The impact of structural adjustment policies on the educational system in the Caribbean
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1993
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
As a result of a high degree of economic instability, Caribbean countries had to undertake macroeconomic adjustment programmes under the supervision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). In the English-speaking Caribbean, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago had to seek IMF-WB assistance to help overcome their economic difficulties. Macroeconomic policy measures included a reduction in government expenditure, increases in taxation and interest rates, devaluation, the increase or introduction of user fees for many social services, wage restraint, and privatization. These macroeconomic policies adversely affected the education sector via shortage of staff and supplies, the demotivation of teachers due to the decline in their standard of living and higher teaching loads, reduced teacher training, greater absenteeism, the deterioration of physical plants, reduced availability of materials and equipment, and higher pupil-teacher ratios. Since education plays a vital part in the human resource development of Caribbean countries, several recommendations are made in the paper to help cushion the adverse effects of structural adjustment on the educational system
Description
This paper was prepared for a Round Table Meeting on "The Impact of World Bank Policies and Interventions on Education in the Caribbean" sponsored by the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession, held in Castries, St. Lucia, September 28-30, 1992