·,· .. .• • BANK FOR ,i\ND DEVELOPMENT 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 Bank Press Release No. 73/55 Subject: $21.2 million loan to • July 19, 19}3 Colombia for a third education project The World Bank has approved a loan of $21.2·million to help finance a project designed to reinforce an ongoing Colombi•n Government program of restructuring secondary education. This program is being carried out in response to the country's needs for trained industrial and agricultural ~iddle-level manpower in the urban and rural areas. Estimated to cost $35.l million, the project includes the construction and equipping of 24 coonnon facilities centers to serve 109,000 students, and of 13 • rural comprehensive secondary schools enrolling 7,000 new st~pents and providing for 1,700 boarding places. It is expected to be completed in October 1977. The 24 centers will provide workshops and laboratories to enable 91 existing secondary schools to diversify their curriculum combining practical and academic subjects. The rural schools will open up opportunities for lower secondary educa- tion now lacking in Colombia's rural areas. These schools are expected to provide the basis for an education extension service to support rural development, and will become part of a Government program to establish 39 similar schools throughout the country. The project will raise substantially the percentage of students attending diversified secondary schools and, at ~';the same time, reduce the proportion of students in academically-oriented secondary schools from 70'%. to 55'%.. • /more Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents. Bank P.R. No/ 73/55 - Colombia -- EducatiQn - 2 .io Under the project, approximately 2,000 ~eachers will be trained in industrial • and other practical subjects over the period 1974-77, to provide technical teachers for the centers and rural schools. A rural development center at Laa Gaviotas, in • the Vicha~a Department in the Eastern Plains, will be completed, and three affiliated centers in nearby areas will be established. In addition, a survey will be made to evaluate the past development of the edu- cation system and to plan for future development. Studies will also be carried out on manpower needs, experience in the introduction of diveraified secondary educa- tion, and local production of educational equipment-and learning materials. Insti- tutional improvements in education administration and planning will be supported by concurrent United Nations Development Programme technical assistance. Two previous Bank loans, of $7.6 million in 1968 and of $6.5 millibn in 1970, • helped to construct and equip 19 diversified secondary schools lod~ted in large urban centers serving about 78,000 students on a double shift basis. The last of the schools will be completed later this year. The new loan is being made to the Republ_~c of Colombia for a term of 30 years, including 10 years of grace, at 7\1 annual interest. - 0 - • J. • • July 19, 1973 tECHNICAL DATA PROJECT: third Education COUNTRY: Colombia TOTAL COST: $35.l million eq\J\valent, including intere1t durina construction. BANK.FINANCING: $21.2 million, 30 years, 10 years of grace, 7•1/41 interest per annum • • OTHER FINANCING: Government of Colombia IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Colombian Institute for School Conatruction (ICCE), Edificio Ministerio de Educacion Nacional, Apartado Atreo 8999, Bogota, Col~mbia. PROJECT DESCRIPrION: Consists of construction and equipping of 24 common fa~ilities centers and 13 rural comprehensive, schools; a technical teacher training program; extension of a rural development services center; and technical assistance for a sector survey and for sector studies. PROCUREMENT: Civil works, furniture and equipment will bercprocured through international competitive bidding. Domestic manufacture.ra will receive a margin of greference ot' 151 of the c.i.f. price or the exiating import duty, whiche~er is lower. V ~ CONSULTANTS: Acciciri:;Cultural Popular (ACPO), a Colombian institution, will organi:ze and\. ·supervise the education extension service operating from the rural comprehensive schools and train the personnel for thi1 service. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: October 1977 • • - 0 -