(01) - Mauritania - Credit 0459 - P001819 - 1969 /1971 Negotiations - Volume 1

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Folder Title: Education Project (01) - Mauritania - Credit 0459 - P001819 - 1969 /1971 Negotiations - Volume 1

Folder ID: 1695960

Project ID: P001819

Dates: 03/26/1969-12/10/1971

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PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AUTHORIZED iII~i~ 11111 El lINE II I I I ! Itl Arhives 11 9 I0 A1995-045 Other#: 11 Box # 170567B Ne~otiationsEducation Project - Volume (01) IMauritania - Credit 0459 - P001819 - 1969/ 1971

DECLASSIFIED WBG Archives

RETURN TO RECY7S CENTER ROOM HB-1 1"1 MATERIAL / BOX No. 1'2.- 2 THIS FILE IS CLOSED AS OF

DECEKBER 1971.

FOR FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE SEE:

1972 - 1974.

REORDS MANAGEMDET SETION January 1972- DWICLbCr1,1971 No. 393

.avier de lA enudiere knterntiNal hank far ReomstrucVtion and Dtveloapat Permanmt .41ston in *estetr Africa B.P. 1850 Aid , ZVQry T Oeat

BearMr.do la Maa e

As agreed dtiring our converiattun -. ma Deber 1, 1971, r a sending ,Y7 herevith 7q @4 s O= *lvin toewen's leconnaiancRept furitanai, in reply to his letter no. 3k4 of *tober '9, 1971.

While reading the report I developed somA doubt whether the propoed PraJect is really direoted to the most argent need. of the eountry, particularly when I copre it with the ecoaowic develop nt strategy outlined in the hnk's recent CQtytry Progae Note which places major eWh..ia oa Uh develipment of the rural sector.

The propasal is to limit or first project to jni- secmdory sch1as and some teehbical aslstaaet in *ther areas. * question is twofoldt

1. Hb ip ,ortnat is te proposed investment of *2.2 million for the reation of 900 Jvaior secondary achooplaces for the developmt *f this oomtry? It is not im.ieatel clear that, with ?, 6W places 1a eisting J=iw secondAry schools (para. 4.07), the" is a uted for eian-wm to mot wanp;w needs estimted at 600 daring the 197043 plan period (pars. 4.05). hkt more iortantly - emn we my tAt the type of edwcmtion y= doeribe in par&. 4.0T is what the coutry needs? so matim Is ade of ariealtare In the currimli of the sbs1a and the Impression Is ads (para. 4.05) that the sehoole ore traIaing for mod.w asoter emloymot anyhow. tudmts woald ematie to drift to the cities sad the impAet on rural development cemld be aero or even Septive. Mr. de L. 1- nnudiera - 2 - DecesWber 1C., 1,971

The tsct that the proposed schools can achieve imortant savings en bearding coate is an iversmating feature but innufficient as a uati- ficatin for this project. Apart from its irmediate effect, these sqvings would have little lng-tem budgetary imp-ct if there is, or should be, no further .xpznsion of traditional soconday vducation, which ould well be the _ase givn the vsry United iMployment opportUnities.

2. Could the proposed project not plAce =ch greater ephtsis on nca-forwl training for herders and famers. Why should our first project limit itself tn techaical assistance to "Jevelop A pirogrm" in this field? He should be able to nove f~ater and Incfue more rural training in this project. We have sufficient tim. fbr thorough re7aration since this is a FT 1974 project.

A mbnmer of questions rexsim unnaweredt

(i) is the Ooverzomnt sufficiently eonvinced of the need for rural .ductio and training of a no-traditiol pe -nd rreparod to re-direct ita rescuives to inveatmmnts in thi'% field?

(ii) a there ny xisting rural training institutios whiah could form a odel for further epaqnsion, what were the results?

(iii) is the Govern t receiving any tesbical auistane in this Mimid; if so, could this be uzed during praject preparation?

(iv) which local gowrmant agensies are (or should be) involved; how well sire they eqipp*d to handle this form of trAning; how do we nuliat their mpport?

(y) our first project would be United t. a numer of experwAntaI mrm. training aters, how long muld it take to idettfy and prepare this pzvject; how iusuiens would be retired; what should be the .- oepition of our next tnasion?

I shculd be gratefrl for Mr. I4eowns .vce en each of these -uestions. Last week, during your stay in in , we divCUsed already the timing of the next mission, now scheduled arond April 192. I undermtand that yu ,ould be abl. to rovide, aprt from Mr. Lewen, other staff for thit minsion. On our side, we are vewiying whether Mr. Pieker, rural training specialist, vould be available to join the mission as a ccnsultant. I ilU kee you infoimed about f erthtr develop- amts in this mtter.

Kindest rgrs

Chief, Divis ivn III mdcation ProjeCt. Division

For clearance: Mr. Calika For information: Mr. Rosenblad, & . Thoolen E- b -J--

- - 44 Ix

--: T -- - INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR IN NATIONAL FINANCE C t ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OFFICE MEMORANDUM j"

TO: Files / DATE: October 21, 1971

FROM: Carl Rosenblad

SUBJECT: Annual Meeting - Discussions with Mauritanian Delegation

1. No decisions as to immediate actions to be taken by the Association or by Mauritania were made in the meeting with the Mauritanian delegation.

2. On the delegation's request it was clarified that no Bank Group involvement presently was to be foreseen in the housing sector or in the Mauritanian Development Bank.

3. It was indicated that Bank Group financing of an education project for primary and secondary schools was envisaged in Fil97h/75, staff constraints permitting.

4. The need for possible future Bank Group financing of telecommunications was also briefly mentioned (now included in the FY1977 lending program).

CRosenblad:jd

cc: Mr. Chaufournier (2) Mr. Cheek ------x -

- r

. --. :Y- -1 R E 2

SEP 2 126 PH17 FORm NO. 26 (4-69) INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

INCOMING CABLE

DATE AND TIME AWTS 19 197 0352 R O U T I N G OF CABLE: 4

LOG NO.: ACrION G:PY: Nt,, PAZ5RS

TO: INFORIATTON IMCATMD PH=CTS ABIDAN opy NR. (ZAUFOU1RNM1C FfCM: DECDDED BY:

TEXT:

361 FOR PAIJANS OPY VAN UIa.

RATE TODA CAB MhRAI A "SUM'315 V0 MR 21310 M

1W0IMDN HM VO15 ?RPSMVSTAR HONIU ZinN DU 27SE!Il

DA YUOF81A?= 0IISU&? N VT ATNU O 0WUIURJST

Nx LAIMN3111R

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING INCOMING CABLES, PLEASE CALL 'hE O(WUNICATIONS SECrION, EXT. 2021

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Q~dkL 3~d Form No. 27 (3-70) INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OUTGOING WIRE

TO. SON EXCELLENCE DATE: JUNE 25, 1971 MAMADOU TOURE MINISTRE IEVELPPEMENT CLASS OF RURAL ET DU PLAN SERVICE: LT NOUAKCHOTT

COUNTRY: MAURIANIA

TEXT: HONNEUR VOUS PROPOSER MISSION RECONNAISSANCE PROJET EDUCATION EN Cable No.: VUE FINANEMENT IDA STOP MISSION POURRAIT VISITER NOUAKCHOTT VERS FIN SEPTEMBRE

STOP PRIERE NOUS CABLER SI PROPOSITION RENCONTRE VOTRE AGREMEN' HAUTE

CONSIDERA.TION

PA.IJMN

(Unofficial translation - Not k transmitted)

We are suggesting an appraisal mission Education Project in view Nouakchott of IDA Financing stop mission could arrive/end of September stop please

cable us if proposal is agreeable to you Truly yours

Paijmans Indevas

NOT TO BE TRANSMITTED

AUTHORIZED BY: CLEARANCES AND COPY DISTRIBUTION;

NAME Mei3 PPi 7 'F) de la Renaudiere DEPT.

SIGNATURE- SIGNATURE OF INDiVIDUAL AUTHoRIZE APPROVE) REFERENCE: MJ~aijmaFor Use By Comnp6nlations Section

ORIGINAL (File Copy) "A' RTANT: See Secretaries Guide for preparing form) C e r Dispatc 44 sa -V a

~guo~opf.~~~,- T

$ v* j~C O~Ir2 4I cc

I r I T FORm No. 'G (4-69) INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

INCOMING CABLE

DATE AND TIME B O U T I N G OF CABLE: MARCH 24, 1971

LOG NO.: RCA TELEX / 24 ACION CDPY: MR PAI 4 /CS

T0: INTBAFRAD INFOFIMATION MR* CAUFOURNIER COPY: FROM: ABIDJAN DECODED BY:

TET

139 FOR PAIJMANS

REURLET 88 PMWA HAS NO COPY OF MAURITANIA EDUCATION REQUEST PLEASE

FORWARD. REGARDS

DE LA RENAUDIERE

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ORIGINAL 111f I

4 4 FORM No. 209 (12*70) INTERNATICNAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

INCOMING MAIL ROUTING SLIP Date MAR 0

Mr. Aldewereld A1226 Mr. Hoffman Di123 Mr. Alter A837 Mr. Kamarck 0529 Mr. Baum C303 Mr. Knapp A1230

Mr. Benjenk A712 Mr. Lejeune A1013

Mr. Broches A813 Mr. McNamara A1230 Mr. Cargill A613 Mr. Mendels A1219 Mr. Chadenet C303 Mr. Nurick A802 Mr. Chaufournier C702 Sir Denis Rickett A1230 Mr. Cheek C702 Mr. Ripman D1029 Mr. Win. Clark D928 Mr. Rotberg A1042

Mr. Cope A1214 Mr. Stevenson D532 Mr. Demuth DI128 Mr. Twining D1032 Mr. Diamond D829 Mr. Votaw A613 Mr. El Emary A1143 Mr. Wiese A837 Mr. Fontein C602 Mr. Williams A1013

Mr. Fowler A1219 Mr. Wright A1136 Mr. Goodman C602

Mr. Graves DI122

Mr. Gutierrez A1136

Mr. Hartwich A712

From: Communications Section, Room C219, Extension 2023. AIINMt - t

Honneur- Fraternit6 - Justice REPUBLIQUE ISLAMIQUE DE MAURITANIE - -

Ministbre do l'Education Nationale

NOE - 3 /E ,Pe eNinistre

REFERENCE : V/lettre du 16 F6vrier 1971. A

Monsieur le Directeur de la Banque Internationale pour la Reconstruction et le Developpenent 1818 H Street N.W. WASHINGTON (U.S.A.)

WEST AFRICA DEFIT. Monsieur le Directeur, 1 ChaufournieI MAR 101971 [ ARCheek J'ai 1'honneur d'accuser reception d'une copie de 1 de Vries la lettre envoye iMonsieur le Ministre de la Planification et du E] Div. Developpement Rural, concernant nwtre projet de regionalisation m Div. de l'enseignement secondaire. LI Div. m Div. 1] Div. En vous renerciant vivement de cette connunication, Li Cp. Files je vous prie de croire, Monsieur le Directeur, a l1'assurance de Res. Files ma haute consideration. Other

Nouakchott, le . 4 MARS 1971

MOH4 1 ABD I OULD KHARCHY Vt

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S x

C;a

t 0 - le 16 fvrier 1971

It6tude aur la - gialisk-tion de It Anseignement f econrai re an -Rnpblique TsladAque (> ',!=rtaip qui nous a Wt tran mse a t6 ftdi ie avec grmnd int&rft par nos services. Nou nous rendons coyte des probl1en du secteur d'&duoation en kUlrnio ft de l'iportanee, non I fe1e1 t pour la situation bwd- g6taire, mais auwi pour le de lpperw,&, long terx du pays dr croer un nyst&e- d6'ducation cfficace au -vildre coft possible. Nous jug ns awai qW dans e don , ' aIsta de l'Assoiation pourrait ftre utile. Ceper.an+., le de personnel de l'A o- ciation nvim eqwlh heuruaseet d' ovir A tres brAve 1.linstraction coqplte d'un pjet d'education en Iburitanie. Noswmuggro touteooia qIuune tdzsion se rende en :kauritanie ausit~ qu leperson:nel pourra, dtre liber6 pour des discusslons pr6lirmiires et pour clarifier des questionu diverses, de fa-on A identifier le aontenu d'un projet aini que pour disuter un calendricr pour rs pr paration et son 6valuation. rus regrettons de m pan pouvoir indiquer de manire pr6cide quand une telle mission pou-rait avoir lieu, mias nous vous en infonrons aussit&t que possible. Une copie de cette lettre a 6t envy6e pour inforuvtion au !Lniitre de l'Fduoation Nationale.

VenoiJez agreer, Kbnsieur le r-inistre, 1'exression do A" haute consideration.

Roger Chaufournder Pirecteur D&parteient Afrique de 1'#Ouest

oc Suimnary translation: Letter discussing emn-tr 0 the possibility of sending a mission nistre de i1 for an education project to Mauritania. et du Dveloppement aurl Nouskchott, aurit e Cosenblad:jd cleared with & cc: Messrs. van Dijk (Education) Kochman (Executive Director) cc: Minister of National Education le 1t f6vrier 1971

Monsieur le AInistre, Veuillez trouver, ci-inclus, copie d 'une lettre envoyee ce jour A Son Fxiellence le Ninistre de la Plani- fication et du Developpement Rural au sujet d'un projet d'6ducation en Ituritanie.

Je vous prie d'agr~er, Monsieur le Ministre, l'expression de ma haute consideration.

Roger Chaufournier Directeur Departeiuent Afrique de l' uest

Pibe jointe

Son Txcellence '-bhamed Abdelladi Ould Kharchi Ministre de 1'Education Nationale Nouakchott, MAuritanie

CRosenblad: jd Sumary translation: letter transmitting copy of letter, dated February 12, 1971, sent to Minister Tour4, concerning an education project in Mauritania. cc /IiJ (-

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL PANI FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATJON, OFFICE MEMORANDUM

TO: FTLES DATE: December30, 1970

FROM: Carl Rosenblad

SUBJECT: Economic Visit to Mauritania - Elck-to-Offie RePnort

During the econoric visit to Noikchor-t December 9-11, 1970 by Messrs. Paijmans, Bachimun and myself, the following main issues were discussed with the Governmcnt.

1. Budget ad conor

The mission e:plained the Bank's position regarding reorientation of budget expenditures, at least for additional revenues, tozards the productive sectors. The need to carry out a budget austerity policy and exercise a better conrrol over ures ent Goverrnrient e:pe cnditures (elf which a substantial part is being aace outside the budget)was further emona- sized as well as the importacce of increasing Goverrmaent income, weinly through inproved tax clJ ectl.on.

The ministers of Plan and of Finance were found to be fully aware of these problems, but it is still unclear uhether effective actions will be taken.

The Government has however requested fLAF assistance in a study of the fiscal system in a broad context including external trade and capital flows.

A system to get an overall view of exports and imports was created in first half of 1970. A Budgeta-ry Study of possibilities to define programs and to rationalize the budget in definin;g standard costs for different investments was further likely to be undertaken.

A Cormittee for Budgot Coordination under the Chairmanship of the President was formod in 1969, but had been inactive for some time. A first meeting took place in December 1970 to consider the 1971 budget. The Government would be prepared to discuss in January 1971 policy questions raised in the Econor.ic Report and would give written comments on the details of the report.

2. Operations

a. Livestock (see separate mono)

b. Porb of Pouadhihon

The terms of reference drafted by the Bank and transmitted to the Government early Povember 1970 were cistributed to the proper department only during the visit of the miscioe: one cong was to he seut to TWAC, which organization has confirmed its intention to finance the study.

The Government wias in general agrecment with the Bank draft. -2-

c. Port of Nouakchott

A French expert has found that possible depth in the port would be 10 m and likely investment would amount to 8-10 billion CFAF. Financing of a feasibility study has been assured by Algeria.

d. Education

The Government expressed disappointment with the late date of possible Bank intervention. The mission was asked whether the Bank could advise which further studies could be made in the meantime, thereby in- dicating its interest in financing the Secondary Education project.

Education projects in Mauritania are split in primary education and secondary education. FED is prepared to finance primary education, but is in fact more interested in secondary education. It is therefore not ex- cluded that the Government may approach FED also regarding the latter.

e. Aftout-Es-Saheli

The official request for financing of the study has not yet been submitted to UNDP. An indication from the Government that the project be executed under the aegis of OERS would further be needed in order to get the study started.

f. Gorgol

The subcontractor, SCET Cooporation, carrying out the hydrological study is going to present its fifth scheme to FAO, containing in the first phase 5,000 ha of rice cultivation to be irrigated by the Senegal river and in the second phase 3,000 ha of sugar cultivation irrigated through dam constructions. The soil seems not ideal for sugar. Soil studies continue however since as yet only the fringes have been investigated. Ex- perimentation with different seeds has not yet started. Investment cost per ha of rice would be about 40,000 CFAF, which would make rice production competitive with contraband rice from Mali at 20 CFAF/kg. (Rice produced with pump irrigation is presently selling at 40 CFAF/kg. in Nouakchott.) No comprehensive economic study has yet been made.

The new project area would not interfere with present sorghum cultivation (about 5,000 ha).

The question of additional labor needed for cultivation of the project area will be subject to a sociological study to be started in January 1971. Manpower in the range of 4,000 will be needed.

