ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TRAINING AND CURRICULUM IMPROVEMENT IN THE NORTHEAST (PERNAMBUCO) - BRAZIL

THE EVAL INCLUDED AN EXAMINATION OF PROJ RECORDS, DOCUMENATION,ADMIN CONTROLS,AND OTHER AUDIT PRACTICES. A PROJ AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED ON 12/24/64 BETWEEN USAID/B,THE SUPERINTENDENCIA DO NORDESTE (SUDENE),THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO,AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. USAID PROVIDED CR$8.6 MILLION IN LOAN FUNDS. PLANNED PROJ ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CONSTRUCTION OF 660 CLASSROOMS,NINE SUPERVISION CENTERS AND TWO TRAINING CENTERS;RENOVATION & ENLARGEMENT OF THREE NORMAL SCHOOLS; PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT,BOOKS,AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS;AND TEACHER TRAINING. A LITERACY PROG DIRECTED TO A MINIMUM OF 25,000 ADOLESCENTS & ADULTS WAS ALSO CALLED FOR IN THE DESIGN. THESSE TARGETS WERE GENERALLY REALIZED,WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CONSTRUCTION GOALS. TOTAL CLASSROOMS CONSTRUCTED NUMBERS 385 RATHER THAN 660. IN ADDITION,SCHOOL MAINTENANCE HAS PROVED PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT. ALL THE SCHOOLS VISITED BY THE AUDITORS EVIDENCED POOR MAINTENANCE -- SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,POOR DRAINAGE,CRACKED & BROKEN PLAYGROUND WALLS -- AS WELL AS BEING IN NEED OF NORMAL PAINTING & PATCHING. THE AUDITORS RECOMMEND THAT USAID/B CONSIDER THIS LACK OF MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO COMMITTING FURTHER FUNDS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN PERNAMBUCO. DESPITE POOR MAINTENANCE,THE SITE VISITS (TO FIVE SCHOOLS AND ONE SUPERVISORY & TRNG CENTER) ALSO SHOWED THE FACILITIES TO BE WELL-PLANNED & CONSTRUCTED. MOST OF THE SCHOOLS ARE OPERATING IN SHIFTS,WITH TOTAL ENROLLMENT VARYING FROM 1100 TO 390. ONE OF THE SCHOOLS,ALTHOUGH IN OPERATION FOR NEARLY TWO YRS,WAS NEVER PROVIDED WITH A TRANSFORMER TO TIE-IN TO A NEARLY POWER-LINE. AS A RESULT,A WATER PUM P & DENTAL EQUIPMENT,FINANCED BY USAID,HAVE NEVER BEEN USED. THE AUDITORS RECOMMEND THAT USAID/B REQUEST THAT SUDENE AND THE STATE EITHER OBTAIN A TRANSFORMER,OR TRANSFER THE EQUIPMENT TO ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE IT WILL BE USED.