Start: June 2001       Expected  Completion: Jan. 2006
Funding: 
European Union Grant:                     $10M Bds. or 5.270M Euros
Government of B'dos counterpart:     $3.7M Bds. or 1.32M  Euros

E.U. Contribution:      BDS$7,510,727.50
GOB Counterpart:     BDS$2,509,914.00

Total:       BDS$10,020,641.50

Project Objectives: To contribute to the overall development of the country by preparing Barbadians for the skill-intensive and multi-lingual international labour market.

Description of Project:

This project is intended to: 1. Provide the necessary physical facility for the proposed new centre and  2. Enhance the teaching capabilities of the staff. The project will therefore complete and furnish a three-storied Main Building, consisting inter-alia of 14 classrooms, a training room, a multi-purpose room for lectures, films, etc., a self-access computer room, a recording room, a computer lab, resource centres and administrative offices, a students' centre and a car park.   Construction is expected to start in the financial year 2004 - 2005. The project also includes the provision of equipment; the training and upgrading of teachers in foreign language education and training in computer assisted teaching.

Progress of the Project:

Civil Works

The process of selecting a contractor to construct the centre is underway.  Tenders received and opened on October 28th, 2004 are being evaluated.  It is hoped that an award could be made and works started this year.

Technical Assistance

Full-scale implementation of this aspect began in September 2004. A total of 44 weeks of consultant time will be divided across the following topic areas:  Language Awareness, Materials Development, Testing and Evaluation, Development of the Resource Centre, Appropriate Management and Financial Structure, Professional Development of   Foreign Language Teachers and Language For Specific Purposes.