Main problems to be solved are:

i) Transportation;

ii) Custom duties on transports on the Senegalese side of the river; -3-

iii) Training of farm 'rs;

iv) Land onnership - in many case s oine rship to the land could be clainmd by three diifcrent indviduals on the basis of two difUorent traditional laos and French civil law.

A private procossing plant for rice, for ihich French Bank financing, is heini sought, is prcsrI.y being planned in Kazfdi. In view of the monopoly posilion of such a plant, a fair distribuWion of benefits between cultivators and others should be asoared in ca.c of Bank involvement.

g. Nouakchott-Rosso Road

The Contractors have offered 713 million CFAF noe of taxes as settleman, of claimcs or, if thi: nere not acccptcd, thecy would see!: arbi- tration and increase the claims to 1.6 billion CFA,. The Governinort is however not prepared to pay mor) than 6CC-(< billion CRAP and declared its intention to reject tho ofj.ered seLtle'en.

h. Reconrindauaions

The PN!j'A mission on the Gorrol scheduled for early 1971 should look into possibilillies of starting seed expcrinentation.

UDP Resident Representativo should be informed that the requcst for the Aftout-Es-Sahcli study has not been received by UNDP, New York.

CRosenblad: jd

cc: Messrs. Chaufournier Cheek Paijmans Carmichael Bartsch Grosdidier de Matons Lethem Ludnig Sutherland PMWA Mr. Francis J. Lethen August 31, 1970

F. C. Gamble

MAURITANIAs Possible Educaton Project

I. Abstract of the Mauritania Government Request. N.B. This abstract by no means covers all the material in the government Request documents - details of manpower needs and administrative structure are barely mentioned, whilst details of the budget, construction norms and standards, types of contract, customs daties and taxes, road system, etc. are not mentioned at all, though dealt with at some length in the request. Human and Geographical Background

1. Naritania has an area of 1 million square kilometers with a population of 1,100,000 of whom only 180,000 are settled, the rest being more or less nomadic. The South of the country is more densely populated than the rest, with 80% of the population concentrated in one seventh of the land area. The largest towns are Nouakchott (40,000 inhabitants), Nouadhibou (20,000), Zouerate, Kasii, Atar (10,000 each), Boghe (6,000), AiounwEl-Atrouss and Rosso (Q,000 each). There is a map of the country in Volume I following page 78.

Educational Background Primary Education

2. Total enrollment in 1968-69 was 26,200, only 10.3% of the population aged six to fourteen. However, each pupil - year costs about $125 and the government devotes 11% of its total budget to primary education. (In evaluating these figures, the fact that some 80% of the populations are nomads who neither pay taxes nor take part in the formal education system should be borne in mind). The government has recently (1968) increased the length of the primary course from six to seven years, the last two of which will differ for those pupils going 6n to secondary education and those not thought capable bf doing so. These latter will go into rural training centers, and end their education with a Certificate of Rural Studies. The others at the end of their course will compete for secondary places. Besides these public schools, in which instruction is given in both Arabic and French, there exists an inde- terminate number of primary schools throughout the country, some subsidised, teaching in Arabic and often specialising in the study of the Koran. Wt. Francis J. Lethem 2 - August 31, 1970

Secondar Education

3. Enrollments totalled 3,000 In 1969-70 of which abaa t 2,550 were enrULled in the first cycle (first four years) and 60 in the second (last three years). Full secondary schools (seven year course) existed in Nouakchott (two), Rosso, and BoutilImit, (Arabic studies) and lower secondary schools in Atar, Aioun, [aedi and Boghe. In Kiffa, a primary school has begun to be used for secondary education. Secondary costs per pupil - year (non-boarding) were 1.7 times primary costs in 1962-63 (no more recent comparisons have been made); for boarding pupils, the ratio was 4.7 to One. Tfessacia and Professiortal Educlion

4. Public education is given in Ncakohott, Nouadhibou, Kaedi (agricultural education) and outside the capital by the mining company Miferma. (No figures are given in the request; the education part of the draft Bank economic report states that 600 are enrolled in the public system and 300 elsewhere). Boarders and Bursaris

5. NcXre than 70% of secondary students are boarders (van Waeyenberghe, author of the education part of the draft Bank economic report, says 90%), and 90% are assisted by the state with bursary grants. The amounts are as followvs

Full bursary, secondary boarding student $150 per anum Full bursary, secondary day student $110 per annu. Full bursary, technical boarding student $180 per an Full bursary, technical day student $120 per an There are also half-bursaries; in addition technical students receive small monthly allowances averaging about $5. Students at the normal (teacher traiking) schools and the school of administration receive about $40 per month. (For purposes of comparison, a laborer's wages amount to about $25 per month, and those of a specialised workman $W)). Future Developmegtb

6. Primary school enrollments are estimated to reach 47,200 (17% of the 6-14 age group) in 1974-75 (I,4o), of whom 4,450 in the last primary grade against 3,600 in this grade in 1968/69. (However, in another part of the request (II,5) documents, it is said that the next four year plan envisages the relative stabiliza- tion of primary schooling). Secondary enrollments are envisaged r. Francis J. Lethem - 3 - August 31, 1970

to reach 4,250 by 1974/75, by increasing the intake into the first secondary grade from 600 (the average from 1965 to 1969) to 900 annually. This increase in enrollments will be made possible by constructing lower secondary schools in the regions the project schools. The Request

7. This is for the building of 7 regional co-educational lower secondary schools (11,22) without boarding facilities (in the first instance) in Neoa, iffa, Nouakchott, Nonadhibou, Selibaby, Tidjikj;L and Boutilimit. All would be four class schools (i.e. one division of each grade) except the schools in Noma (7 classes) and Nouakchott (12 classes). Estimated building costs vary from $125 to $300 per square meter; total building costs are estimated at US$ 2,34 million or $1,500 a student place (40 students per class). Between 30 and 40% of this cost is for staff housing (with the greater percentage, rather surprisingly, in the larger schools). The cost of a teacher's house varies frcm $17,000 to $30,000 depending on location. Equip- ment costs are estimated at $145,000, about $90 a student place.

Teacher Requirements

8. 12 separate subjects are mentioned in the time-table, for a total of 119 weekly periods in the 4-class schools at which 7 are for Physcal Edueatian, to be taken on a part-time basis by a P.. teacher who spends the romainder of his time teaching in primary schools in the town. The headmaster takes 12 periods, and the remaining 100 periods ae divided amongst 5 teachers. (one teacher only is envisaged for the 36 periods of mathematice, science and technological subjects. It would be better to have 2 teachers to cover those fields and only one teacher of Arabic. But adequate coverage of all the time-table subjects in such a small school cannot but be difficult). The total teaching staff required 'or all 7 schools, including principals, is estimated at 56, for a total of 1130 weekly periods when the schools are in full operation. Teachers for the schools will coan frm the developing teacher training school, for which French assistance has been secured. In addition, 20 Auritanians now studying abroad will also apparently be available to teach in the project schools. Recurrent Costs of the ProJect Schools

9. Direct recurrent costs are estimated at $280,000 per year ($180 per pupil, class size 40) of which nearly $200,000 is for teachers' salaries. These costs are based on headmaster.' salaries of $3,000 per year, general teachers $2,600 and others (physical education, etc.) $1,750. These costs amount to nearly 7% of the edOcation budget for 1969, itself 16.5% of the national budget. Mr. Francis J. Lethem - 4 - August 31, 1970

The costs represent 32% of the budget devoted to secondary edua-. tion in that year. In addition to these costs, student bursaries and meals are expected to cost some $100,000 annually. II. Cimnts on the Regest

10. The general idea of a regionalization of secondary education is sound. Secondary schools of four classes, one per grade, are too small to be thoroughly effective in terms of student enrollment, provisione and utilisation of teachers and facilities, but within the Nauritanian context may be justifiable provided that their establishment enables the number of expensive boarding students to be sensibly reduced. 11. The question, however, remains as to hther all the schools will be viable without considerable boarding facilities; it appears that Nama, lifta, Silibasy, Tidjikja and Boutilimit are all tons of less than S,000 inhabitants. The schools appear to have been justified by including the surrounding 'region' in the attendance area. If this region is at all extensive, then the schools will probably need boarding facilities and the justification for es- tablishiig such email entities becomes questionable. Indeed, the Request documents themselves sem equivocal in this point 1,6 envisages no boarders for the present but 1,22 talks of their possibility in the longer term. In round figures, a boarder costs about $600 per year, nearly three times the cost of a day studentu 12. The four-class schools presently proposed have four special rooms in addition to their four classrooms. This is evidently excessivel one general purpose/science room should suffice. Class- rooms will be built for forty students, even though the present intention is to use them for thirty-five. This is desirablet indeed the first year's enrollment should not necessarily be limited to forty per class to take account of drop-out in the following years. If the school in Sena is to have more than 4 classes, then it seem- it should have eight classes (i.e. two per grade) and not seven. As with the four-class schools same economies are evidently nec.s- sary with the larger schools also.

13. Mhilst a considerable amount of work has evidently gone into the preparation of the Request documents, and they contain a great deal of very useful information, they lack information on such important matters ass

(a) potential school sites and what services (if any) will be available;

(b) foreign exchange costsl r. Francis J. Lethen 5 - August 3a 170

(a) the intended use of buildings presently housing secondary students from the towns where the project schools would be built, perhaps in view of the present low enrollment in upper ssondal7 schools (par& 3 refers) oonsideration should be given to their use for this purpose;

(d) where this prqject fits in to the overall development plan - the quadrennial plan f or 1970-73 is mentioned several times bats

(i) there is no coff of it;

(ii) it covers too short a period to be proper#l called a development plan;

(e) whether there would be administrative difficulties in implementing the introduction of the day versus the boarding student concept. In this connection, the rules as to who receives a boarding place should be examined. They are not dealt with in the request. II. General Conwsnts on the Mauritanian Education Ustem

Adeini stra tn

1. In a country with only about 30,000 students in school the wisdoa of having two Ministries (National Education, Technical Training) imediately involved in education is doubtful. The request stresses the close liaison between the various entities concerned, but one is left with the feeling that the administrative arrangement. are not as efficient as they might be. Primary Educatigo

15. The high recurrent per pupil cost of primary education (almost three times that in neighbouring Senegal) is allegedly due in large part to instruction being given in two languages, Arabic and French. I agree with van Waeyenberghe that there is a good case for giving at least the first four primary years instruction in the child's mother tongue rathw than the present Arabic/French mixture.

16. The new seven-year primary system seems to have been ins- tituted without sufficient thought to the question as to how pupils will be divided after the fifth primary year into potential Mr. Francis J. lethem - 6 - August 31, 1970

secondary/non-secondary students, nor what courses they will follow, nor where they will follow them. This reform seems of doubtful validity in a country where of 269 primary schools 140 have only one class, 87 from two to five classes, and only 42 six classes or more* The project lower secondary schools may well be affected by this reform, and same clarificatian would be necessary on this point before further progress could be made.

Secondary Eduoation

17. The secindary system cannot meet the needs of the country for middle level personnel. These needs are themselves Limited, and courses to train specialists would in general be uneconomic. Under these circumstances the present concentration on general education followed by on-the-job training, or training given by the organisation concerned, seems appropriate.

18. Of 119 teachers in secondary schools, 73 are foreigners. They seea relatively well paid. They receive nearly three times the salary of a highly qualified workman, who himself gets three times the pay of a laborer. They have about 20 class-contast t hours per week and teach between 30 and 40 weeks a year. On the face of it there seems little need to pay a student at the Ecole Normale some $40 per month as a 'student civil servant'. If education of the conventional type is to be expanded sensibly, then teachers' salary scales and other factors contributing to the high unit costs of educatica in Mauritania will beed scrutiny. The financing of a critical study of the costs could well be included as a project item.

Action 2ggested

19. Mauritania is a country whose educational development is at an early stagei as such it may offer a fruitful field for Bank involvement. Moreover the authorities would presumably welcome such involvement in view of the present Request. If manpower constraints permit, the Bank should respond positively to this approach by sending a mission to the country consisting of an economist and an educator. This mission would be charged with preliminary discussions on the request and would attempt to clarify the issues raised in the present memorandum. At the same time the reaction of the authorities to the other ideas tt have been put forward (education by radio, mobile extension teams for animal and human husbandry and education) could be tested. As far as onm can judge from the papers, these two latter programs are only at the idea stage at present.

F03ambleiaba 16

Nr. Roger Chaufournier November 20, 1970

Yartijn J. Paijmans d-,

Dicussions ith FED Cormnts on Jecific Imues Raised by FED

A. Bank Group Intentions in huritania

Iducation Project: The April econonic mission brought back a request from theGo7Vcmrnnwint Tor a project to regonalise the first cycle of secondary education (third grade through sixth grado) through creation of a number of schools. Total invcstrient cost (conatruction and equipment) is estinated at sore CFAF 700 million. Tho costs of education in Muritania are high, Lnd it is not likely thvat a rapid c-:Tnsion could be financed uith budgetary allocation3. Still., the present output is insufficicnL. to cover ediium tern needs. Education Department is in favor of the project, but bectuse of rimnpower constraints, it cannot be implemented before FY 197h.

Port of lrouachibou: A study of possible erpansion of port facilities for the divelopment of the fishin,; industry and of bukering activitics by fishing vessels operating off the Coast of Iauritania was made in connection wtth the recent econonic nission. Previous tcchnical studies have been rodo by DCEO'IY and local engineering conditions are fairly icll known. FAC is understood to be ready to finance detailed engineering and feasibility studios, if Bank Group financin~g in foreseen. A preparation mission at the end of Soptebor 1970 has clefined a project, Projects Department drafted TOR for the feasibility study, 'which were sent to the Governirnt.

Livestock: Two FAO preparation missions and a Bank visit have taken place. The project uhich might now emtrge viould cost about $5.3 mi llon ($3.5 million for the uells subproject with constr~uction and repair done by contracting; $300,000 for firebjreaks and .5 million for health services). The foreign exchange componcnt would, on the average, be 60%. For well maintenanco, it is envisaged to take over part of a project which FAC is about to launch. The following issues remain outstanding.

i. The Mburitanians favor a nationwide health cnnpaign, uhile we are considering a raore inten.ive localized one.

Li. The Mauritanians are reluctant to accept technical assistance to the veterinary services, which ue consider a condition for a health program.

iii. The nbility of Iauritania to cover recurrcnt ependitures for the project. Although these vill be lower than originally foreseen, the problem remains. Mr. Roger Chaufournier -2. November 20, 1970

B. Bank Group Intentions in Mali Rice Project: The P&WA preparation mission, which visited Mali from Septieer 2 to October 14, 1970, found no major difficulties in the FAC financed feasibility study ready by January 1971. We could arrange for a discussion of FAC feasibility report by PIA with FED in ear2g 1971 to coordinate operational procedures and requirements. The problem of coordination of the Bank financed rice program In the Mapt zone with that financed by FED around Sbgou was discussed with the MI-nister of Production as well as with the FED mission of Messrs. Egars and Grunner who were in 1ali during our visit. Both, the Government and the FED agree on the necessity for a unified policy action for all FED and Bank financed rice projects in 1hli. The Government will insure that uniform pricing, marketing, credit and subsidy policies are applicable to all farmers participating in the FED and Bank rice projects.

. lth the director of IRAT in Hopti ve visited the rice research and seed multiplication farm in the polder of Ibetimi in the Mopti zone. The seed multiplication farm will expand its production to meet the re- quireimnts of the Bank project. However, following the completion by 1974 of the engineering works for the polder of Hopti Nord, the seed multiplication farm, as well as IRAT research activities, would be moved from Ibetimi to lopti Nord to allow for easier accessibility. Upon the request of the Government the WP have agreed to finance a seed multi- pliation farm in the polder of Dioro in the Sfgou zone to meet the requirements of the FED operation.

A second phase of the UNP study project (project 18) is now expected to start January 1971 and will be conducted in the Segou zone with the studies being presented by the Government to the FED to enable the latter to -extend its project in the area. The necessary studies for an extension of the Bank project could be included as a cost ite in the study under - preparation. Cotton Pro eat: The Government with the help of CFDT has prepared a 3-year (1911-1973) cotton development program for FED financing, in- volving the expenditure of about F 6.0 billion. Ie understand that FED is prepared to finance the first year of this project, but would prefer to see the Bank take over the two subsequent years. ;W the Bank is unable to take over as of 1972, the FED Aould be asked to continue its financing for an additional year with the Bank financing a subsequent .4 to 4 years program. A FAC financed feasibility stuCy could be prepared . by CFDT under FWA guidance.

