HIGHER AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION - PHASE II (7/13/77)

SINCE PHASE II BEGAN IN 9/76, PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOW DUE TO DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY THE CONTRACTOR IN RECRUITING FIELD STAFF. HOWEVER, THE ARRIVAL OF FOUR NEW FIELD STAFF PERSONNEL IN JUNE HAS GIVEN THE PROJECT A RENEWED SENSE OF DIRECTION. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED THE LACK OF A COMPREHENSIVE CONTRACTOR WORK PLAN FOR 1976/77 AND THE LACK OF A FIRM AGREEMENT WITH INAV REGARDING ITS OWN BUDGETARY CONTRIBUTION TOWARD RESEARCH. WITH REGARD TO PARTICIPANT TRAINING, STUDENTS WERE OFTEN SELECTED TOO LATE IN THE YEAR FOR ACCEPTANCE TO US GRADUATE SCHOOLS. ALSO, ONCE IN THE US, THEY WERE OFTEN NOT PERMITTED TO STAY LONG ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THEIR COURSEWORK. THE DIRECTOR OF INAV HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO PERMITTING STUDENTS TO COMPLETE COURSES NORMALLY REQUIRED FOR A US DEGREE. PROSPECTS FOR ACHIEVING THE PROJECT PURPOSE ARE STILL GOOD. DURING THE PAST YEAR, FIVE ADDITIONAL US-TRAINED MOROCCANS WERE APPOINTED TO THE FACULTY -- BRINGING THE TOTAL US-TRAINED FACULTY TO NINE.