FINAL REPORT ON THE EVALUATION OF THE ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION GRANT & LOAN PROJECT IN PARAGUAY

CONSIDERING THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE NATION'S ECONOMY, THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN EDUCATION, AND THE STAGE OF TECHNICAL SKILL AMONG ITS EDUCATORS, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS MAKING CONSIDERABLE STRIDES IN "TOOLING UP" FOR EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE FIELD, TEACHERS ARE READY TO DEVOTE CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. GIVEN A CONTINUITY IN THE FLOW OF LEADERSHIP, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR EFFORTS, THE OUTLOOK FOR THEIR SUCCESS IS GOOD. THE NEW CURRICULUM IS AN EXCELLENT PIECE OF WORK. THE EVALUATORS MADE THREE GENERAL PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS: (1)A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF PARAGUAY'S CURRENT AND FUTURE MANPOWER NEEDS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN; (2)AN INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM IN PLANNING FOR ALL LEVELS OF PERSONNEL SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED; AND (3)A COMPREHENSIVE SELF-EVALUATION AND MONITORING SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH KEY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (MOE) PERSONNEL. THEY ALSO MADE MANY PROJECT-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUCH MATTERS AS CURRICULUM, TRAINING OF EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, TEXTBOOK PRODUCTION, AND THE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE (1)ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, (2)REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL CENTERS, AND (3)COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE DEPARTMENTS OF THE MOE.