FINAL REPORT - CONTRACT AID/LA-C-1163/COLOMBIA OCTOBER 1, 1976-SEPTEMBER 30, 1977

ALTHOUGH INITIAL NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SERVICES"(SENA) PERFORMANCE WAS DISAPPOINTING, EFFORTS ARE NOW BEING MADE TO CORRECT PROBLEMS. SENA HAS ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES TO COLLECT AND DISSEMINATE TECHNOLOGY BASED ON LOCAL NEEDS FOR COURSE REVISION. A FILM LIBRARY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. AGRICULTURAL CENTERS HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED SPECIALIZING IN THE PRODUCTION OF RICE, COFFEE, SHEEP, MILK, AND COTTON. A $2 MILLION LOAN HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR A MOBILE PROGRAM PROVIDING TRAINING FOR ALL RURAL AREAS OF COLOMBIA. TRAINING PROGRAMS, EVALUATED BY LOCAL POPULATIONS, ARE BEING REVISED TO EQUALLY STRESS AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, AND INDUSTRY. INSTRUCTORS ARE BEING TRAINED TO TEACH NECESSARY COURSES IN FARM MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS. FURTHER, RECORDS OF PROFIT AND LOSS ARE BEING COMPILED, SO UNPROFITABLE ENTERPRISES MAY BE ELIMINATED AND PROFITABLE ONES EXPANDED. ALTHOUGH COURSES ARE BEING IMPROVED AND REVISED TO MEET STUDENT NEEDS,CONSIDERABLE WORK WILL BE NEEDED TO EVALUATE JOB PERFORMANCE OF COURSE GRADUATES. PRESENTLY,THE MAJOR SENA PROBLEM HAS BEEN A LARGE STAFF TURNOVER. BESIDES SENA,THE OTHER MAIN GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR RURAL TRAINING IS THE POPULAR CULTURAL ACTION PROGRAM (ACPO). SINCE ACPO WAS SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN IT RECEIVED,A $2 MILLION LOAN WAS NEGOTIATED TO BUY EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE ACPO WITH ADDITIONAL INCOME. ALTHOUGH PROJECT IS NOW PROGRESSING,ASSISTANCE WILL BE NEEDED UNTIL THE MACHINERY IS IN PLACE AND OPERATING,AND CLASSROOM BUILDINGS ARE COMPLETED. OTHER ACPO DELAYS HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE ADMINISTRATION BEING CENTERED IN ONE PERSON,AND AN OVERDUE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE FUTURE APCO RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE MADE.