Merely waxing lyrical about the benefits of education will do nothing to help Latin American and Caribbean countries catch up with developed countries. While it is right to believe in the power of education, enthusiasm alone can't tell us how to get more children to stay in school longer, or how to ensure that they learn useful skills while they are there.
Many people see education as a cure-all. They believe that societies can be transformed by pouring money into raising educational standards. But, while it is right to believe in the power of education – indeed, many scholars are convinced that it creates healthier, more prosperous citizens – such enthusiasm doesn’t tell us how to get more children to stay in school longer, or how to ensure that they learn useful skills while they are there.
Many people see education as a cure-all. They believe that societies can be transformed by pouring money into raising educational standards. But, while it is right to believe in the power of education – indeed, many scholars are convinced that it creates healthier, more prosperous citizens – such enthusiasm doesn’t tell us how to get more children to stay in school longer, or how to ensure that they learn useful skills while they are there.