Education Fast Track (Hansard, 9 December 2002)

§ John Barrett
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answers of 18 November 2002,Official Report, columns 15–16W, on the education Fast Track Initiative, when she expects (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh, (d) DRC and (e) Nigeria to join the Fast Track Initiative. [86124]

§ Clare Short
The UK has prepared technical notes detailing the analytical work which will need to be done in each of these countries to prepare them for support from the so called Fast Track Initiative. We have proposed to the World bank that these should be discussed at a meeting of FTI partners dedicated to these five countries, with the aim of gaining agreement on the way ahead and support for the process from other agencies.

§ John Barrett
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her answers of 18 November 2002,Official Report, columns 15–16W, on the education fast track initiative, what money has been allocated for (a) Burkina Faso, (b) Guinea, (c) Mauritania and (d) Niger following the decision of the World Bank to support the fast track education initiative within these countries. [86125]

§ Clare Short
The international community has agreed that FTI proposals should be reviewed rigorously by local donor groups, to ensure that they are coherent with each country's existing plans (including Poverty Reduction Strategies and Medium Term Economic Frameworks or their equivalent) and to confirm that countries have the capacity to absorb any additional finance. Specific sums will be allocated by development agencies only when this process is complete.

§ John Barrett
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answers of 18 November 2002,Official Report, column 15–16W, on the education Fast Track Initiative, what finance will be provided for teacher salaries in countries included in the Fast Track Initiative; what emphasis will be placed on HIV/AIDS education; how many new school buildings will be built, in each country; and whether she estimates that adequate supplies of teachers exist. [86126]

§ Clare Short
The Fast Track Initiative is intended to be tailored to the needs of individual countries. These issues will therefore be addressed to varying degrees in the proposals which countries are now putting forward. Local donor groups will review the proposals, including 61W an assessment of capacity issues. Until all the proposals have been endorsed, it is impossible to say how much finance will be dedicated to teacher salaries, how many school buildings will be constructed, or what the total teacher requirement will be.