THE CHANGING-ROLE OF THE WORLD-BANK - EDUCATION POLICY AS GLOBAL WELFARE

This paper documents a shift in World Bank educational policies target ed at the world's poorest groups. By tracing existing policies and Wor ld Bank documents, a shift is discerned away from an emphasis on the p roductive purposes of education and towards educational policies aimed at maintaining economic, political, social, health and environmental stability. Such a shift reflects the emerging needs of a growing globa l economy for relatively stable environments. Evidence is cited that i ndicates a concomitant trend toward loosened loan policies. World Bank actions are viewed within a framework of global economic forces and t he need to stabilise the living situations of the world's poorest resi dents. The linked and contradictory needs of a global market and those who live in dire poverty are examined within this policy framework. T he article concludes by raising issues concerning long-term consequenc es of the shift in World Bank educational policy.