. Water SIpy: We consider a project for water distribution and sewerage in Mopti, a5unting to about $1 milion. A feasibility study is required. to scale don an existing project to a size which neets the current Aj

Mr. Roger Chaufournier 3- ovember 20, 1970

capabilities for meeting the cost of water supply. Arrangements are being made for such a study, which would be financed to UXDP with WHO as Executing Agoacy. The study is expected to be available in time to enable appraisal of the project in May. Together with the Mopti project, additional water distribution works in Bamako could be envisaged. This Bamako "'II" project would be a follow-up to an already financed FED project (Bamako I) and to a project currently considered by FED (Bamako II). There My be scope for combining a small power project with the water supply project. C. Bank Group Intentions in Senegal

Orotmdnut-millet Projeci -Lsbursements to date arc about-$1.8 million out of a total financing of $9.5 million ($6.0 million IDA, $3.5 mLl~lon Bank). A mission is now in the field to make an in depth assessment of all aspects of the situation. The mission will make recommendations on a possible adaptation of IBRD/IDA financing. It should be noted that the Senegalese authorities are very much aware of the situation and that constructive measures, particularly with respect to producer prioes, have already been tUken. COMMISSION 13. 11. 1970 DES A. .. le.s ...... , le .C.C S1 *I* COMMUNAUTES EUROPEENNES

DIRECTION GENERALE C J DE L'AIDE AU DEVELOPPEMENT International Bank for Reconstruction

and Development cc -

ERfreotion du Fon Monsieur Chaufournier CC 't-0 b, 1818 H. Street N.Y. ( UV CA- (L/i 2 vIII/FED/l-c&s/ 37 980) 5 WASHINGTON D.C. 0433

Objet : r6union d'information et de coordination FED/ BIRD 3 Rf.- s mes t6ldgrames des 13.10.1970 et 26.10.1970 ei rO -

4 -t au f

Monsieur le Directeur, (C

J'ai 1'honneur de vous confirmer ma propositio de tenir & Bruxelles, le 30 novembre prochain & partir de 9 h. 30 au 23 avenue de la Joyeuse Entr6e, salle 7-36, une reunion de coordination et d'information'au cours de laquelle nous souhlaiterions discuter les points quo vous trouverez repris sur le projet d'ordre du jour ci-joint (annexe I).

Au moment oah nous avons fait le point des questions A examiner aveo vous, nous nous sommes apergus qu'il serait utile de distinguer les problbmes essentiels, devant faire l'objet d'une discussion, des questions techniques de d6t-ail (voir annexe II) qui pourraient faire l'objet d'une information, soit par 6crit avant la r6union, soit oralement entre nos experts apres la r6union generale.

Vous conviendrait-il de pr6voir ces reunions particulieres & la suite de notre r6union principale, 6ventuellement le lendemain, ler D6cembre.

Puis-je vous demander de bien vouloir me faire savoir si les propositions oi-dessus regoivent votre accord et quels sont les points quo vous souhaiteriez voir ajouter aux projets d'ordre du jour de la reunion gendrale ot des reunions particulibres ? Je vous serais 6galement tres oblig6 de bien vouloir me communiquer les nom et fonction des personnes qui vous accompagneront A Bruxelles. Je vous en remercie d'avance.

Veuillez agrger, Monsieur le Directeur, l'assurance de ma consid6ration tres distingude.

Le Dire teur g4-ral Idjoint,. Dir c - ur du F.r..

Jacques FERRANDI

I COMMISSION D ES ...... ra x e l es ...... e ...... -...... COMMUNAUTES EUROPEENNES MPB/ns

DIRECTION GENERALE DE L'AIDE AU DEVELOPPEMENT

Direction du Fonds Earop6en de Dveloppement

Division des Programmes

VIII/FED/1-C&S/

Projet d'Ordre du Jour de la Reunion BIRD / FED qui aura lieu le 30.11.70

I. Echange de vues entre le FED et la BIRD, avec la participation de la BE] (financements envisagds du FED par pr8ts & conditions sp6ciales dans le secteur industriel, ou prises de participation).

A - Coordination des interventions entre la BIRD et le FED sur des projets d6termin6s

-ventuellement examen des questions pos6es par un financement conjoint . Togo : cimenterie Cte d'Ivoire : d6veloppement des spculations agro-industrielles . Congo-Brazzaville : chemin de for Congo-Ocdan . Gabon Itchemin de for Owendo-BoovW * Tchad : am6lioration de la production cotonnibre (6ventuellement prise de participation dans la Cotonfran)

B - Echange de vues sur les formes possibles de 1'aide k la creatioU d'industries nouvelles dans les EAMA.

II. Echange de vues entre la BIRD et le FED

A - Coordination des interventions entre la BIRD et le FED sur des projets d6termin6s 2 -

eventuellement examen des questions posees par un financement conjoint

. Mali, C8te d'Ivoire, Haute-Volta : onchocercose

. S6ndgal : am6lioration de la production arachidi&re

. Somalie, Togo et 6ventuellement Madagascar : modernisation do l'1levage.

B - Echange de vues sur les m6thodes de consultation entre le FED et la BIRD en matiere d'6tudes int6ressant les Etats associes, notamment pour d6finir l'objet et la port6e des etudes pouvant int4resser l'autre Institution.

C - Ezp6riences recueillies par la BIRD dans son aide au Congo- Kinshasa et perspectives d'aide en faveur de ce pays.

* Points Particuliers

TOGO

- Projet Zone Centrale et des Plateaux indications par le FED du contenu d6finitif qu'il est envisag6 de donner pour le financement de ce projet

HAUTE-VOLTA

- Echange d'inforwations sur le projet de liaison par t6l6communications Ouagadou!Tou-Koudougou-Bobo Dioulasso

- Demande d'indications sur le projet coton pr6vu dans les ORD de la Volta Noire et de Bobo Dioulasso (objectifs, msthodes, montant du financement, timing)

DAHOMEY

- Est-il toujours dans les intentions de la BIRD d'entreprendre vers mars/ avril 1971 une 6tude d'ensemble du secteur enseignement et des perspectives op6rationnelles concernant ce secteur dans ce pays ?

CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE

- Le FED peut-il avoir communication de l'tude financ6e par la BIRD sur l'entretien routier

CAMEROUN

- Plantations palmiers aL huile au Cameroun Oriental (Edea-Dibombari) Le projet soumis au FED a 6t6 present6 L la BIRD qui a donn6 un avis. Pourrait-on connaltre cet avis ?

- Echange de vues sur le dernier rapport 6conomique

R.C.A.

- Pr6visions d'aide de la BIRD pour le d6veloppement de la r6gion Ouham-Pende

SOMALIE

- Port de Mogadiscio : demande d'informations sur les d6tails du projet

(notamment conception technique)

- Intentions de la BIRD concernant les routes Berbera-Burao-Hargheisa

- Intentions de la BIRD concernant les 6coles secondaires 2.

MAURITANTIE

- Intentions de la BIRD concernant lea 6coles secondaires

- Intentions de la BIRD concernant le port de peche Nouad-hibou

- Intentions do la BIRD concernant ltalevage

MALI

- Intentions de la BIRD concernant le riz

- Intentions de la BIRD concernant le coton

- Intentions do la BIRD concernant le projet "adduction d'eau do Mopti"

MADAGASCAR

1) Programme des investissements prsvues pour le 36me FED (communication et 6ventuellement discussion)

2) - Pravisions des interventions de la BIRD pendant le deuxibme plan (1970- 74) ?

- Quelles sont en particulierles activit6s que la'BIRD pr6voit dans

. le domaine du ftourisme . de l'6levage . dans la baie de Narinda et r~gions annexes . dans la rsgion du lac Alaotra ?

- Quelles sont les pr6visions de la BIRD pour l'exploitation des gisements de bauxite (projet Pechiney). Interviendra-t-elle pour la cr6ation de l'infrastructure ?

3) Au sujet du programme dtdlectrification de la r6gion des Hauts-Plateaux (6tude PhTUD) s

- les services de la BIRD connaissent-ils dsj& lea r6sultats ? Appr6ciation

- la BIRD sera-t-elle appol6e h intervenir pour le financement d'une nouvelle centrale thermique a Tananarive et/ou d'une nouvelle centrale hydro-6lectrique (p.e. h Roget) ? A.- 3.

SENEGAL

- contenu et r6sultats du programme conoernant la- production de 1'arachide financ6 par la BIRD/IDA. Mr. Roger Chaufournier October 9, 1970 Ibrtijn J. Paijwna

Mauritania Mucation

1. The Mauritanian Government has submtted a preliminary request to the Bank Group for building seven regional co-educational lower secondary schools without boarding facilities. All would be four-class ichouls (i.e. one division for each grade), emept the schools in Nema (7 classes) and Nouakchott (12 classes). The project would make an increase in intake into the first secondary grade from 600 stdents (average from 1965 to 1969) to 900 annually. This would bring total secondary enrollments to the still modest level of 4,250 by 1974/15. Total building costs are estimated at U$2 .34 million and equipment costs at US 145,000. Direct recurrent costs are estimated at US$280,000, of which about US$200,000 for teachers' salaries. These costs amount to nearly 7% of the education budget for 1969, itself 16.5% of national budget. In addition to these costs student scholarships and meals are epected to amount to about 1S400,000 annually.

2. The dociuwnts received do not contain information on some important issues inter alia foreign exchange costs, school sites and services (if ary) aMiltea. It is also unclear where the project fits into the overall development plan and whether there would be administrative difficulties in implementing the introduction of day teaching versus the boarding student concept.

3. ducation Projects Department has reviewed the dossier and finds -the general idea of regionalization of secondary education to be soubd. The project would a priori seen justifiable provided that it is possible to sensibly reduce the nuaber of expeusive boarding students.

The next step, as suggested by Projects Department and with which I concur, would be to send a mission to Mauritania to undertake preliminary discussions on the request and to clarify still outstanding issues. Timing of this and of follow-up action are however a problem.

4. Considering the educational situation in the country and its heavy burden on the budget, we fully agree with the objectives of the Government as expressed in the preliminary request, to improve the quality of secondary educaaon end to achieve a reduction of student cost. The urgency to take action in this direction is strongly stressed in the Education sector study of the Economic Report, now under preparation, since one of the bottlenecks for educational development is its high cost considering Mauritania's limited financial means. The advantage of the proposed project would be to reduce costs for transportation and avoid boarding of students, thus diminishing operating expenditures education. of secondary 'A. Roger Chaufournier -2- October 9, 1970

In the present lemdawn program an eduoation project of US$2.0 ulllion is scheduled for FY 1975. Advancing the project by two ysars would bring estiSted FT 1973 leW4 to US$4.0 million (Irrigation US$2.0 illion - Education US$2.0 million). Strengthening of the early years of the lending program is certainly justified since this would, at an earlier date than originally could be hoped for, result in higher educational productivity, accompanied by allevietions, in relative terms, of budgetary expenditures on education4

It would therefore seem justified, on project as well as on country grounds, to advance this project to FT 1973 and Projects Department staff has no objection on the principle of such a move. 1hxpower constraints do, however, exist in that Departrwnt and this matter cannot be solved at the Division level.

7. If you agree with the proposal, I would recomwnd that this matter be taken up with Fducation Projects TVpartmant's front office.

CRosenblad: Jd le 28 juillet 1970

Cher Monsieur Van Wayenberghe,

Avant do partir on vacanoes, je vos envoie ci-joint deux copies de la nouvelle version do votre rapport our 1'education en Maurita*ie. En essayant do comprimer son contenu lo plus possible, J'si procd A certains changements additionnels qui no devaient pas alterer son oontenu. Nanoins, je vous serais tris reconnais- sant do bien vouloir relire le rapport une fois do plus at do me faire parvenir vos corrections pour quo la Version definitive puisse sortir le plus tbt possible suivant mon retour vers le 20 septembre.

Dan l'attente do vous lire je vous pri. do croire, cher Monsieur Van Wasyenberghe, A men sentiments les milleurs.

Heins B. Bachmann Dfpartomont Afrique do 1 'C0st

Mr. R. Van Waeyenberghe PNUD Summary translation: Sending Mr. Van Boite Postale 52 Wayenerghe ? cop es of the new version Rabat - Chealsh of the Maritania education report. Maroc Asking him to send in his corrections.

Pi&ces jointes

HBBachmann :pmc Wr. J. J. ntewart JWW $, 1970 N. Cherniavse! 4au?'itan1 T sibl Ede ation I

1. A year ago (June, 1969) the Area Department had a letter from the Dllestor of r.amzn asking the Bank to consider finaei g the "regionalisation" of lower seonadary schools In Mauritans (I..e. the establishment of now schools in reral areas) and requested us to )rovide an expsrt to help Tpre a roject and an outline of the pr.parator7 data we vould require. The Area Deparmnt replied in A24, sending thea the prepration gudelines but no port. 2. . autier, a French plaming advisor in Mauritania has now prod d a 2-vilwie request for 7 rural seconray schools at an estimated cost of $2.45 mtllion. This request recently arrived in the Bank it appars to be a tharough job and merits our studt and con *-. 3. About the same tise as tos Pquent was completed, Mr. Van Wasgnaberge was in Mauritania and wrote a sector survq uhich (with nodLficationz) will form an Annex to the Econcazi Report. This amrvV cites the ovOr==t's development plans for eduoation (princ.pal. itiw ar expwnsion of rIaay school qrtem, new rural aeonadary schools, taff sig, a 2 tehnic, Shool of Canrrc, pro-voca- tional rual trainig centers) but, vith the sole emeption of the rural seoonary school progrmp none of thee plans have as ywt aw concriste form. 4. If the ecinmic rawd and feasibiity of ea+bishing 7 new rural Lower secondary schools are questionabLe, the edwcational and social grounds are clear -- I, at least to the Nauritanian:s at present the country has a sere 2,650 papils in lioner seemary schools and about 350 in the upper secody cye, equivalent combined to 0.3% of the total poPi'ation of 1 Millian. HUweer, Van W&A_ I gi Tpoints out that no amount of expndg the conventional *&aation systm is going to reach Mauritania's 8W,000 nimad. and anordngly mqggests that another of M. Goutier's plans also be -ivanserious consideration, nwm*l to zap the tribes' Wipratwry ovoewnta and not ur, at selected stopping points, extension tea with the 4 following tasks, in order of importances (a) animal health instrtionsj (b) haman eane and medical care; (o) excance of goods to evelop mall comnroe and artisan activities and d) e~asztial =rgre for young uadsd. 5. %gnen and his Unasco colleguer have meanwhil reviewed Van Wayerghe's reort and have sugzested that Mauritania, with its highly dispersed and mobile popmlation (1 person per square = on average 90% of the ,vlation living in gvups of ),00 or less; Mr. J. J. Stear -- Jn 5, 1970

S% Parrtually on the move) provideA the obvious milieu for adwoation by radio, both fomal "primary" education for youth and practical instruction for adults in farming, ete. 6. This prolosal was brief4 revivad bo Mensmr. hallantin*, Doowas, Van 1,..rgha and Cherniavsky on Jun 3. It was suggetted that Mauritania nd for that matter, other Saharan coontries) would never get much return from conventional educaion systems and that as a first step we should investigate experience with "desert" education in other countries - e.g. Syria, Iraq and Australia. (There is a Mr. El husi in Beirut with knmwlege of smwh experienoe in the first 2 .countries). It wav agreed that there was xerit in the Magonu proposal and that we should take it u r with t( Mauritanians--ot neessarily with the MInistry of dncation, who would probably t7 to block it--in due course. The Gautier proposal for mobile extemnion tems might form part of the sam package, aiwo neither proposal aould go forward without a thorough marping of the move- ments and habits of the nomadic population.

7. This radio prorosal may, I understand, get brief mention Un the Eoonomic Report. Meamwhile, the Mauritanians a presumably waiting for our rmsyonse to their request for 7 rural sesondary schools. I assume we should reserve our position as (a) we can't say no without taking a first-hand look ourselves and (b) we don't want them to close the door to a radio project n retaliation.

ct Mr. D. Dallantino

)Mherniavsky/pj Form No. 27 (3-70) INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OUTGOING WIRE

TO: VANWAEYENBERGHE DATE: 22 MAI 1970 UNDEVPRO RABAT CLASS OF SERVICE LT

COUNTRY: MAROC

TEXT: HEURUX ACCUSER RECEPTION QUATHE EMIPLAIRES RAPPORT ECATION Cable No.: MAURITANIE STOP PROPOSE VOTRE SEJOUR WASHINGON PRFMNRE S4AINE

JUIN SI CCV&ARE POUR SEPT A DIX JOURS STOP V1EJILLEZ CONFfiRlER

DATE EYAOTE ARRIVEE STOP POUR JUSTIFICATI(I FRAIS VOYAGE GARDEZ

COMPTES DtHOTEL

BACHANN INTBAFRAD

English Translation - Not for Transmttal

HAVE RECEIVED FOUR COPIES MAURITANIA EDUCATION REPORT STOP I

PROPOSE YOU VISIT WASHINGTQI FIRST WEEK JUNE IF SUITABLE FOR

SEVEN TO TEN DAYS STOP PLEASE CONFIIR EXACT ARRIVAL DATE STOP

KEEP HOTEL BILLS TO JUSTIFY TRIP COST

NOT TO BE TRANSMITTED

AUTHORIZED BY: CLEARANCES AND COPY DISTRIBUTION:

NAME Heinz B. Bachmann

Western Af 'ca

s]G I DUAL AUTHORIZED To APPROVE) By Communications,,iection REFERNCE: :-PMC For Use

ORIGINAL (File Copy) (IMPORTANT: See Secretaries Guide for preparing form) Checked for Dispatch: * T r f

CON11UNICAT ONS

-- - .- - - <-

$~~

d\~. united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization UIN I S U organisation des nations unies pour I'ducation, la science et la culture

place de Fontenoy, 75 Paris-7*

telephone : 566-57.57 cables : Unesco Paris twlex : 27 602 Paris reference EP 8051/16/3200 14 May 1970

Dear Duncan,

Underseparate cover I am sending you by airmail two copies of Mr. Vanwaeyenberghe's draft contribution to the Report of the Economic Mission to Mauritania. Mr. Vanwaeyenberghe told me over the telephone that he had send copies to Mr. Bachman on 17 April, but I understand from Mr. Stewart's cable that these have not been received. Accordingly, I am sending you my own copies.

