Education and Development: Evidence for New Priorities. World Bank Discussion Papers No. 95.

Education has been recognized as the cornerstone of economic and social development. Now it is even more important as technological change and new methods of production transform the world economy. Development will depend more and more on knowledge-intensive industries, agriculture, and services. The continuing economic crisis, however, is jeopardizing the ability of many countries to maintain even the present quality of their educational services. These countries are falling behind in providing the education and training needed by their youth to create and adapt available knowledge and technologies to the local environment. This report examines the relationship between education and economic development and evaluates various measures designed to improve the quality of education in developing countries. It draws on the successes and failures of past educational policies to recommend strategies that address a number of different economic conditions. Among the topics addressed by the report are: (1) the effect of education on the achievements of women; (2) a comparison of the benefits of vocational/technical and academic education; (3) the effect of education on mortality, nutrition, and fertility; (4) management of the educational system; and (5) cost recovery and private education. Thirty tables of data appear throughout the report and an extensive bibliography is included. (Authors/DB)