administrators will be provided. Certain administrative units at the ministry will be consolidated to achieve increased efficiency, while selected aspects of basic planning and decisionmaking will be transferred to provincial education directorates. The National Center for Research and Development in Vocational and Technical Education will also be strengthened. To achieve long-term development, Turkey needs a highly diversified work force, ranging from semi-skilled workers to professional experts. This project is the first step toward the goal of developing the manpower resources that are required for achieving Turkey's national development objectives. The World Bank loan is for 17 years, including five year's 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.