Page 87 - Education for Development:George Psacharopoulos University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
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Education for Development: What Policies?c23





                       Is too much spent on tertiary education relative to preschool that has the

                   highest returns? Is too much spent on vocational education and training relative
                   to general education that has the highest returns? Is too much spent on trying to
                   train older workers? Give priority to general rather than vocational curricula and

                   training. The reason is that a good foundation of general education facilitates
                   later specialization and training. In addition, employers today want trainable
                   employees with soft communication skills who could learn on the job, rather

                   than narrow specialists (World Bank, 2013).
                       Before asking for additional money for education, assess the way the
                   present budget is allocated. Are education funds used in the most efficient and
                   equitable way? Are they been used in the most cost-effective activities, or those

                   with the highest social benefit-cost ratios? To what extent do present education
                   funds allocation promotes social equity?

                       Reallocation of resources from traditional uses to new ones is a painful
                   process in any organization, public or private. It is most difficult in the public
                   sector because it requires political support. To the extent politicians may fear
                   that because of the new allocation they would lose votes in the new election,

                   reallocation will not happen.

                   Provide incentives


                       To the extent that teachers and university professors are civil servants, their

                   salaries essentially are based on years of service. In such scenario, good teachers
                   may have less incentive to shine. How are the teachers selected? Is the teacher
                   occupation a well-regarded one as in Finland and Switzerland, or attracting only

                   those who cannot find another job? Merit-based pay might be the right policy in
                   this case, but usually abhorred by unions and not enacted.
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