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The 1988 World Bank policy study on education in sub-Saharan Africa revisited: A value-critical policy inquiry

The spirit and logic of the 1988 World Bank report resides in the trilogy that is its subtitle: adjustment, revitalization and expansion. In the context of ongoing austerity in Africa, it is strongly asserted that a fundamental restructuring of education is necessary to improve efficiency, effectiveness and equity in education. Controversial adjustment reforms proposed include measures that will substantially shift the burden of educational finance from government to students, parents, and other parties. Such measures include cost recovery and the reduction of teachers' salaries among other things. / If and only if, adjustment measures have been implemented and begun to take hold, then revitalization and selective expansion may be undertaken. Revitalization and selective expansion will reportedly improve quality and access in education. They include the provision of a minimum package of textbooks and other instructional materials and expansion of primary education to provide universal access. / The purpose of this study was to investigate and critically evaluate the knowledge base that undergirds the World Bank study and the technical and political feasibility of the proposed reforms. A multi-methodological research strategy including critical public policy analysis and value-critical policy inquiry was employed. / The main findings of this study are that: the data used in the Bank study are unreliable, the knowledge base narrow, the arguments underlying the policy framework of the report, unpersuasive and controversial and the agenda for action internally inconsistent. These criticisms should not detract from the immense value and importance of the document in that it is the first document that critically looks at education in the crisis beleaguered continent. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-05, Section: A, page: 1639. / Major Professor: Steven Klees. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76411
ContributorsOta, Cleaver Chakawuya., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format242 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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