DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Elizabeth Hassan, Senior Counsel, General Counsel & Legal Services
Strengthening Chad’s higher scientific education
“We’re raising our son, who’s almost 4 years old, to respect the environment. He helps grow plants in our garden, he waters them with us every day and it’s now an important part of his upbringing. We’ve also taught him how to collect waste in different colored bags, so he loves doing the recycling. Growing up appreciating nature and respecting the
environment is becoming the norm.”
An OPEC Fund loan will expand a biomedical and technical sciences school
T he OPEC Fund for International Development is providing a US$11 million loan to the Republic of Chad to support Phase 2 of the Abéché National Institute of Science and Technology (INSTA) Expansion Project to strengthen higher scientific education. The project is co-financed with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and will include the expansion of the institute’s facilities and allow 600 more students each year to complete a comprehensive education in technical sciences and biomedicine. OPEC Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “An inclusive quality education is the cornerstone of social and economic development. Better and sustainable infrastructure, including higher quality housing, academic and social facilities will allow students to focus on their studies and education. We are pleased to support Chad’s development ambitions in the education sector and Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education.” Phase 1 of the INSTA project was also co-financed by the OPEC Fund and is currently in the final stages of implementation. It includes the construction and equipment of academic facilities and related utilities. In Phase 2, six student dormitories and a canteen will be constructed and equipped, complementing other facilities including a 1 MW solar energy station. The government of Chad has identified education as a key sector for
With the Phase 2 support an additional 600 students will complete their comprehensive education at the Institute
national development and adopted a two-year national strategy for higher education, scientific research and vocational training. It aims at increasing the number of students in higher education and linking human resource development programs with the labor market. The OPEC Fund has supported sustainable development in Chad since 1977, providing more than US$125 million financing for transport, education and agriculture sector projects to date.
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