SPECIALIZED PARTICIPANT TRAINING

OVERALL THE PROJECT IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. DURING EARLY STAGES OF REPORT PERIOD, THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED: MANAGEMENT POLICES AND PROCEDURES IN THE GOC NEEDED TO BE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CANDIDATES; SHORTAGE OF COURSES OFFERED IN SPANISH; AND A PROJECT CONDITION NOT TO PAY INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION. THESE DIFFICULTIES HAVE BEEN OVERCOME. 16 PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN TRAINED, REPRESENTING THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS: UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGOGICA NATIONAL, INRAVISION (GOC TELEVISION NETWORK), SENA (NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SERVICE), MINISTRY OF LABOR, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, INAGRARIO (GRAIN STORAGE INSTITUTION), ICA (COLOMBIAN AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK INSTITUTE), DNP(NATIONAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT) AND CTC (COLOMBIAN WORKERS CONFEDERATION). 13 OR 83% OF THESE PARTICIPANTS INDICATED A HIGH DEGREE OF RELEVANCE BETWEEN THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR JOB. ALL PARTICIPANTS BELIEVE THEY ARE USING THEIR TRAINING TO BENEFIT THE POOR MAJORITY. 9 PARTICIPANTS ARE NOW IN TRAINING AND 44 ARE BEING PROCESSED FOR TRAINING. ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN CALLED FOR "TRAINING OF HIGH LEVEL PERSONS AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL," BOTH DNP AND MISSION BELIEVE SUBSEQUENT TRAINING SHOULD BE ORIENTED TOWARD RURAL OFFICIALS. MISSION BELIEVES THE MECHANISM ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE GOC AND THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN GOC AND MISSION CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER LDC"S.