We have studied Vanwaeyenberghe's draft in the Division and I enclose our comments on this draft.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

W. van Vliet Director Educational Financing Division Department of Planning and Financing of Education

Mr. Duncan S. Ballantine Director Education Projects Department I.B.R.D. 1818 H. Street, N.W. Washington D.C. 20433 U. S. A. DT,' L 2G0

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Au I OnJJ2JJL G YfOJ~fa~G i ~1~~ ~U~CGJGr I~L Note concernant le rapport de mission de M. Vanwaeyenberghe en R6publique Islamique de Mauritanie (Aars-avril 1970)

I. L'6ducation des masses 1. Le futur Plan quadriennal mauritanien 1970-74 va donner la priorit6 aux actions dirig6es vers le monde rural auquel appartiennent 90 pour cent des populations - "L'6leveur, 1'agriculteur, l'artisan, doivent devenir de v6ritables producteurs, 616ments d6terminants de 1'6conomie nationale" Y/. Le rapport de la Banque mondiale 2] indique que les principales actions dans ce domaine devront viser a: - intensifier la production du b6tail, - accroftre la production de denr6es alimentaires, - introduire de nouvelles cultures industrielles. A long terme une telle 6volution exige de la part de la population rurale ' la fois un changement social profond et une transformation 6conomique qui la fassent passer de l'6tat d'eleveurs et d'agriculteurs de subsistance bloqu6s dans un r6gime feodal a l'6tat de "veritable producteurs", conscients de contribuer A la'vie 6conomique de la nation. Cela exige donc un immense effort d'6ducation. 2. Or on constate que 2,6 pour cent de la population totale fr6quente l'cole primaire, soit 13 pour cent de la classe d'fge correspondante, bien que la Mauritanie d6pense 20 pour cent du budget de l'Etat et 3,7 pour cent de son produit national brut pour l'6ducation, dont 60 pour cent pour l'enseignement primaire. En effet la population, compos6e a 80 pour cent de nomades, est tres dispersee (1 habitant par km2 en moyenne) et r6partie en tres petites unites: 62 pour cent vivent en groupes de moins de 200 personnes (la taille moyenne d'un campement nomade est d'environ 50 personnes) et 90 pour cent en groupes de moins de 1000 personnes. Dans ces conditions la scolarisation de type classique avec 6cole et mattres est souvent impossible, de qualit6 mediocre et toujours coriteuse.

3. Les faibles effectifs de l'enseignement primaire mauritanien ne semblent pas seulement das au momadisme et ' la dispersion g6ographique. La structure archaique des communautes, l'hostilit6 des notabilites religieuses et tradition- nelles des tribus ' un enseignement inadapt6 a la culture islamique et ' l'environnement national et qui garde encore la marque du colonisateur occidental sont probablement pour beaucoup dans la faible demande sociale en matiere d'enseignement primaire. A cot4 de lui subsiste, ignor6 des 'ducateurs et des statisticiens, l'enseignement coranique dont 1'inadaptation au monde moderne rend faible la contribution au progres &conomique et social, mais qui est accept4 par la majorite de la population en raison de sa conformit6 a la culture, aux traditions et au mode de vie.

/ IRapport sur l'tat de la Nation Mauritanienne presentS a l'Assemblee nationale le 28/11/1969 par le President de la R6publique Islamique de Mauritanie. 2] Mauritanie: Esquisse d'un Programme de Developpement quadriennal BIRD, novembre 1968. -2-

4. Enfin l'enseignement primaire moderne a gard6 de l'6poque de la coloni- sation son caractere de preparation au m6tier de fonctionnaire. Si le nombre de places a pourvoir est limit6, pourquoi envoyer les enfants a le'cole et fabriquer des ch8meurs potentiels? L'id6e que cet enseignement puisse permettre & l'individu qui en a b6n6fici6 d'avoir un revenu plus 6lev6 en tant qulagriculteur, A1eveur ou artisan est encore etrangere a l'immense majorit6. D'oX la crainte de d6velopper excessivement l'enseignement primaire dans un pays onI les perspectives d'emploi salarie sont limit6es - et aussi l'id6e de repousser l'6ch6ance en donnant aux 61ves sortants une formation compl6mentaire par la creation de cours post-scolaires ou de nouveaux colleges ruraux pour satisfaire la demande sociale.

5. Il semble donc qu'il soit n6cessaire pour le d~veloppement 6conomique et social du pays d'accroltre rapidement les effectifs scolaris6s a l'6cole primaire, et pour cela a la fois unitaired'adapter son contenu et ses m6thodes a la culture islamique et a l'environnement national, enfin de le d6tacher de son contexte actue-L qui le lie A la pr6paration a la fonction publique et aux emplois de bureau.

6. Une possibilit6 semble pouvoir s'offrir de r6soudre ce probleme grice a l'emploi de la rado. En pays nomade la radio a eu un impact consid6rable et un succes rapide car elle repr6sente un lien avec le monde ext6rieur. L'acces a l'information Dermet a l'6leveur nomade de profiter de possibilit6s nouvelles (connaissance des pluies par exemple), le protege des entreprises de ceux qui profitent de leurs connaissances pour l'exploiter, enfin le distrait de l'ennui de la vie quotidienne. Pour ne citer qu'un exemple,les enqueteurs d6mographiques de la SEDES en Mauritanie en 196 4 Y/ ont 6t6 tres surpris de voir que toutes les tribus qu'ils visitaient 6taient parfaitement au courant du but et de la proc6dure de l'enquete et fort int6ress6s par elle, a la suite d'une serie d'6missions pr6- alables de Radio-Mauritanie. L'intgrgt existe donc, les postes de radio a transistor sont tres repandus - on peut donc penser que la cr6ation d'un enseignement primaire par radio aurait quelque chance de succes. I pourrait parvenir aux plus petits campements. E cofit en serait minie s'il faisait appel non a des institu- teurs primaires mais A des moniteurs bene'vdes sachant un peu lire et 6crire l'une des deux langues nationales et a qui l'Etat ou la communaut4 pourrait verser 6ventuellement une petite renmuniration. Enfin l'adaptation du contenu pourrait 9tre sans doute plus facilement r6 alis6e, s'agissant a la fois d'une entreprise nouvelle et d'un programme diffus6 par une seule 6quipe pour tout le pays.

7. Il serait necessaire de mettre au point d'abord la formule pendant une premiere phase de trois ans environ au sein d'un projet-pilote. Seuls les rhsul- tats d'un tel projet, si l'6valuation en est bien faite tout au long, de sa dur6e, permettraient d'en envisager ou non l'extension dans une deuxieme phase. Ce projet pourrait concerner pour commencer une sous-prefecture des environs de Nouakchott et une autre plus eloignee, choisies de fagon a concerner i la fois les deux groupes culturels du pays, les Maures d'une part, les S6dentaires d'autre part. L'ex- p6rience concernerait les communaut6s n'ayant pas d'&cole primaire, mais devrait 6valuer les resultats obtenus par comparaison avec ceux de classes t6moins choisies l/ R6publique Islamique de "auritanie : Enquete demographique 1964-65 (SEDES, octobre 1966, pages 90-91). a, -3- dans des 6coles existantes. Deux langues d'enseignement devraient Stre sans doute offertes, l'arabe et le frangais /, les communautes interess6es choisissant l'une ou lt autre des langues en fonction de leur desir et du moniteur disponible /.

8. Les 6missions 6ducatives seraient compl6t6es par la distribution (ou la vente a bas prix) de livrets d'enseignement et par des 6issions destin6es pux noniteuZ 4i'n1 . Une inspection itin'rante serait organiaee pour 6valuer les resultats obteftus. Au cours de la deuxieme phase l'6ducation des adultes pourrait 8tre associ6e a l'operation sous forme d'6missions consacrees & l'am6- lioration de l'a ture, de l'6leva e de ' ' anat local n fonction de techniques 6prouv6es utilisables localement et employant du mat e e es produits disponibles sur place.

9. La premiere annee serait consacree a la pr6paration (au moyen de groupes d'61ves exp6rimentaux) des emissions et livrets pour la premiere ann~e d'6tudes, la deuxieme a la diffusion de ce programme et a la pr6paration des emissions et livrets pour la deuxieme ann'e d'6tudes, qui seraient diffuses pendant la troisieme annee, apres quoi, en fonction des resultats de l'6valua- tion permanente incorpor6e au projet, on d6ciderait s'il y a lieu d'6tendre, de modifier ou d'arreter l'op'ration. Il semble souhaitable qu'une telle op6ration soit confi6e au Centre P6dagogique qui devrait etre simultan6ment renov6, equip6 et pourvu d'une assistance technique supplementaire.

10. Coft de l'op6ration (6valuation tre s approximative d' apre a The New Media : Memo to Educational Planners, IIEP, 1967): a) Investissements US$ FCFA - Production et distribution 100.000 28.000.000 - Livrets 10.000 2.800.000 - R6novation et 6quipement du Centre p'dagogique 100.000 28.000.000 b) Assistance technique (notamment Pour la preparation des programmes et des 6missions, des livrets, les stages pour moniteurs b6nevoles, l'inspection et l'6valuation) 8 x 3 = 24 hommes/an 780.000 201.600.000

Total a) + b) : 260.400.000 c) Fonctionnement - Production et distribution par an 50.000 14.000.000 - Fonctionnement du Centre p6dagogi- que, des stages, de l'inspection, etc. (y compris salaire des homolo- gues des experts) 50.000 14.000.000

28.000.000

Une 6tude plus detaillee devrait 6tre faite a l'occasion de la pr6paration du projet. Les problemes le plus difficiles seraient sans doute ceux pos6s par la mise au point des programmes et le recrutement des experts.

Afin d'6viter les problemes politiques que ne manquerait pas de poser la diffusion d'un enseignement en arabe seul chez les populations s6dentaires du sid. 2/ Qui pourrait Otre un lettr6 local, un ma'tre d'6cole coranique (fqih), etc. II. La formation des cadres

11. Etant donn6 le faible d6veloppement de l'enseignement primaire et le bas niveau de vie des masses rurales, l'enseignement secondaire ne peut itre actuellement conqu en Mauritanie que pour former des cadres. Son effectif est actuellement de 3000 6leves, sa production potentielle de 150 sortants par an en fin de premier cycle et 75 A 100 sortants par an au niveau de Ricycle entre 1970 et 1973, alors que les besoins sont respectivement de 90 et 40 par an 1/ au cours de la meme p6riode pour les services publics seuls (pages 14 et 26 ~u rapport). Cependant le d6ecalage di & la formation compl6mentaire n6ces- saire fait qu'il n'y a pas de risque de surproduction possible.

12. Convient-il pour autant de placer la cr6ation de sept collAges ruraux suppl6mentaires (page 31) parmi les priorites? Il semble qu'ils soient plut8t destin6s A satisfaire une certaine demande sociale locale. La recommandation d'6tudes complamentaires semble donc opportune, d'autant que ces collages, mgme avec internat, auraient un-e.fectif faible si on le calcule en fonction des sortants de l'enseignement primaire et un taux actuel de passage en 6ame (de l'ordre de 200 6leves pour les plus gros de cest colleges a Nema et Kiffa).

13. La formation du personnel de bureau repr6sente .au contraire un besoin urgent et prioritaire car les besoins seraient de 1900 pendant la p6riode 1966-76 2 alors qu'aucun centre de formation n'existe. Ce personnel pourrait 6tre form6 soit de pr6f6rence dans un centre s6par6 financ6 par le Gouvernement mais pris en charge par les utilisateurs, soit dans une section du Lyc6e technique A condition qu'un stage pratique soit incorpor6 a l'enseignement /; ces op6rations exige- raient peu d'investissements (page 32 du rapport).

III. Conclusion

14. Il semble logique de recommander en priorite la mise en oeuvre d'un projet-pilote d'enseignement primaire par la radio, limit6 a 5 ans sur une sous- pr6fecture et destin6 A la mise au point d'une formule peu couteuse et mieux adaptee permettant un d6veloppement ulterieur de l'enseignement primaire de fagon a eontribuer efficacement au developpement 6conomique et social du pays, comme expos6 dans la section I de cette note.

I/ Non compris les enseignants form6s dans une 6cole normale separ6e. Mauritanie: Esquisse d'un programme de d6veloppement quadriennal; BIRD, novemtre 1968. Les autres formules n'ont pas eu de r6sultats particulierement satisfaisants en raison du manque de formation pratique. PROGRAMME DES NATIONS UNIES UNITED NATIONS POUR LE bEVELOPPEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Angle Avenue Urbain Blanc et Rue de Nimes 203-46 271-34 TtLtPHONE 315-91 BOLTE POSTALE 524 335-05 RABAT - CHELLAH k 324-86 MAROC

ADR. TtLtGRAPHIQUE; Wference : Objet : Mission BIRD en Mauritanie. UNDEVPRO RABAT

le 17 avril 1970 Cher ami,

J'ai le plaisir de vous adresser, ce jour, deux exemplaires de l'avant-projet de rapport sur la situation de lt enseignement en Mauritanie et de vous fournir quelques indications sur le deroule- ment de la mission. - Apres explications avec les autorits marocaines, j'ai pu quitter Rabat le jeudi 12 mars comme prevu et j'ai profit6 de llescale de Dakar pour consulter la documentation disponible au Centre rdgional oii MM. Hennion et Bodart m'ont beaucoup aide. - J'ai retrouv6 le Chef de Mission, M. Bachman, le samedi 14 a lt aeroport, au ddpart pour Nouakchott, oii j'ai sejdurn4 jusqu'au mardi 24, date de mon retour a Rabat. - La rddaction de l'avant-projet a exige deux semaines de travail et sa pr4sentation une semaine (dactylographie, corrections et tirage). J'adresse ce jour trois exemplaires de ldtude h M. Bachman et j'attends ses directives ou les votres pour la suite de la mission, - J'ai regu en temps utile les billets dtavion a l'Agence d'Air France; M. Bachman m'a remis 250 dollars a Dakar et, h mon retour h Rabat, la Banque a mis a ma disposition 450 dollars en travellers cheques, moins dix dollars pour frais d'6mission, soit 440 dollars. J'attends des directives compldmentaires pour organiser le ddplacement h Washington, si possible dans la premiere quinzaine de mai, et pour rentrer les notes de frais. J'espare avoir accompli cette mission comme vous le souhaitiez et, dans l'attente du plaisir de vous lire, je vous prie de me croire, cher Ami, votre bien cordialement ddvoud.

R. Vanwaeyenberghe onoieur W. Van Vliet Division du Financement ;D6partement de la 'Planification UNESCO, Place de Fontenoy 75 - Paris 7Vme united nations eA t A ientific and cultural organization U______U organisation des ns unies pour l'ducation, la science et la culture

place de Fontenoy, Paris-7e

: 5663phone -57.57 MWW WWi E cables : Unesco Paris t6lex : 27 602 Paris D L'. I s" rtftrence EP 8051/16/5201 14 May 1970

To : Mr. R. Vanwaeyenberghe Unesco Educational Planning Expert in Morocco

From : Director Educational Financing Division Department of Planning and Financing of Education

Many thanks for your letter of 17 April and the attached copies of your draft report on education in Mauritania. This draft has been studied by one of our colleagues, Mr. Magnen, who in turn consulted Messrs. Bekri4 Bolibaugh, Carelli and Taylor. Attached please find a copy of their comments.

You will note that we have no comments on the descriptive analysis contained in your draft report. However, we do feel that we should make more positive recommendations. As you know, education in Mauritania has prac- tically made no progress over the past ten years, mainly because primary education as it is now organized is not capable of expansion. Accordingly, we tried to think of alternative ways of providing basic education for the rural population.

You will see that the Magnen group tentatively suggests the use of radio for this purpose. You will realise, of course, that this is a preliminary note and that it would probably be necessary to make a feasibility study before we can with assurance made a firm recommendation for a project of this sort.

I should be grateful if you would let me have your reaction to the attached paper.

With best wishes.

W. van Vliet ThJs li~ rI oni al u1eoittns i muoq 1rI amu ojImb n;oiuina o ______

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II Form No. 27 (3-70) INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OUTGOING WIRE

TO: VANVLIET DATE: MAY 13, 1970

UNESCO CLASS OF SERVICE: k iA 14 PARIS

COUNTRY: FRANCE

TEXT: Cable No.: RYUGAB MAY 8 MAURITANIA STOP DRAFT REPORT VANWAYENBERGHE NOT RECEIVED YE BY BACMANN STOP WILL ADVISE WREN VANWAYELBERGHE VISIT CONVENINT

AFTER RECEIPT AND REVIEW HIS REPORT

STEWART

NOT TO BE TRANSMI[TTED

AUTHORIZED BY: CLEARANCES AND COPY DISTRIBUTION: c: Mr. Bachmann NAME J. J. Stewart

DEPT. $cts

SIGNATURE sA INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE) REFERENCE: /AS? For Use By C m ications S ion

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net . John J. StOajrt X 12, 1970 Carl Rosesblad

Y1vwitania dusation

Attached Is a stu4r, brought back by the recent econaoic vesios to HMWItanLa, on regonalised secondary eduwati@n project, prepred in view of a possible Bank Growi fi==bM'g and in reply to a questionnaire The intentiom Is to .reat. Jusor High school eduation in all areas where the rmmr school uill provide ewugh stents for a full 6th grade alass, as wv& as Is areas where there already exists at least three Grsmer schools. The intended advantages of the project vould be to out costs for transportation and avoid boarding of students, to dla .Mt h operating exenIitvres of the schools and to create more flexible education units as well as to facilitate secondary adwation for girls. The project cosiatis of oonstruecton of schools in seven different places at an eativatod investment cost of CFA 687 illion. The anmul recurrent cost. wald am t to CFA 149 xUlioft. I would appreelate you, cnsants on tis project.

