AID policies and programming in education, v. 1 : a review of major findings

policy on assistance to basic education and its actual programming in this area is addressed in this first and summary volume of a 3-volume study of the subject. Current development literature indicates that basic education facilitates the entire development process by contributing to the success of development activities in other sectors. However, while an analysis of A.I.D. educational projects in the 1960"s and 1970"s and its current education policy supports this view, A.I.D. funding for basic education in the 1980"s has declined in favor of manpower development through participant training. A survey of 33 A.I.D. personnel showed that policymakers agreed on this funding priority, whereas education specialists did not. The discrepancy between policy and programming, it is concluded, weakens the education sector"s impact and adversely effects A.I.D."s impact in the field. Further research should focus on: (1) determining priorities for educational programming sectors and for programs within sectors; (2) the relative effectiveness of various strategies; (3) technical bases for policy decisions; and (4) the degree to which programming meets policy objectives.