Conversations with ADB on early childhood development project to be held in early May

Asian Development Bank (ADB) addressed Azeri Government with a request to conduct official conversations on credit agreement for early childhood development project on May 10 through 11 in Baku, the bank officials told Trend. In this case the project may be submitted for Bank Directors approval in late June (this requires 1.5 months as per ADBs procedures).

ADB is going to issue a $19mln credit for a period of 32 years with 8-year payment delay. Rate for such credits make 1% annual interest, but after 8 years the government will pay 1.5% annual interest

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Under the project, it is planned to repair and build nearly 240 kindergartens in 12 pilot districts. Three of them are in Baku, and other in various regions across the republic (Sumgayit, Nakhchivan, Balaken, Guba, Barda, Djalilabad, Shamakhi, Tovuz and Zardab). Early childhood development project (for kindergarten system) to be executed in 2006-2010 consists of five components. First component includes upgrade and modernization of education for little children. The second point is ensuring correct and healthy nutrition in kindergartens. It is planned to recover heating system and perform sanitary operations in kindergartens. It is also suggested to establish five alternative kinds of pre-school institutions. At last, trainings and workshops for teachers of kindergartens and their principles will be conducted.

Yet last year the bank issued a $600k grant to the Ministry of Education to draw up the project.