Attachment

CRooeslads jd cc: Messrs. Paijmans Adams (- 1A - (4',>p

M*-q4 - -/. 7

Mr, Roger Chaufournier

H. Bachmann

-auritania - Back to Office Report by Economic Hission

Introduction

1. An economic mission (list of members attached) visited Mauritania from 1arch 14 to April 7 and returned to Washington on April 17 after discussions in Senegal (economic visit) and meetings in Brussels and Paris with aid officials from FcD and the French government. While the mission chiof and the goneral economist stayed in the field over the entire period, the sector spocialists remained in Mauritania for much shorter periods ranging from 10 to 17. days.

2. The mission received good cooperation from the auritanian Government.' However, it proved difficult to establish contacts with 1,inisters and Diroctors of the different departments, as a party saminar followed by an important party congress (both hold far away from the capital) kept many top officials away from Nouakchott for most of the period of the mission's stay. This situation was not facilitated by an almost complote government reshuffling a few days before the mission's departure. It turned out, that these party activities were the main reason for which the government had unoxpectedly asked the Bank to post- pone the mission by one month which however, the Bank was not in a position to do.

3. Nevertheless, the mission was received twice by the President and had the possibility to discuss some prelimim ry findings with him. Boforo leaving, the mission had also a long session with the (acting) Ninister of Planning and Rural Affairs who by that time had,bocome I1nister of Finance and with the Director of Planning. The discussions showed, that the government is well aware of the country's economic and financial problems, and is aeriou=yseeking measures for improvement. In this context the Government is looking foraard to the Bank's economic report and oxpects much from it. It would like to discuss the recommend.. ations in this report with the mission at the draft stage.

-4. The mission had close and frequent contacts with the resident representative of UNDP who proved to be very helpful.

General Economic Situation and the New Dovelopment Plan

5. On its first day, the mission was given a copy of a draft Four Year Development Plan 1970-73 which was discussed and approved with some modifications a few days later by the party congress. The Plan does not want to be more than a list of projects that Nuritania hopes to carry out over the next four years. It does not include any i- ro-economic goals or projections and does not indicate the sources of financing of -2-

those investments. However, it includes for each project the amount of recurrent coats after completion and the demand for trained personnel as these factors were rightly considered to be two of the most important bottlenecks. As the cost of several key projects can not yet be estimated, the Plan does not provide a figure for a total investwent program, and the sectoral breakdown of total investments can be estimated only approximately., Different from the general principals spelled out in an intro- duotory chapter, - which give (rightly) high priority to the rural sectors (including fisheries), - the list of projects is in fact predominantly oriented tomards transport infrastructure and social projects. Nevertheless' the now Plan provides a useful framework for Mauritania and for the foreign aid donors to discuss future activities.

6. Implementation of the noq Plan in hampered by three main factorse difficult public finance situation, unsatisfactory project preparation, and project implementation.

7. It seeim that the public finance situAtion has deteriorated in 1969 and - according to the new budget - is expected to continue its deterioration in 1970. Different from the years 1965 ,thru 1968, when the current budget showed a surplus of 4-7% of current revenue, the fin-ncial year 1969 (which =:tends thru Harch 1970) will probably not shoifcurpius, CL mnd the current budget for 1970 could be balanced only by shiftig most of public debt service to the development budget to be financed essentially by foreign aid and treasury reserves. At the same time public debt has increased in part as a result of several suppliers credits used over the last two years, essentially for non-productive purposes. If this negative trend can not be reversed shortly (Mauritania has proven already once that it can put in order the public finance situation if necessary) there is little hope to achieve public savings in the near futuro and little contribution towards foreign financed projects can be expected from Yhuritania.

8. Present unsatisfactory public finance situation and uncertain outlook make- it necessary to give careful consideration to the i pact of ncw projects on current expendituros in the short and modium -tor Despite additional rovenucs provided within shortly by the SOMINA copper mines (scheduled to start production in lay 1970), Government revenues will probably- not increase vary fast over the next 4-5 years, so that- limitation of current expendituras will be the main moans to reestablish budget equilibrium and achieve some public savings.

9. Planning and project preparation is very unsatisfactory. The planning service in the Ministry of Planning and Itural Development consists basically of one well trained Mauritanian economist (the Director of Planning) and a German export who has just arrived. For lack of coordi.- natm betwoon the 1inistry and VUDP, the establihment of a project preparation office staffed by UN expbrts has not made any hoadway. Lack of planning has been drasticalW- demonstrated in the case of electricity and water supply for Nouakchott, where planning and project preparation to expand the existing installations was so slow, that by now only supplier credits seem to work fast enough to satisfy the increasing derAnd. On the other hand, no new projects were submitted for FED consideration during the last aito years.

10. Project implementation primarily in the high priority rural sector is seriously hampored by the lack of administrative structures. Between 1960 and 1968 total current exponditures of the agric u2tiral departments within the Mttnistry of Planning and Agriculture have fa gnated while expenditures for materials and supplies alone have cvdn fallen by 47%. As a rosult, the rural services (livostock, agriculture, forestry, fishing) are no longer functioning outside Nouakohott and there are no structurca on which to build a project in the rural sector. Since army/police and education/health demand each about 25% of current budget expenditures and the servicing of the public debt at least another 10., the government's possibilities in other sectors are obviously limited, as long as priorities in tho current budget are not substantially changed which - under the best of conditions - will take several years. Different from other countries is West Africa, where the non-functioning of the Ministry of Agriculture was compensated by the activities of foreign financed and foreign staffed oxtonsion service companies (socitt6a d'intervontion) no such programs exist in Mauritania (except for the Chinese rice program on the Senegal river) and the first reaction of the Mauritanian authorities towards the suggestion of using such companies was not very encouraging. For fisheries and the non-rural sectors project implementation should be loas difficult.

Priority Sectors and Possible Pan,- Intervention

11. After the SO[INA copper nine will have started production in May and except for a possible slight increase in MIFEMA' s iron ore production through exports of lower grade ore in ,addition to their regular exports, mining production will most likely not increase any longer over the next ton years. It might in fact come to an end within the next 15-20 years if no additional deposits are found. Thus, development of other economic sectors will become increasingly important. 12. Fishorfes is probably the easiest sector to develop and - based on the extraordinarily rich fishing ground along the 1auritanian coast, near Nouadibou - the most promising in the short run. This sector was in a complete disarray until very recontly because of the disasterous con' sequences of an ev3,r abitious, ill-conceived and badly managed semi-public o fishing project in Nouadibou, that blocked all development for years. As the government has liquidated this affair with remarkable realism and cormon sense, the way is now open to start again on a more serious basis. During recent months all of the .old factories have resumod production (fish meal, frozen fish) under now management and a now Spanish company is starting production right now on a vubstantial scale. As a result, tho fishing port of Nouadibou is rapidly becoming too small and in addition nseds consLderable improvement. The Government of Mauritania is .agor to have this projoct financed by the Bank, while FAC has agreed in priicilpo.- to financo the necossary detailed engineering if the Bank is sariouw4y~~ considering the project. As fishing and fish processing is now carried out on a strictly private basis, the organizational woaknoss of the Mauritanian administration will not be too much of a problem in the fish. eries sector.

23. In the.long term, devolopment of livestock production is of higho.t importance to Mauritania. Two-thirds of its population are engeged ir-thia sector and most of tho uable land in the country can be used for this purposeconly. .As mining and fishing will not be able to employ more than a small fraction of the countryis working force, the standard of living of the majority of the population can be improved only through increased livestock production at least in the short and medium term. With the demand for moat in West Africa increasing faster than production, marketing prospcc-s are good and prices should increase. Growth of local production is haMprod by lack of water holes and poor maintenance of existing wells which make it impossible to utilize a large part of available grazing land and thus limits the number of cattle that can be raised in the country. Grasing potential is further reduced by periodic bush fires which have become more widespread as the Lirebrakes established during colonialtimes have mostly disappeared over the last ten years for lack of maintenance. Development is also handicapped by the complete lack of extansion service and highly insufficient sanitary protection which has sharply dateriorated in the last years for lack of funds and qualified staff. A project, comprising all these elomonts could have a substantial impact on 1auritania's economy; -however, very difficult problems of organization, ranagement, and of financing of zrij osts have to be (-C solved to make it viable. l. Agricultural potential is limited by the lack of rainfall and the very short rainy season. Major changes in this sector are thus only possible through irrigation along the Senegal river and eventually the, Aftout..el-Saholi depression but at high costs only that make it difficult to justify such projects. The UDP financed Gorg4 study and a number of 0 small pilot- irrigation projects at different locations along the river and some inland lakos Sinanced by FAC and FD will provide better information on the economics of irrigation projects within the next 2-3 years.

15. 'In the Guidimaka region, the mostsouthern part of the country where annual rainfall excoods 600 mm traditional agriculture could be improved through better extension service, probably combined with agricultural credit, but marketing of iicroased millet production would beconm a major problem and ther0 is little. possibility to grow any other crops but milot. For the time being, there seems to be little scope for Bank action in agriculture. It might, however, be worthwhile to initiate preinvebtment studies on Aftout-el-SAheli and eventually also in the Guidimaka region.

16. Mauritania has very difficult transport problems because of the wide dispersion of its population (even within the economically useful part of the country, excluding real'desert) and the lack of suitable material to construct simple gravel roads in many parts of the country. Low transport volumes and high construction costs severely limit construction of roads and most of the projects included in the new Plan areg economically justified. However, based on a partial traffic count, improvement of at least part of the Nouakchott-llema road might be economically justified and ought to be studied further.

17. A major problem in the transport sector is the interference of 'political considerations that prohibit the most rational organisation of transport in the country. Despite much higher costs, the wharf in Nouakchott is given preference over the port of Dakar for imports as well as exports and the newly paved road following the river on the Senegal side all the way up to the Mali border is not used by ;-uritania, despite the fact that there exists only a difficult track on the 2auritania side of the river,

13. In the telecommunication sector there is need for substantial improvement and expansion, since little had been done in this field over the last ten years and most parts of the country have still no telephone and cable connection with the capital. Expansion of the network towards the north (main mining centers and the fishing industry) and the south (main livestock and agricultural region) is planned. As the telephone service is financially self-supporting, these projects will not increase current govern-' ment revenues, but will require some highly trained now staff.

19. The Bank has shown interest in these projects and an identification mission visited Mauritania at the beginning of this year. However, at present, the Government hopes to have the projects financed by Germany, making use of one of the two loans from the Kreditanatalt fUr Wiederaufbr tA. Vhat were committed to Iauritania some years ago, but were never used. If further negotiations with Germany will not be successful, the Bank ought to take up the matter again with the Nauritanian Government.

20. The education system is the most expensive in West Africa because of the political decision to establish bilingual education in all primary schools, with two teachers per class, one each for instruction in arabic and in french. 'This system is not only very expensive, but produces low quality' edudation because it is too demanding for primary school children. This has its repercussions on secondary education which is generally well organized and which the government plans to regionalize to reduce the high cosWt of boarding. This project has been subitted to the Bank and merits serious consideration; as it is expected-to result in a reduction'of current costs, 1- would have a beneficial impaat;-on public finances. 21. Lloctricilbandjtorsiyml problew ezist in Jouahchott and in most socsndwry cca1cra. The eost urgent aro in the capital and night be solved ith aup.Licra crodits (uator) and the scond of thue lonr pru i d but never used crodits from Gormany (electricity). The next phaso however - to ho carried out in about 3-5 years - night EJli bo aubAittod to th 2ark. 22. n a long-r rpti- h water and electricity probhro' tho aocenda:y centers are at least as impor UanrA. Inprovuv"rnt of clectriciby and ';acr zupply in those cntors sho'ld be considred frow an ovorawl ccoii-jmc and social point of rio;, taking into accout tho rolaeivo attroctivansca o t r(-l -l?.) b via-a-vie tho zccondary centors and tc probloea arisl a in te Lutro froA jiacraaing rigratioz touarL thC Cap)ital. The mission el that it is still ti in Muritania to provent, or at leawt strongly delay and diminish a DThkar typo catastrophy, whore the capital has become such an over- whilming point of attriction that notirnU; can a top th incrua;ing inflow of an unusablo labor forco with a.l its consequences of uomployamcai, housing, and political unrost.

23. The nis';ion has boen surprised to learn, that tho population o$' Uevcchott, although still saL2l, is tw;ic as high today, as planned ;4Xn the towvn wos founded loss than ten years ago, and is increasing rapidly, despite the faOL that ouakchott has no economic base whatsoever outside governriont adminis bration.

Thua it coons time to start making secondary conters i ore at Lractiva, and an important eleent in this has to be a satisfactory supply of wattr nnd electrici 1y, which is lacking in most of thobo towns. Uihat role asnk/IDA can play in thil sector is not yot clear; Lin-ncoal, technical, and orjaniw zational problems will no doubt be considerablo.

Activities of Other AId Donors

2h. Th ' nlurookanAffund hak not yet coaablished its program Lor 'ho coning >2r and no ncw pr-uot ao ra submitted to and approved by F2D \(fon u'h1e last the years. Its activIty consists in bringing to an end several 40 projects started ove: the loot four years, of Uhich the no L important arc cprnanion of the wharf in oua3chott (ralated to copper exports), construction of primary schools, a small irricatod rico project, and study of small dara in the interior of tho country. 25. Pin activity ofIPAis in education (technical education and teacher training), wator distribu Lion, and naistanco to the pubi2a works dopartmnt. In addition, there are a fc- cmall irrigation projecta and continuation of: an onoing project for the promotion of dato production. A grant to complote the FAC financed slaughter houso with a quarantine station has not yot b-cn utilized. 26. The Caiase Central consicdcrs financing of some low coat honing projects in the card-t l, at tha site of tho iron oro tina, and at tho now cipper iino. In addition it financed ropurchming of tho vemi-public olectricity company of auritania. V -7

27. JCh a.(Main3and) carries out a substantial project for irrigatod rice and constructs a "talaiadela Culture in Nouakhott. The Fedora3. Republic of Ge1'myhasa granted two loans saeveral years ago which havo not yet boon utlised.

Conclutiion

28. huritania appears creditworthy for further World Bank Group activity. While there are no serious balance of payments constraints for ccnvantional lending and none are foreseen for the futura, the public finance situation strongly limits Mauritania's capability to contract conventional typo foreign loans# Though this problem needs further study, preliminary conclusions indicate that Yauritania will continue to be a country where most, if not all, foreign borrowing has to be on concessional toro. With a per capita GDP of $150-160 it fulf-111o IDA's poverty roquirementa and since its overall performance is acceptable -. deapito serious shortcomings - it can be considered IDA worthy.

cc: Nesira. Mclminmara Messrs. Check A ldewi-'reld do~ilde Friedban do la Renaudiere (PIA) Kararck PaijmvanI John Adler Adamr Ballantine/Calika Rosenblad Diamond Hission Itmbers Evans/WIvor Fuchs Knox Voinor do Vrics Owens Ludwig Groadidier deNatons

lDachmann:rb ECONOI'UC ISSION TO MAURITANIA

March - April 1970

List of Members

Bachmann, HeipDz (Swiss) Chief of Mission IBRD Washington

Merayo, Carlos (Spanish) General Economist IBRD Washington

Moghazi, Mohamed (UAR) Agriculture IBRD Abidjan

Lacrouts, M. (French) Livestock Consultant FAC

Noal, R. (French) Fishing Consultant SCET-Coop.

Van aayenberghe (Belgian) Education Consultant UNESCO

HBachmann:rb

May 6, 1970 ropm .40n7.04 412-69) IBRD LANGUAG& oRVICES DIVISION CONTROL No. E-49/70 DATE: June 1, 1970 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French (Mauritania) DEPT. Education Pro eCt RANSLATOR: GBS/f

United Nations Development Program Rabat, Morocco.

April 17, 1970

Ref.: IBRD Mission to Mauritania

Mr. W. Van Vliet Financing Division Planning Department UNESCO, Place de Fontenoy 75 - Paris 7eme

Dear Mr. Van Vliet:

I have pleasure in sending you today two copies of the preliminary draft of my report on the state of education in Maauri"tam"and giving you a few indications as to how my mission was car ie out.

After entering into explanations with the Moroccan authorities I was able to leave Rabat on Thursday March 12 as arranged, and took advantage of the call at Dakar to consult the documents available at the Regional Center, where Messrs. Hennion and Bodart gave me a great deal of help.

