Costa Rica: World Bank Approves $30 Million For Education
In Costa Rica
Contacts:
Alejandra Viveros
Tel. (202) 473-4306
Aviveros@worldbank.org
Patricia da Camara
Tel. (202) 473-4019
Pdacamara@worldbank.org


WASHINGTON, March 29, 2005 – The World Bank Group’s Board of Directors approved today a $30 million loan to Costa Rica to improve education
indicators in the country in terms of access, quality, completion, and equity of education.
“Costa Rica has made extraordinary achievements in the social sectors over the last 25 years, and this project exemplifies the Government’s
commitment to closing the rural-urban education gap, and improving the quality and efficiency of education,” said Jane Armitage, the World Bank’s
country director for Central America. “Sustaining social progress in the country means optimizing the use of existing human, physical and financial
resources to benefit all Costaricans.

The Equity and Efficiency of Education Project will reduce existing education quality gaps in rural education (including indigenous and afro-
descendent communities) and improve the equity and efficiency in the allocation, administration and utilization of education sector resources in Costa
Rica.
Specifically, the project will support the following activities:


       Reduce existing rural education gaps by empowering the technical units of the Ministry of Public Education to prepare local initiatives that
       address quality, equity, and internal efficiency in rural education. This component will benefit approximately 230,000 students from
       indigenous/afro-descendent and low-income communities in preschool, primary and secondary schools.


       Improve the impact of equity programs for low-income students by increasing the capacity of the Ministry of Public Education to identify,
       reach and monitor the delivery of education services in regions with low education indicators and students from low income households. This
       component will support demand-based equity programs -such as scholarships, vouchers, transportation and school meals- and develop and
       implement an integrated information system that can track the diverse education outcomes across municipalities, communities and schools.


       Enhance the efficiency of the education sector's institutional and economic resources allocated to the rural sector. This will be
       achieved through inter-departmental integration strategies and working alliances across central, regional and school organizations to conduct
       participatory sector diagnosis, plan strategically, and implement, monitor and evaluate education programs. In addition, the Ministry of Public
       Education’s coordination, fiduciary, monitoring and evaluation activities of externally financed projects will be strengthened through increased
       capacity of the Project Coordination Unit.


“By focusing on quality, equity and cost-effectiveness, the project aims to sustain education indicators for all in primary and basic education, while
continuing to increase secondary education nationwide,” said Joel E. Reyes, World Bank task manager for the project.

The $30 million fixed-spread loan is repayable in 10 years and includes a four-year grace period. The total project cost is $51 million, including $21
million in financing from the Government of Costa Rica.

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For more information on the Equity and Efficiency of Education Project, click here.
For more information about the World Bank’s work on Education in Latin America & the Caribbean, please visit: www.worldbank.org/laceducation
For more information about the World Bank’s work in Costa Rica, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/costarica