Private schools as development aid?

Sunday, February 11, 2007


The Atlantic has a fascinating article about the prevelance and quality of private schools in the third world. It turns out that in many third world countries, private schools have popped up to serve the poorest of the poor, at rates as low as 10 cents a day. The quality of the education is superior to that of the public schools, despite the fact that often the government tries to hinder their activities.And guess what: the international aid community doesn't want to hear this. They persist in pushing the existing public school systems even when they are demonstrable failures. In fact, in many countries the teachers get their jobs as a patronage position, and often even don't bother to show up.Imagine that! The heroic, well-intentioned international aid community cares more about pouring money into the hands of the elite establishment than actually helping the poorest of the poor.Interested? Dr James Tooley did the research and has started an institute to help the proliferation of private education alternatives for the poorest people in the world.Of course Tooley isn't getting government money. Given how poisonous it has proven to be, thank God!
posted by David at 2/11/2007