The implementation of the Sixth Education Project coincided with the Fifth Five-year Development Plan (1982-86), during which the formal primary and secondary education structure was changed from a 7-3-2 Y! To a 6-3-3 system. The old education system was characterized by an overly academic bias, regional disparities in opportunities for education, inefficient teacher utilization, and ineffective education and manpower planning. The project was to address these weaknesses by pursuing two broad objectives: (a) improve the access, relevance, quality and efficiency of lower secondary education in disadvantaged areas; and (b) strengthen the national capacity for edu.eation and manpower planning and management. The project financed: (a) civil works, equipment, furniture, fellowships. training and technical assistance for lower secondary schools selected according to criteria based on their disadvantaged conditions; and (b) technical assistance, fellowships, training, equipment and materials for education agencies at central, regional and provincial levels.