Improvement of Primary and Secondary Education

                             BAHAMAS


SECTOR:                  Education

PROJECT NAME:            Improvement of Primary and Secondary
                         Education
                         (848/OC-BH)

TOTAL COST:              $33 million

FINANCING:
     IDB                 $21 million
    LOCAL                $12 million

DATE OF APPROVAL:        December 14, 1994

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:     To improve the quality and efficiency of
                         primary and secondary education through: 
                         (a) improving the content and teaching
                         methods of primary and secondary
                         education; (b) rationalizing the use of
                         school infrastructure while necessary
                         expansion and replacements are taking
                         place; and (c) strengthening the
                         management, planning and maintenance
                         capabilities of the school system.

                         This program consists of three major
                         components:  (a) the educational services
                         component will:  revise the curriculum and
                         enhance the capacity of the Ministry of
                         Education to plan and implement curriculum
                         improvements, provide books for school
                         libraries and in-service training in school
                         library use for teachers, improve the quality
                         of instructional media, improve the skills of
                         therapists and counseling staff for the
                         learning disabled, and replace and build
                         educational facilities;  (b) the
                         institutional strengthening component will
                         provide:  technical assistance and training
                         in management and planning, a computer-based
                         education management information system, and
                         a computerized system for inventory,
                         supervision and control of school maintenance
                         and maintenance equipment; and (c) the study 
                         of vocational education and pre-employment
                         training will evaluate present pre-vocational
                         curricula in relation to out-of-school
                         training and post-secondary training, as well
                         as the utilization of existing facilities for
                         vocational education.  

CONSULTANTS:             Individual consultants will be hired in the
                         following areas:  (a) curriculum specialists
                         in mathematics (two years), science (one
                         year), modern languages (one year), and a
                         curriculum generalist for training (three
                         years); (b) an education media specialist to
                         prepare a plan for the development of a
                         national teachers' resource center (six
                         months); (c) an education planner/economist
                         (one year); and (d) a specialist in
                         timetabling and scheduling for training (six
                         months).  In addition, a consulting firm will
                         be contracted for a period of 3 months to
                         design a system of preventive and corrective
                         maintenance, and train personnel; and a team
                         of consultants will be hired for ten months
                         to carry out the study of vocational
                         education and pre-employment training.  

GOODS AND EQUIPMENT:     The following equipment will be
                         purchased for each component of the
                         program:  (a) educational services
                         improvement component:  computers and
                         peripheral equipment, educational and
                         graphics software, word processing
                         equipment, furniture, audiovisual
                         equipment, spares and supplies; and (b)
                         institutional strengthening component:
                         computers and related supplies, books,
                         software, vehicles, a computer-based
                         education management information system
                         to link schools together, and a
                         computerized system to monitor the
                         maintenance of school buildings and
                         facilities.    

CIVIL WORKS:             The program will provide funds for the
                         construction and equipment of three primary
                         (with capacities for 240, 600 and 700
                         students, respectively) and two secondary
                         schools (with capacities for 1000 students
                         each). 

EXECUTING AGENCY:        Ministry of Education (MOE)
                         Shirley Street
                         PO Box N3913
                         Nassau, Bahamas
                         Telephone:  (809) 322-5495
                         Fax:        (809) 322-8491
                         Contact:     Mr. Cornelius Smith, Minister of
                                      Education and Culture