I met the Mission Chief, Mr. Bachman, again on Saturday the lhth at the airport, iWhen leaving for Nouakchott, where I remained until Tuesday the 2hth, the date of my return to Rabat.

The draft took two weeks to write, its presentation (typing, corrections and running off) one week. I am today sending 3 copies of the study to Mr. Bachman and shall await his instructions, or yours, with regard to continuing the mission.

I duly received the airline tickets at the Air France agency; Mr. Bachman remitted $250 to me at Dakar and, on my return to Rabat, the Bank placed $450 in traveller's checks at my disposal, less $10 in respect of the cost of issue i.e. $440.

I shall await further instructions before organizing the transfer to Washington, if possible in the first half of May, and submitting -2-

the expense account.

I trust that I have carried out this mission in accordance with your wishes, and awaiting your news, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

R. Vanwaeyenberghe -3-

MEMORANDUM REGARDING MR. VANWAEGENBERGHE'S REPORT ON HIS MISSION TO THE

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA (MARCH-APRIL 1970)

I. Education of the Masses

1. In the forthcoming Mauritanian Four-Year Plan 1970-74, the main stress will be laid on activities in the agricultural sector, to which

90% of the population belongs - "The cattle breeder, the farmer and the small craftsman must become real producers - determining factors in the national economy. The World Bank Report shows that the principal effort in this field will have to be directed towards:

- increasing cattle production,

- growing more foodstuffs, and

- introducing new industrial crops.

At long term such a development will demand from the rural population, at one and the same time, a profound social change and an economic revolution, such as to raise the status of that population from that of subsistence cattle breeders and farmers locked in a feu*11 system, to a level at which they are "real producers", conscious of dontriut to the economic life of the country. Immense efforts in the sphere of education will therefore be required.

2. We find that 2.61of the total population attends primary school, or, in other words, 13% of the corresponding age group, even though Mauritania spends 20% of its national budget and 3.7% of its Gross National Product

"Report on the State of the Mauritanian Nation" submitted to the National Assembly on November 28, 1969 by the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Mauritania: Outline of a Four-Year Development Program, IBRD, November 1968. on education, with primary education accounting for 60, of the sums appropriated for this purpose. The population, 80, of which consists of nomads, is in point of fact, a very scattered one (averaging one 2 person per km ) and distributed in very small units: Thus 60% of the population live in groups of fewer than 200 people (the average size of a nomad encampment is approximately 50) and 90, in groups of fewer than

1,000 persons. This being so, education on conventional lines, i.e. with a school and teachers, is often impossible, the quality being mediocre and the cost invariably high.

3. The small number of Mauritanian children attending primary school does not appear to be due entirely to the nomadic way of life and to the fact that the population is scattered geographically. The archaic structure of communities and, the hostility of the leading religious and traditional tribal figures towards a form of teaching that does not conform to Islamic culture and to the national environment, and which still bears the stamp of the Western colonizer, are, in all probability, largely responsible for the low level of demand for primary schooling manifested by the population. Alongside the primary schools, overlooked by the educators and statisticians, there is the Koranic system of teaching, and this, although ill-adapted to the modern world - a fact that weakens any contribution it might make to economicaland social progress - is accepted by the majority of the population because it matches the Mauritanian culture, traditions and way of life. h. Finally, modern primary education still bears, as a legacy from colonial days, the character of an institution that prepares pupils for a civil service career. If only a small number of places have to be filled, why send children to school, merely to make them potential unemployed? The idea that this education may provide the individual who has had to benefit of it with a higher income as a farmer, cattle breeder or small craftsman is still quite foreign to the vast bulk of the population, heee the fear of expanding primary education to an excessive degree in a country where the prospects of paid employment are limited - and also the idea of putting off the evil day by providing school-leavers with supplementary training by arranging adult education courses or setting up new secondary schools in rural areas to satisfy public demand.

5. It therefore appears necessary, in the interests of the country's economic and social development, to bring about a rapid increase in the number of people attending primary school and, on this account simultaneously to effect a sharp reduction in the cost per head, adapt the content and methods of such education to Islamic culture and to the national environment and, finally, lift it out of its present context, which ties this system of education to training for the Civil Service and for office work.

6. There does appear to be one possible means of solving this problem, and this is by making use of radio. In a nomadic country, radio has made a considerable impact and achieved rapid success, since it represents a link with the outside world. Access to information enables the nomadic stockraiser to avail himself of fresh opportunities (knowledge of the rains for example), protects him from the machinations of those who use their knowledge to exploit him and, finally, provides him with some dis- -6-

traction from the boredom of everyday life. To give only one example, the SEDES demographers who conducted a survey in Mauritania in 1964 were most surprised to find that all the tribes they visited were per- fectly well aware of the purpose of and procedures used in the survey and took a great interest in it, as the result of a series of broadcasts that had previously been given by Radio Mauritania. The interest is there then, the transistor radio set is in very general use, and the introduction of primary education courses by radio may well have some chance of success. Such instruction could reach the smallest encampment, and would cost very little if use was made, not of primary-school teachers but of volunteer instructors with some ability to read and speak one of the two national languages, and to whom the State or the community might possibly pay a modest salary. Finally, adaptation of the educational content would probably be easier, since we should be dealing both with a new venture and with a program broadcast by a single team for the entire country.

7. It would be necessary, to begin with, to perfect the method to be used, during a first phase of about three years and within the framework of a pilot project. Only in the light of the results of such a project, provided always that these results were thoroughly appraised throughout, would it be possible to decide whether the project should or should not be expanded in the course of a second phase. This project might, to start with, be carried out in a sub-prefecture in the neighborhood of NOUAKCHOTT and in another, more distant, sub-prefecture, chosen so as to involve, at one and the same time the country's two cultural groups, the Moors (Maures) on the l/ Islamic Republic of Mauritania: Demographic Survey 1964-65 ( SEDES October 1966, pages 90-91). -7-

one hand and the non-migrants (Sedentaires) on the other. The experiment would deal with communities having no primary school, but the results obtained would have to be evaluated by comparing them with those found in the case of sample classes chosen in existing schools. Two languages of 1] instruction would probably have to be offered, Arabic and French, the communities concerned choosing one or other of the languages, in accordance with their wishes and depending on the instructor available.

8. These educational broadcasts would be supplemented by the distribution

(or by the sale at a low price) of instructional booklets and by transmissions intended for volunteer instructors. A system of travelling in- spectors would be organized to evaluate the results obtained. During the second phase, adult education could be associated with the operation, and this might take the form of broadcasts dealing with improvements in agriculture, stockraising and local handicrafts that could be effected by employing tried and tested methods that were feasible locally, and by available using material and products/on the spot.

9. The first year would be devoted to preparing the broadcasts (using experimental groups of pupils) and to drawing up booklets for the first year of study, the second year to broadcasting this program and preparing the transmissions and booklets for the second year of studies, which would be broadcast during the third year, after which, depending upon the results of the continuous appraisal that forms an integral part of the scheme, a decision would be taken as to whether the operation should be extended, modified or closed down. It would appear desirable for such an operation 1_ In order to avoid the political problems that would inevitably arise with the non-migrant populations in the South if the instruction were to be broadcast in Arabic only. Who might be a literate local person, a Koranic schoolmaster (fqih) etc. -8-

to be entrusted to the Teaching Center which would, simultaneously, need to be renovated, equipped and provided with additional technical assistance.

10. Cost of the operation (very approximate estimate, according to The

New Media: Memo to Fducational Planners IIEP, 1967):

US$ CFAF a) Investments

Production and distribution (For figures please see page 3 of original) Booklets /1, O -

Renovation and equipment of the IjY a 000 Teaching Center b) Technical assistance required more particularly in connection with preparing programs and broadcasts, booklets, training programs for voluntary instructors, inspection and appraisal) 8 x 3 = 24 man-years. s o)C ,L t c) Operation

Productiob and distribution, per annum .O.. 5,*6o U ~_o Operation of the Teaching Center

Training courses, inspection, etc. G

(including salaries of the opposite numbers of the experts). . jrtr O-e>O

A more detailed study would have to be made at the time of preparing the project. The most difficult problems would doubtless be the development of the programs and the recruitment of experts.

II. The training of staff

11. In view of the underdeveloped condition of primary education and the low standard of living of the rural masses, no consideration can at -9-

present be given to secondary education in Mauritania except for the pur-

_-pose of training staff. There are at the moment 3,000 pupils in secondary

schools, the potential output of which is 150 per annum at the end of the

first stage and 75 to 100 per annum at the second stage(between 1970 and I i/ l973 whereas requirements amount respectively to 90 and 40 per annum

during the same period for the public departments, (pages 14 and 26

of the report). However, the time-lag resulting from the need to undertake

supplementary training means that there is no possible risk of overproduc- tion.

12. Is it, on this account, desirable to place the provision of seven MW AAr AAm

additional.ininjsecondary schools (page 31)A among the priorities? It 6T t. 40 .

would appear that these are intended rather, to satisfy a certaini demand

on the part of the local population. The recommendation wvi-t-regar'd to 'AS' ''4A

S therefore appears opportune, especially as these

secondary schools, even with boarding accommodation, would be poorly attended

if one calculates the numbers of pupils in terms of those leaving primary Vj~ ~~(4' (me ILk~lep.4r.tf euMv' schooliand at the rate avwhich they now arrive in the eM tb-ga4 (about

,A~ ' 200 pupilsfin the case of the largest of these secondary schools, at Nema

and Kiffa).

13. The training of office workers, on the other hand, is an urgent and

overriding need, for requirements are said to amount to4,900 during the

1966-76 period , although no training center exists. These could be

trained either, and preferably, in a separate center financed by the 1 Not including the teachers trained in separate training colleges. 2/ Mauritania: Outline of a Four-Year Development Program, IBRD November, 1968. -10-

Government, but run by those using it, or in a section of the technical lyc6e provided that a practical training course was included in the l/ instruction; these operations would call for little investment (page

32 of the report).

III. Conclusions

14. It appears reasonable to recommend first and foremost that a pilot project should be started for the provision of primary education by radio. The scheme would be limited to five years and would relate to one sub-prefecture. Its purpose would be to develop an inexpensive method of primary education, better adapted (to Mauritanian conditions), which could later be expanded in such a way as to make an effective contribution to the country's economic and social development, in the manner set forth in

Section I of this memorandum.

l/ Other methods of procedure have not given particularly satisfactory results, because of the lack of practical training. PROGRAMME DES NATIONS UNIES -UNITEb NATiONSP POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT DEVELOPMENT. PROGRAMME

Angle Avenue Urhain Blae *t Rue de Mbnes

- - 32=-05 - RABAT - CHELLAN MAROC 324-86

R dfdm-ce ADR. T9L2GRAPHIQU: RM'rence -UNDEVPRO RABAT

Ie 17 avril 1970-

Cher Monsieur,

Comme convenu, e vous adresse ce jour quatre exemplaires de l'avant-projet de rApport sur la situation du systbme dducatif en Mauritanie. J'espbre que le contenu rdpo rda h votre attente mais je vous saurais gr6,de me signaler les chapitres qui devraient 'tre ddvelopp4s, de fnanibre h ce qu 'je puisse emporter la documentation n~cessaire loreque voT voudrez bien me convoquer. J'espbre aussi que la mission se sera bien termin6e pour vous et que les incidents de. vol ne vous auront plus retard4. Pour votre information je croiT utile de vous signaler que la r4daction du rapport a pris deux semaines (trbs remplies) et sa pr6sepitation une semaine. En rentrant h Rabat, la Banque a mis h ma disposition 450 dollars en chbques de voyage dont dix ont 4t6 n6cessaires pour payer es frais d'dmission. J'adresse ce jour h M. Van Vliet, h la Division du

Fancement. h 1'UNESCO, deux exemplqires de l'avant-projet. \ Puis-je vous demander:. I d'accuser r4ception des rapports de me fixer sur le calendrierlde travail pour la suite de la mission; -. ' de me faire connattre ,lea formalits remplir quantq aui justifications des frais de voyage ? Dans, 'attente de vos directives et du plaisir de vous revoir, je'yous prie de me croire, her Monsieur, votre bien cordialemenp d6vou6.

Monsieur Bachman . R. Vanwaeyenberghe Division Afrique - B.I.R.D. 1818 H Street NW Washington D '20433 Washington

-,A! 1O2MNO. ?7.04 IBRD LANGUAG SERC DIVISION CONTROL No. W 0 ATE: ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: DEPT R NS OR:

United Nations Developiumt Program Rabat, Morocco.

April 17, 1970 -ef. I3aD Mission to Mauritania

Mr. W. Van liet Financing Division Planning Department UMCo, Place de Fontenoy 75 - Paris 7e"e Dear Mr. Van Vliets I have pleasure in sending you today two copies of the praliminary draft of W report on the state of education in Mauritania and giving you a few indications as to how sW mission was carried out.

After entering into explanations with the Moroccan authorities I was able to leave Rabat on Thursday March 12 as arranged, and took advantage of the call at Dakar to ecnsult the documents available at the Regional Center, where Messrs. Henmion and %dart gave me a great deal of help.

I met the Mission Chief, Mr. 3anhman, again on Saturday the l4th at the airport, *en leaving for Nouakohott, *here I ramined until Tuesday the 24th, the date at nW return to Rabet.

The draft took tuo weeks to write, its presentation (typinL, correo- tions and running off) one week. I am today sending 3 copies of the study -t Mr. acman and shall await his instrwctions, or yours, with regard to contining he mission.

I duly received the airline tickets Pt the Air France agency; Mr. aghmin remitted V50 to me at Dakar and, on my return to Rabat, the 30k placed 'tJk5, in traveller's cheoks et "1 disposal, less 1O in res- poet of the cost of issue i.e. UJ0. I shall await further instruotions before organising the transfer to Washington, if possible in the first hal of May, and oubstitting -2-

te expass account. I trust that I hoe wried out this mission ib aooordane with yar wishes, and awaiting ywur numw, I remain,

Sinoeelyyours,

L. Vayasyger e -3-

DMA1M RIMARDID MR. YAW USA!RPORV MON RM MMSSOM TO TIM !IAlr, RMIC|L Or MURTTAND (MJM-APRTL 127n)

I. dueation of the M!A.9

1. T the forthooming Mouritmian rour-Ter Fulan 1970-74, the main stress will be laid on activities In the agrioultural sector, to whiah 90% of the population belongs - "The cattle breeder, the farmer and the small raftwan mst becoe real prodecers - determining factors in the

national econoW. The World Bank Report shous that the principal effort in this field 4Ill have to be directed tcemrdes

- increasing cattle prodwation,

- growing more foodstuffs, and - introducing new industrial cropm.

At long term such a davelopastt will demnd fra the rural population, at one and the same time, a prbaund social change and an economic revolution,

ouch as to raise the status of that population from tat af subsistenee cattle breeders and farmer looked in a feEdal qto, to a level at %ich

they are "real producers", onscious of contributing to the sotuaomia life of the country. IMmense effort. in Vw sphere of eodoation will therefore

be required.

2. We find that 2.6 of the total populatin attend. primary school, or, in ether words, 13% of the corresponding age group, even though Mauritania spends 20 of its national budget and 3.7% of its Gross National Produet

"Report on the State of the Wauritanian Nation" submitted to the National Assembly on Hovaeubr 28, 1969 by the President of the Isamic epublic of Mauritania. yauritnias cutin of a Four-Tear Developient Program, Irm, N*veor 1968. on edacation, with priory education accounting for 60% of the suns appropriated for this purpose. The population, 80% of whih consists of nnaids, is in point ot fact, ar very scattered one (averaging one prse per kmi) and distributed in very wmll units: Thus 60% of the population live in group of fewer than 200 people (the average sise of a nad euasoonpt is appreaoxwtely 50) and 9% in griaps of fewer than 1,000 persons. This being so, eduation on coven UAl linea, i.e. with a school and teachers, is often impossible, the qualty being medioare and the cost invariably hil$.

3. The mual number of Mauritanian obildres attending primary school does not appear to be dae entirely to the noindio way of lie and to the fact that the popalatiM is scattered geogpaphical2y. The archaie structure of co munities and, the hostility of the leading religious and traditional tribal figures, towards a form of teaching that do*s not ccnutma to Tulmai oultur. and to the national eswironment, and which still bears the stsap of the Western ocloniser, are, in all probability, largely responsible for the lo level of dumand for primeary schooling imanifested by the population. Alongside the primary schools, overlooked tv' the edaetors and statisticians, there is the Koranic system at teaching, and this, although ill-adepted to the modern worl* - a fact that weaken. any contribution it mitt ake to economicaland social progress - is scoepted by the majority of the papalation becase it matches the YAritaaian culture, traditions and way of life. 4. Finally, modern prtry edmatioa stI bears, as a Isgaey from ooloial days, the character of an institation that propwes papils for - 5 - a civil service career. If only a small migber of places have to be filled, why. send children to school, merely to make the potential uenplaepd? The idea that this edcation may provide the iniLvideal who has had to benefit of it ith a higher income as a farmer, cattle breeder -or m11 craftsan is still quite foreign to the vast bulk of the population, hente th fear ot expndin primary education to an eceessive degree in a country dher. theqprospects of paid eaploMent are limited - and also the idea of patt ff the evil dq by providUg school-leevers with supplementary trainift by arranging adult education courses or seting up new secondary schools in rural areas to satisfy public demand.

