Education and Development: The Issues and the Evidence. Education Research. Serial No. 6.

Overview & Synopsis

This literature review is divided into two main sections. The first part identifies key dimensions of the policy debate that will condition future patterns of investment in education. The themes chosen are the impact of recession, the effects of debt and structural adjustment programs on the resources available for education; the implications of demographic trends in developing countries; technological change and changing patterns of employment and livelihoods; the continued degradation of the global environment; the new priorities attached to human rights and good government; and the importance of gender issues in education and development. The second part provides and up-to-date culling of the research literature relating to seven specific fields. These fields are: (1) education and economic development issues; (2) school effectiveness and student achievement; (3) technical and vocational education; (4) the balance of investment between educational levels; (5) private educational expenditure and cost recovery programs; (6) organizational reforms, assessment practices and alternate delivery strategies; and (7) literacy programs. (Contains 234 references.) (Author)