Press Release

Education sector in Chad receives support with US$4.53 million OPEC Fund loan

90/2005 September 8, Vienna, Austria
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The OPEC Fund for International Development today signed a US$4.53 million loan agreement with the Republic of Chad to help strengthen the country’s education sector. The co-financed project seeks to raise literacy levels and improve the quality and accessibility of education in the country.

Chad ’s education system is lagging behind in efforts to achieve universal primary education by 2015, as set forth in the Millennium Development Goals. One of the obstacles to increasing primary school enrolment is the absence and poor structural quality of school facilities. Overall, attendance is low, particularly among girls, and there is a shortage of qualified teachers and supervisory staff, partly due to the impact of HIV/AIDS. In addition, there is a lack of school inspectors and pedagogic advisors, especially at the secondary level.

The project will focus on the priority prefectures of Kanem, Lac, Batha, Guera, West Logone, East Logone and Tandjile. On the whole, a total of 225 new primary school classrooms will be constructed and furnished, creating 12,000 extra places. At secondary level, the Am-Riguebe Girls’ High school will be equipped with computers and additional science equipment.

Attention will also be paid to capacity building at the Institution Superieur des Sciences de l’Education (ISSED), the national body responsible for the training of teachers and pedagogic supervisors. ISSED premises, including its model secondary school, will be fully rehabilitated. Works will include, among others, the provision of a language laboratory and a computer room, as well as a library, dormitory facilities and a canteen. The National Curricula Center will also be strengthened, with a view to raising the number and quality of persons available for the education system.

The Fund has previously extended 11 loans to Chad, including one for balance of payments support, nine project loans and one that was approved within the context of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.

Today’s agreement was signed in Vienna by H.E. Mr. Mahamat Abdelrassoul, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad to Germany, and by H.E. Mr. Jamal Nasser Lootah, Chairman of the Governing Board of the OPEC Fund.