Basic Education Modernization and Strengthening Program

                                   VENEZUELA



SECTOR:                Education

PROJECT NAME:          Basic Education Modernization and Strengthening Program
                       (779/OC-VE)

TOTAL COST:             $250 million

FINANCING:
      IDB               $125 million
    LOCAL               $125 million

DATE OF APPROVAL:       November 10, 1993

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:    The objective of this program is to improve the quality
                        of basic education, reduce social imbalances and
                        strengthen management of the sector, thus supporting the
                        decentralization of the education sector.  This
                        operation is complemented by a parallel World Bank-
                        financed project.

                        The program includes the following components:  (a) improvement in the
                        quality of public education,  consisting of subcomponents for training of
                        teachers and principals, acquiring packages of teaching materials and
                        books for libraries and rehabilitation and equipment of basic education
                        schools in 23 federal states and territories; (b) institutional
                        strengthening, including strengthening the state departments of education,
                        designing and implementing a decentralized school maintenance system and
                        strengthening school communities; and (c) sector studies, including
                        studies to design future operations for the university sector.  The
                        program focuses on the first six grades, in view of the fact that 85% of
                        the students enrolled in public schools attend those grades.

GOODS AND EQUIPMENT:    Teaching materials, such as libraries, instruction
                        materials, furniture for schools and computers for the
                        departments of education will be acquired.

CONSULTANTS:            The services of international and national consultants will be
                        engaged for institution strengthening of the departments of
                        education and to perform the sector studies.  This includes
                        training of teachers, strength-ening state education
                        departments, strengthening of the education community and
                        studies.

CIVIL WORKS:            The program includes the execution of civil works to
                        rehabilitate about 2,100 basic schools throughout the 23
                        federal states and territories, as well as inspection and
                        supervision of the works.  The average cost of the individual
                        works is US$57,000.

EXECUTING AGENCY:       Ministry of Education

ADDRESS:                Edificio del Ministerio de Educacion
                        Caracas, Venezuela
                        Telephone:  (58-2) 564-1919
                        Fax:        (58-2) 562-8316
                        Contact:    Tanya Miquilena