5. It therefore appears neceseary, in the inteests Ot the conutRy1 s economic and social development, to bring about a rapid increase in the smber of people attending primary school and, on this aceont sial- teneously to effect a shap reduction in the east per head, adapt the content and methods of such education 'to islamic culture and to the national environment ond, finally, lift it out of its present context, which ties this systen of education to training for the Civil Service and for office work. 6. There does appear to be one possible means of solving this problem, and this is by makig use of radio. Tn a nomdie envtary, radio has sod a considerable impact and achieved rapid success, since it represents a link with the outside world. Access to infarmation enables the nomadie stookraiser to aevil himelf of fresh , opportunities (knolege of the rains for esmpla), protects him from the mehinations of those who use their knomledge to exploit him and, finally, provides bin with same dis- .6-

traction from the boredan of everyday life. To give only one exmp1. the RTE demographers mho conducted a survey in Mauritania in 1964 were most surprised to find that all the tribes they visited were per. fectly well aware of the purpose of and procedures used in the survey and took a great interest in it, as the result of a series of broadeastr that had previously been given by Radio Mauritania. The interest is there then, the transistor radio set is in very general use, and the introduction of primary education courses by radio may well have some chanoe of success. Such instruction could reach the smllest eneampment, and would cost very little if use was made, not of primary-school teachers but of volunteer Instruetors with some ability to read and -eak one of the two national languages, and to who the State or the comnnity night possibly pay a modest salary. Finally, adaptation of the educational content would probably be easier, since we should be dealing both with a new venture and with a program broadcast by a single team for the entire country.

7. It would be necessary, to begin with, to perfect the method to be teed, during a first phase of about hree years and within the framework of a Xiot MJect. Only in the light of the results of such a project, provided always that these results were thorably appraised throughout, would it be possible to decide hether the project should or should not be expanded in the course of a second phase. This project might, to start with, be carried out in a sub-prefectore in the neighborhood of NOTUA!CWYTT and in another, more distant, sub-prefecture, ebosen so as to involve, at one and the same time te cuTra's two cultural groupe, the Moors (Mmures) on the mi Republic of Mauritania. Demographic pae9ey 196L-65( Octcber 1966,, pages 90-91)j . - 7 - one hand and the non-igants (%dentaires) on the other. The experiment would deal with coa,)nities having no primary school, but the results obtained d have to be evaluated by comparing them with thooe found in the aae ofasmle classes chosen in existing rchools. Two languager of instruction would probably hay. to be offered, Arabic and Freneh, the cinwities concerned choosing one or other of the languages, in accordance with their wishes ad depending on the instructor available. 8. These educational broadcasts would be ouplwmmnted by the distribation (or by the sale at a low price) of instructional booklets and by transmissions intended for volunteer instructors. A sywtem of travelling in- spectors would be organised to evaluate the results obtained. During the second phase, adult education could be associated with the operation, and this might take the form of broadcasts dealing with improvements in agriculture, stockraising and local handicrafts that could be affected by employing tried and tested methods that were feasible locally, and by available using material and products Me the spot.

9. The first year would be devoted to preparing the broadcasts (using experimental groups of pupils) and to drawing up booklets for the first year of study, the second year to broadcasting this program and preparing the transmissions and booklets for the second year of studies, which would be broadcast during the third year, after wihich, depending upon the results of the continuous appraisal that forms an integral part of the soheue, a decision sould be taken as to whether the operation should be extended, modified or closed down. It would appear desirable for such an operation f In order to avoid the politi.a1 prob1 ems that would inevitably arise with the non-migrant populations in the Fouth Aif the instruction were to be broadcast.in Aftbie only. / Who might be a literate local person, a Koranie schoolmaster (fqih) etc. - 8 -

to be entrusted to the Teaching Center which would, simltaneously, need to be renovated, equipped and provided with additional technical assivtoe. 10. Cost of the operation (very approximate estimat., according to The

New Media: NeHo to ?ucational Planners IIEP, 1967): Tile iCFAY

a) Ivestments

Production and distribution (?or figures please see pae 3 of original) Boi*1etw Renovation and equipment of the Teaching Center

b) Technical assisoaece reqgirod more particularly in connoction with preparing prograos and broadftets, booklets, training programs for voluntary instructors, inspection nd appraisal) 8 x 3 - 24 man-years. c) 2pration Production and distribution, per ans . Operation of the Teaching Center

Training courses, inspection, etc. (including salaries of the opposite numbers of the experts).

A more detailed study would have to be xade at te time of preparing

Ue projeet. The most difficult problems would doubtles. be the development of the programs and the recruitaent of experts.

II. The trainiMg of staff

11. Tn view of the underdeveloped condition of primary ed'zation and

the low standard of living of the raral masses, no oonsideration can at -9-

preseOt be given to secondary e*d4ation in muritania exe pt for the pr- pose of training staff. There are at the znoent 3,000 papils in sendss7 schools, the potential ostpat af ikiih is 150 per n at thb end of the first stage and 75 to 100 par amm at the second stage between 3,970 and 1973, whereas requirements mnt respeetively to 90 and 40 per annum during the same period for the pUli departments alone (pages 1J and 26 e1 of th. report). Uowever, the tine-lg resulting from the need to undrtake smpplementary training means that there is no possible risk of overproduce tion. 12. Is it, on this acoant, desirable to place the provision of seven additional rural seondary schools (page 31) mng the priorities? It would appear that these are intended rather, to satisfy ascertain demand on the part of the loeal population. The recoendation vith reprd to suppleauntary studies therefore appears opportune, especially a these secondary schools, eeen with boarding acomodation, would be poorly attended it one aalculates the wj.erts of papils in term of those lwving primary aohool. and at the rate at which they now arrive in the sixth G-ade (about 200 pApils in the ease of the largest of these secondary schools, at Ae and T 'fa). 13. The training of offiee workers, on the other hand, is an urgent and cverriding need, for requirments are - said to unt to31,900 during the

1966-76 period , although no training center exista. These could be trained either, ond preferably, in a separate center finaned by the 1 Not including the teachers trained in separate trAining colleges. Mauritania: Outline of a Four-Tear Devalopaent Program, ITMD Novmber, 196. -10-

Goverment, but run by those using it, or in a section of the technical lyche provided that a practical training course vas included in the instruction; these operations would call for little investment (page

32 of the report). II. Conclusions

14. It appears reasonable to recomnend first and foremost that a pilot project :should be started for the provision of primary education by radio. The echeme would be limited to five years and would relate to one sub-prefecture. Its purpose would be to develop .*n inexpensive method of primary education, better adapted (to Yuritanian conditions), which could later be Papanded in such a way as to wiake an effective contribution to the country ta economic and aocial developrent, in the manner set forth in

Section I of this memorandcn.

Other methods of procedure have not given particularly satisfactory results, beeause of the lack of practical training. Heins Bo Bacbmann March S, 1970 Bruce IL Cheek -

Mauritania - Term. of Reference of the Economic fission in lareh-April

1. On or about March 2 you win arrive In Mauritania for a period of about four weeks as chief of an economic mission. A list of .mission members is provided in Annex 1. To the extent necessary you and other mission members will have discussions wiih aid officials in Europe (FAC, FED, FAO, etc. ) on your way back to headquarters.

2. The purpose of the mission is (1) Review of recent economic developments and identification of th;naor constraints on progress. This review should include an evaluation of the machinery and procedures for decisionr making by the government in the economic field. (ii) Assessment of development prospects during 1970- r'. Examination of the sise of the government's draft development plan for this period in the light of the country's absorptive capacity and the availability of domestic and foreign financial resources. (iii) Identification to the extent possible of high priority jects and recom=endtions on reinvestment studies necessary for-the - preparation of pro ect. 3. During the first two weeks after your return you will formulate the mission's preliminary findings in a Wrief back-to-office report. The full report of the mission will consist of a main report and separate annexes on livestock, fishing, education and eventually agriculture. The draft of the main report and of the annexes should be completed and discussed with the Department's Chief Economist before the end of Jul3y.

4. The draft report will be submitted to the Economic Committee for review together with the draft CPP in Octobero, 5. After leaving Nkuritania, you will proceed to Dakar for two days to discuss, together with lb. Jansen, the draft economio report on Senegal with the Senegalese, autborities.

Wiwi 44# 1. Irving S. Friedman 6. '0. HursitCalika Western Africa 2* Roger Chaufournier 7. s - 3. John H. Adler 4. Andrew M. Kamarc4/ 8. James B. Hendry Alexander Stevenson 9. John W. P. Jaffe

5. John C. ds'wide. 10. Yrtijn'PaJmans Wr. Je J. Stewart October 20, 1969 NA~male D, Revat

RAEIdiA - Eduation P,iMt3 Enclosed for your WnfOuMUa n and CAMMnt6 are deecr.pttns of general tim potential projects in the edationa field (oonstruation of tme currical colleges) and an ascompmqing letter. Total cost for bith projects would be F.CIA 575 atmim appuez-atelY.

m~attvme fV/j(4qK ,L' I i(4J FoRM No. 57 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANC ciq ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OFFICE MEMORANDUM d- TO: Files DATE: October 8, 1969

FROM: Malcolm Rowat 7h. Aan-r-t

SUBJECT: Meeting with Mauritania Delegation to AnnuaDMeeting on September 29, 1969.

1. Attendance,

For Mauritania:

Mr. Mokhtar Ould Haiba, Minister of Planning and Rural Development

Mr. 'amadou Cissoko, Economic and Financial Adviser to the Pres- ident of the Republic

Mr. Sidi Mohamed Diagana, Minister of Finance

Mr. Pierre Braemer, Director, West African Central Bank (Nouakchott)

Mr.-Mohamed Nassim Kochman, Executive Director

For the Bank: _ Messrs. Chaufournier Cheek Paijmans Lutolf de la Renaudiare Adams Bachmann Merayo

Rowat . -. Gir-ism- --.. -

2. General

Minister Ould Haiba reiterated throughout .the meeting that Mauritania required technical assistance more than financial backing for projects from the Bank.

3. Projects now being implemented

Road Maintenance

Effectiveness had to be postponed because administrative difficulties have prevented the legislature from passing the enabling legislation. However, the Mauritanian delegation felt that this would be rectified by December 1, 1969. -2-

4. Prospective Projects

1. Livestock development

The Bank explained that this project had been delayed on account of certain disagreements between FAO and the Projects Department within the Bank. These centered around the issues of:

(a) the importance of disease control in the entire project (b) the need for an agrostological study (c) the need for a detailed well survey (Is the Rosso team adequate?)

The Mauritanian delegation emphasized the importance of both the well construction and the disease control aspects of the project. In addition, they mentioned a possible project in Nouakchott where a diagnosis laboratory for livestock disease might be set up to relieve Mauritania's reliance on experts from Dakar.

2. Education

The Mauritanian delegation stated that it would require several months to complete the questionnaire sent out by the Bank. No action can be taken until this is completed.

3. Fisheries

The Mauritanians requestcd a Bank mission in early 1970 to study the fishing potential of the country, particularly with respect to the. port of Nouadhibou. The Bank argued that analysis should begin from a sectoral point of view prior to the identification of a particular project.

More information will be available after the economic mission in March, 1970.

4. Mauritanian Development Bank (Based on special session arranged on September 30, 1969)

Attendance

For Mauritania: As above, with the omission of Mr. Sidi Mohamed Diagana

For the Bank: Messrs. Guetta (DFC) Girin (DFC) Rowat -3-

poor The Mauritanians stated that the/ performance of the Bank to date was due largely to a lack of trained staff skilled in identifying suitable projects , though several staff members have been sent to Tunisia for training (STB). However, the delegation stated that any reforms in the MDB would await the conclusions of the DFC mission which would arrive in Nouakchott in December. The DFC representatives requested that the MDBsend the Bank the auditor's report for fiscal 1968, balance sheet and income statements for 1969, and a list of its potential projects prior to the departure of the Bank mission.

5. Planning (Based on special session arranged on October 1, 1969)

Attendance

For Mauritania: Mr. Mohktar Ould Haiba Mr. Mamadou Cissoko

For the Bank: Messrs. Paijmans Adams Bachmann Westebbe Rowat

Minister Haiba stated that an annual plan will be completed and presented to the legislature in early January which will be part of The Four-Year Plan, a draft of which will be available at the same time. He also made the request that Mr. Westebbe return to Mauritania for at least a week to discuss the draft of this first annual plan and its relation to the annual budget. Mr. Westebbe explained that the decision rested with higher authorities and that his present urbanization assignment would k-_ phim in the field through November. Minister Haiba then suggested that Mr. Westebbe return to Mauritania in December on his return from India.

Minister Haiba also said that the Government had created a Budgetary Coordination Committee chaired by the President and including the Minister of Plan, the Minister of Finance, the Economic Adviser to the President, the Director of Finance and the head of the party political bureau. The Committee has already started work and the budgetary exercise this year has been coordinated insofar/possible with the annual plan now under preparation.

Minister Haiba also recommended the establishment of a Projects Bureau (to coordinate external aid and prepare projects) made up 'of 4 or 5 expatriates who would spend 2 or 3 years in Mauritania. Whether FAC will finance such a scheme should be settled by the upcoming meeting in Paris (FAC/Mauritania). -4-

The Area Department suggested that Mauritania send delegate(s) to the EDI Projects course (French) in order to gain experience in project evaluation. The Department also gave the Mauritanian delegation 20 copies of C.J. Martin's (Development Services) paper on the creation of a Projects Bureau.

Action to be taken:

1. Write to Minister Haiba on the exact dates and contents of the EDI Projects Courses.

2. Write to Minister Haiba before the end of October concerning the possibility of having a specialist (planning) visit Mauritania in November.

Action awaited:

1. Mauritania should write the Bank before the end of October concerning the status of the FAC/UNDP negotiations on the hiring of expatriate consultants for the establishment of a Projects Bureau.

6. Port construction at Nouakchott

Minister Haiba suggested that the Bank look into the possibility of financing the expansion of the port because its present capacity has already been superseded.

7. Road Project

Mr. Cissoko recommended that the Bank examine the possibility of studying a road. connc" between N6ma and Kaedi in order to divert traffic which &dru, y go to Abidjan to Nouakchott. The Bank argued that the road was not feasible because of the low volume of potential commercial traffic in the area. Mr. Cissoko promised to send a short 10-page report to show that the road project was financially acceptable to the Bank.

8. Agriculture

The Bank reiterated its agreement to send a PMW!A identification mission in late November (de Troyer) to examine crop development and datepalm projects, as well as the possible development of transportation for production purposes.

9. Telecommunications

The Mauritanian delegation stated that it would reply to the Bank letter of July 25, 1969 concerning a telecommunication questionnaire -5-

by the end of October, 1969. An identification mission could not be sent before January, 1970 subject to the availability of staff.

MRowat:jd

cc: Messrs,: . Chaufournier heek Paijmans PMWA Scoffier Sutherland Westebbe Girin Kochman (Executive Director) M I N I ST E R E REPUBLIQUE ISLAMIQUE DE MAURITANIE DE

L'EDUCATION NATIONALE J.J 1 I Honneur - FraternItd - Justice No W ...... N./S.G.

Nouakchott, le 2 2 SEP. 1969 Le Ministre

& Monsieur le Ministre de i Planification 0 B T E T : Financement 6ventuel et du D4veloppement Rural par la Banque Mondiale d'un programme scolaire.

NOUAKCHOTT -

J'ai l'honneur de vous adresser un avan1 rojet de demande de financement A la B.I.R.D. concernant la cr6ation de deux nouveaux Colliges d'Enseignement Gen6ral et intdres- sant la r6gionalisation de l'Enseignement du Second Degri en R6publique Islamique de Mauritanie.

Pour l'heure, cet avant-projet n'a d'autre ambition que de maintenir ouvertes nos relations avec les responsables de la Banque Mondiale, 6tant entendu que les services de mon departement ont dej& mis en oeuvre la requite v6ritable qui sera redig6e selon l'aide-m~neire adress6e par la Banque A votre d6partement en Juillet dernier.

La requ~te officielle A la Banque Mondiale en faveur de la R6publique Islamique de Mauritanie pourra 8tre pr6sent6e par le ddpartement $M4& on Nationale sous un

d41ai de trois mois enviro onyter -A jour.

AI E TEDAMAR PRESENTATION D'UN AVANT-PROJET DE FINANCEMENT CONCERNANT LA CREATION DE NOUVEAUX COLLEGES D'ENSEIGNEMENT GENERAL.

L'am6lioration de l'Enseignement est une gageure de succes. Mais il ne s'agit plus uniquement de scolariser et de former des agents d'ex6cution, il est n6cessaire d'envisager une formation sup6rieure qui ouvrira aux jeunes mauritaniens l'acces aux postes de cadres moyens et sup6rieurs. Dans cette perspective, le Departernent de l'Education Nationale s'attache & donner aux meilleurs 616ments un enseignement de base qui leur permettra d'assurer les responsabilites d'un paste de cadre mayen, ou bien de poursuivre des 6tudes supdrieures.

Le D6partement de l'Education Nationale se trouvait devant le double probleme de l'accroissement de la scolarisation et de la qualit6 de son enseignement. Il est certain que dans un premier temps, les deux objectifs sont un peu en contradiction. En effet si l'on retient le critbre de qualit6,il est n6cessaire de limiter le nombre d't6lves par classes; par contre la s6lec- tion A un niveau sup6rieur est mains s6vere. Si au contraire, c'est le critere d'accroissement maximum de scolarisation qui est retenu, la selection sera importante, mais elle jouera sur des 6l6ments ayant regu un enseignement de mains bonne qualit6, du fait de la surcharge des classes.

Il a donc 6t6 n6cessaire de faire un choix en tenant compte de ces deux criteres dans les limites 6troites du budget de l'Education Nationale sans pour autant, perdre de vue les objectifs de politique g6n6rale dont notamment la maurita-

.. /.. -2- nisation des cadres dans les plus courts delais. Ainsi la strategie en matiere d'enseignement a-t-elle 6t6 rsgie par les deux imp~ratifsi

- Le Relevement qualitatif du niveau de l'Ensei- gnement - La Recherche constante du moindre cout.

Ces deux principes avaient pour but d'atteindre les objectifs essentiels.

- l'am6lioration de la qualit6 de l'enseignement du second degr6 en luttant contre le faible niveau de l'enseignement primaire et ses repercussions dans le secondaire - une meilleure rentabilit6 de l'ann6e..kve.

Le premier objectif repose essentiellement sur la r6ussite de l'enseignement primaire. Un certain laps de temps doit s'6couler avant qua la renovation de l'enseignement primaire produise ses effets sur l'enseignement secondaire - Par contre, d'ores et d6j6, certaines actions peuvent 8tre entreprises pour attendre le second objectif dont notamment la regionalisation de l'enseignement secondaire du premier cycle par l'ouverture d'un C.E.G. dans toute zone ou les CM.2, compte tenu du taux de s6lection retenu A l'entr6e en 66me 6taient susceptibles de fournir l'effectif d'une classe de sigieme. Cette dispersion aurait pour avantage majeur de restreindre le nombre des internes dans les 6tablissements existant avec les cons~quences 6conomiques et psychologiques que cela comporte :

- suppression des frais de transports

.. /... -3-

- reduction du montant des bourses allouees aux 6lves - occasion de ne pas couper les jeunes de leur milieu familial.

Atteindre cet objectif, qui 6tait d6jA inscrit au premier plan quadriennal devient maintenant urgent. En effet le cout annuel reel dans l'enseignement secondaire d'un 6lve est de l'ordre de 171 000 Francs CFA. La charge imputable A la Mauritanie est d'environ la moiti6. Or, des Mauritaniens appelds 6 remplacer des membres de l'assistance technique vont arriver sur le march6, de telle sorte que la Mauritanie aura 6 supporter une part plus importante des dspenses qui ne pourrait plus alors Otre utilis6e pour le fonctionnement des 6tablissements et l'amortissement n6cessaire des immeubles.

D'autre part, la construction de nouveaux C.E.G. serait un atout supplementaire pour l'amdlioration de l'enseignement du second degr6 dans la mesure ou l'allbgement des classes permettrait aux professeurs de mieux suivre leurs 6lves Ainsi, les resultats aux examens, notamment le BEPC, seront-ils meilleurs - et par cons6quent les jeunes Mauritaniens plus aptes & assurer les responsabilites que les dirigeants entendent leur confier.

Enfin l'augmentation de la capacit6 et l'accueil dans l'enseignement secondaire permettra de recevoir, dans de bonnes conditions et sans accroissement excessif des charges, tous les 6lves de ]'enseignement primaire aptes A suivre d'une fagon profitable l'enseignement secondaire. En effet,A brave

.. /.. -4-

6cheance, vont arriver aux portes de l'enseignement secondaire, les 61ves ayant b6n6fici6 de l'amelioration qualitative de l'enseignement primaire. Devant cette pouss6e il sera alors n6cessaire que les 6tablissements dont la construction 6tait pr6vue au premier plan quadriennal, soit achev4.

La rsalisation de ces 6tablissements repr6sente au regard, du montant actuel du budget annuel de la Republique une somme consid6rable, qui ne pourrait Otre consacrke au projet qu'au d6triment d'autres projets tout aussi importants, notamment dans le domaine d'investissements structurels en matiere 6conomique. C'est pourquoi le Gouvernement a decid6 de s'adresser la Banque Mondiale pour le financement du projet de construction de deux 6tablissements : KIFFA et NEMA .

La capacit6 dtaccueil de chacun de ces deux 6tablissements sera de 320 616ves repartis dans les huit classe pr6vues - 2 classes par ann6es d'6tudes - L'effectif de 40 61- ves par classe devrait permettre aux 6lves de recevoir un enseignement de qualit6, qui conduira les meilleurs A integrer en seconde, dans l'un des trois Lyc6es existant actuellement.

../.. -5-

PROGRAMME BIRD COLLEGES ENSEIGNEMENT GENERAL

CoOt des investissements immobiliers.

: : :Nbr: Surfac Surf.: Prix : Prix : Prix T. Code: Designation des locaux :de : unit.: totale: au : Unit. :Nouakchot- : L : m2 : m 2 :F. CFA :F. CFA : F. CFA

: I.- EXTERNAT : : : :

0 Classe ordieaire :! 56,00 448,00: 33 000 1 848 000'14 784 001 HG : Classe Histoire et Gao. : 1 : 70,00: 70,00: 33 000:2 310 000: 2 310 001 Pq Salle travaux prat. Scienc. I 77,00 77,00 60 000 4 620 000 4 620 001 LV : Salle de produits lav.verr : 1 : 49,00: 49,00: 40 000:1 960 000: 1 960 OC

CSc Salle de collection Sciens. 1 28, : 28,00 40 000 1 120 000 1 120 001 Bibliotheque 6lves : I : 56,00: 56,00: 33 000:1 848 000: 1 848 001 S pr: Salle professeurs/WC-Lavab 1 4900: 49,00: 33 000:1 617 000 1 617 001 J x Salle de jeux - Foyer : 1 : 98,00: 98,00: 33 000:3 234 000: 3 234 001

Sn S Sanitaires 1 - 28,00 40 0001 120 000 1 120 001

Circulations 20 % - - 180.00: 20 000: : 3 600 001

:1083,00 : :36 213 001

II*- INTERNAT D Dortoir - Cabin6 Surveil. Cordonnerie Bagagerie Ling. 4 *245,00 980,00 35 000 8 575 000 34 300 00i Douches et WC pour 30 int. Foyer d'internes 1 : 90,00: 90,00: 33 000:2 970 000: 2 970 00 SM6 Salle A manger 61ves 1 98,00 98,00 33 000 3 234 000 3 234 00 Cu A Cuisines et annexes 1 : 98,00: 98,00: 40 000:3 920 000: 3 920 00 Ma Magasin (Vivres P.A.M.) 1 28,00 28,00 33 000 924 000 924 00 Inf Infirmerie avec 2 chamb.iso: 1 : 50,00: 80,00: 33 000:2 640 000: 2 640 00 Ve Vestiaire Sports 1 28,00 28,00 33 000; 924 924 00

Circulations 20 % : - : - : 280,00: 20 000: : 5 600 00 1682,00. 54 512 00

: : . /.. -6-

Cod: Dfsignation des locaux :Nbr:S. i : S. i : P. m : P. unit,: P, Total

:III.- ADMINISTRATION Ba2 Bureau avec attente et Secr t t WC: 1 31,00 31,00 33 000 1 023 000: 1 023 000 Bt Econome avec secrdtariat : 1 : 24,00: 24,00: 33 000: 192 000: 792 000

B1 Surveillant gendral 2 15,00 15,00 33 000 495 000 495 000 Ma 2 Magasin matiriel pedagogiq : 1 : 28,00: 28,00: 33 000: 924 000: 924 000

Circulations 20 % : - : - : 20,00: 20 000: : 400 000 118,00 3 634 000

IV.- LOGEMENTS DE FONCTION 2

Log Logements F4 2 80,00 560,00 35 000 2 800 000 19 600 000

560,00: :19 600 000

V. AMENAGEMENT ET VRD

Cl8ture 500 2 500 1 250 000 V R D 2 2 2 :estimfs' : 3 000 000

22 :: :4250 000

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION ...... = 118 209 000 7

VI EQUIPEMENT 19 205 000 EXTERNAT 3 192 000 180 tables-bancs 2 places 1 440 000 9 tables professeurs 162 000 9 chaises 27 000 9 tableaux 63 000 Bibliotheque-Audio-visuel- Scientifique 1 500 000

INTERNAT 13 477 600

120 lits I 800 000 120 couvertures 660 000 120 matelas 1 080 000 240 paires draps 288 000 120 armoires pendues 1 560 000 2 lits (surveillants) 30 000 4 couvertures (surveillants) 22 000 4 matelas (surveillants) 36 000 8 paires draps (surveillants) 9 600 4 armoires pendues (surveillants) 52 000 Equipement foyer 400 000 Equipement repectoire 540 000 Equipement cuisine 7 000 000

ADMINISTRATION 436 000

7 tables professeurs 126 000 10 chaises 30 000 5 armoires 280 000

LOGEMENT FONCTION 2 100 000 Impr6vu 4,1 % 794 400

Total Eqdipement 20 000 000

TOTAL GENERAL (Prix Nouakchott)...... 138 209 000 - 8- ESTIMATION GLOBALE DES DEPENSES DE CONSTRUCTION ET D'EQUIPEMENT

C.E.G. KIFFA Construction )_PRIX NOUAKCHOTT t38 209 000 Equipement )

Coef. dloignement (1,70) 96 746 300 TOTAL GLOBAL 234 955 300

Imprdvus 10 % 23 495 530 Architecte 7 % 16 446 871 TOTAL GENERAL 274 897 701

C.E.G. NEMA Construction )_PRIX NOUAKCHOTT 138 209 000 Equipement

Coef. 6loignement (1,85) 117 477 250

TOTAL GLOBAL 255 686 650

Imprevus 10 % 25 568 665

Architecte 7 % 17 980 655 TOTAL GENERAL 299 235 970

TOTAL POUR LES DEUX CENTRES 574 133 671 1 3 juillet 1969

Monsieur le Direc teur, Jai lhonneur do me referer A la lettre no 42/DP quo vous aves adress4. Is 12 juin 1969 A Monsieur Paijmans, actuellesent absent, au sujet d'Un financement 6ventual par la Banque d'un programe scolaire inthressant plus particulibrement la r6gionalisation do l'enseignement do 2s degr6.

Ainsi que vous nous l'avies demand6, J'ai le plaisir do vous faire parvenir ci-joint un exemplaire do l'aide-ameoire qui, J3 llespbre, fournira aux services competents toutes indications utiles pour la prhparation d'un dossier.

Parmi las renseignementu presentant un interdt tout particulier pour l'examen approfondi do cette requite, i conviendrait quo soient precisees la mesure dans laquelle 1 projet a 'intgre dans le plan do developpement 6conomique, sa contribution A une weilleure repartition des effectifs entre les divers niveauxr scolaires et son incidence 6ventuelle sur une amlioration de In qualit4 ot do l'efficacitA do 1'nseignement dispens4.

D autre part, J'ai le regret do vous informer qu'il no nous sera pan possible A l'heure actuelle do prevoir la mission d'un expert pour participer sur place A l'4laboration du dossier. J'esp&re nhanmoina que sur la base ds donn~es contenues dans l'aide-mmoire, is preparation du dossier pourra Otre men&, A bonne fin St je rests A votre entiAre disposition au cas A& Yous sahAiteries un -omplment d'informations. Je vous prie d'agreer, Monsieur le Directour, 1'expression do ma parfaite considration.

Daniel do Marst DUpartement do 1'Afrique do l'Ouest

Monsieur Sidi Nohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi Directeur du Plan Ministere de la Planification et du Dyeloppement Rural Nouakchott Mauritanie

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4 * * bpnaieur Sidi Ibhaned Ovad Cheikh AbdallAd 1ouakchott, Mauritan" Jia1 3, 169

Sinwi Translation

With Wrernce to the possibilities of Bani financing and education "rgionalisatonR p gr f marding utndard qsecondary to asst In preparation submission. Also stressing the need to relate prograi to economic development prospects and indicate effect on balance between the different educational levels and potential whether project is aociated with improvements in quality efficiency of and education. zpxredsing regreta inability provide e rt to helP in preparing suffice, dossier. xpresaing hope aide-mmoir will fldelretslur Mr. D. de Maret July 2, 1969

Francis J. Lethem

MAURITANIA - Potential request for an education project

1. The June 12 letter from Sidi Mohamed Ould Chsikh Abdallahi, Director of the Planning organisation, addressed to Mr. Paijaman, indicates that Mauritania might be looking for potential Bank/IDA financing in education. The letter specifically asks us for (a) an outline of the data needed for preparation of a project request and (b) the help of one Bank specialist for the preparation of the data.

2. We would be glad to provide the document listed under (a) above and to review any material available from Mauritania. Considering that Mauritania is not included in our 5-year lending program, however, it will be difficult for us to spare staff for a visit there. Your Department may wish to verify with the auritanians the priority assigned to education as part of their total development effort and, if Justifiable, to revise our lending program accordingly. We would also like to review beforehand Mauritania's new educational plans to check:

(a) how they relate to their economic development prospects (manpower needs, financial constraints)j

(b) how they may improve the balance between the different educational levels (e.g. in terms of enrollments and finance )j

(c) whether the potential project items are associated with improvements in the quality of education (modernisation of curricula) and in its efficiency (utilisation of teachers and facilities, retention rates).

3. I enclose a copy of our brief guide for preparation of projects (Part A) as an illustration of our basic data requirements for projects identification.

FJL:m

cleared with: Mr. Calika REPUBLIQUE ISLAMIQUE DE MAURITANIE HONNEUR - FRATERNITE - JUSTICE

MINISTERE DE LA PLANIFICATION ET DU DEVELOPPEMENT RURAL AL N-E E- f L...Zi. J.-JLa-Jl ; a Nouakchott, le

DIRECTION DU PLAN 4

No - D P a Monsieur PAIJMANS, Banque Internationale pour la Reconstruction et le Developpement, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.

Monsieur PAIJMANS,

Vous vous souvenez que lors des entretiens que nous avons eus : Nouakchott le mois dernier les responsables mauritaniens ont exprim6 le souhait de voir la Banque financer un programme scolaire visant en particulier L la regionalisation de l'enseignement du 2e degr6. La mise au point de ce programme est actuellement en cours et il avait 6t6 convenu que Monsieur le Ministre de la Planification apporte avec lui le dossier au mois de septembre :. Washington.

Le Ministere de l'Education Nationale voudrait, dbs A pr6sent, presenter ce dossier, conform6ment & "l'optique de la Banque".

Je me permets, en consequence, de m'adresser personnellement h vous - nous en avions convenu - pour vous demander de nous faire parvenir un "schema type" de presentation d'un dossier scolaire. Le Ministere de l'Education Nationale voudrait 6galement recevoir pour quelques semaines un expert de la Banque qui aiderait a la mise en forme de ce dossier. Cela est-il possible?

Je vous prie d'agr~er l'expression de ma tres haute consid6ration et de mes meilleurs souvenirs.

V.0 diOt) OULD CHEIKH ABDALLAI

Le Directeur du Plan 3

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E+ --.v4 - 11 : FORM No. j7 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ASSOCIATION I RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OFFICE MEMORANDUM Abidjan Office

TO: Mr. MarttgnPaijmans DATE: April 21, 1969

FROM: Franz Lutolf -; Letter n* 160

SUBJECT: MAURITANIA - Agricultural Identification Mission

I very much understand the preoccupation expressed in your letter n* 113. In fact, I shall be able to send an identification mission out in Jul]7Y',"Tit will consist entirely of new staff. Given the fact thaVtJu.T"yand August are extremely hot months in Mauritania and virtually all foreign advisors will be on leave, I have decided to go to Gabon. The climate there is expected to be at least somewhat less trying and a few of the foreign experts will be available.

Consequently, we shall visit Mauritania in September or October, i.e., as soon as possible after the hottest summer period.

cc: Mr. Evans

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F-ancis J. Lethem

MAU.RITANIA - Thral Training Centers

1. The project items in Mauritania should be reviewed in relation to Mr. Fauchon's (ILO) visit to the Bank (April 1-2).

2. ILO appears to embark upon post-primary agricultural education schemes, supposed to train people who would then remain in agriculture.

3. This is wishful thinking, unless these schemes are closely integrated with provision of agricultural services and follow-up in the fields of marketing, extension, fertilizer, credit, management training. (See my note about Mr. Fauchon's visit).

FJLilm lie. . Bete Ga~n. 4uvh 26, 190

ssaugw J. PWJNMm - OA - 1. Z vt to d m your asnht to the attim0mm repsrt vida Prwridw sa ziteratImg factt abA the !itania odmat*Am sector. 2. An ymu winl re.mbher, we do wot hawe on dwUmai rvj for .4tii-bstA in cur "wdeadg Progrim as a zowate at the "4-W"tai that cowitry eauters with the Melingul myamrt. I do Wonder, howeer, mhetbor eon of Uh face onlWe in tba attachd Pover voQ3A not 3wsty cur lamhing saan Into sme 0groalm- ada ta oducaima in 3=xrtania. I vadld bs cratsMn fer yomr ai~t Ab twe* I 4.

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