Originally published in 1988. Bringing the world close to universal literacy will be a major legacy of the twentieth century. But the rapid and widespread developments in education that have enabled this to happen have not taken place in a social and political vacuum. In some instances conditions conducive to mass literacy have only come about through popular revolution or rapid economic development, but a less spectacular and frequently less tangible role has been played by a number of international agencies. The most prominent of these is Unesco, which has had the goal of global literacy at the heart of its endeavours ever since its foundation in 1946. Agreement on the best means of achieving this goal, however, has been very difficult to come by, and Unesco's literacy program has been shaped by internal and external politics as well as by local exigencies. This book outlines how Unesco's literacy program has evolved, and by discussing how idealistic aims and intentions have been given shape and direction by more immediate political and bureaucratic concerns provides a critique, in miniature, of the post-war history of the United Nations and related organisations.

The UN is often questioned about its ongoing relevance and overall effectiveness in the 21st century, particularly in its involvement with educational policy and co-operation around the globe. This ground-breaking book examines the four key agencies within the UN system that share the vital role of addressing educational futures: UNESCO, the World Bank, UNICEF and UNDP. As the core of educational multilateralism, these agencies powerfully reflect the UN's historic grounding in peace, human rights and economic development. The history of each agency's commitment to education is explored with critical detachment, with particular attention paid to the post-Cold War period, during which each agency has needed to re-think the impact of globalisation on both its modes of operation as well as the content of its education policies. Just as education policy itself has been subject to the impact of globalisation, so to has each agency had to adapt at a time when not only education but also their own mandates have been thrown open to question. This timely book will be essential reading for all those working with and for UN agencies, foreign aid workers and the development co-operation industry. At a time when education policies, budgets and strategies appear wide open to profound changes, this book will provide a much-needed roadmap to the future.

Based on detailed analysis of thousands of confidential World Bank documents, this book demonstrates that the World Bank lies at the centre of the major changes in global education of our time. It outlines the evolution of World Bank lending policies in education, and assesses the policy impact of the Bank's educational projects, looking at how it has:

• shaped the economic and social policies of many governments, including policies that affect education
• been an influential proponent of the rapid expansion of formal education systems around the world, financing much of that expansion
• been instrumental in forging those policies that see education as a precursor to modernisation
• served as a major purveyor of Western ideas about how education and the economy are, or should be, related.

Following on from the success of the first edition, this revised edition covers topical issues of globalisation and looks into the political debate concerning aid to developing countries. It will be of enormous value to those studying, or working in, educational policy in developing countries, international organisations and financial institutions, and aid agencies.

Originally published in 1988. Bringing the world close to universal literacy will be a major legacy of the twentieth century. But the rapid and widespread developments in education that have enabled this to happen have not taken place in a social and political vacuum. In some instances conditions conducive to mass literacy have only come about through popular revolution or rapid economic development, but a less spectacular and frequently less tangible role has been played by a number of international agencies. The most prominent of these is Unesco, which has had the goal of global literacy at the heart of its endeavours ever since its foundation in 1946. Agreement on the best means of achieving this goal, however, has been very difficult to come by, and Unesco's literacy program has been shaped by internal and external politics as well as by local exigencies. This book outlines how Unesco's literacy program has evolved, and by discussing how idealistic aims and intentions have been given shape and direction by more immediate political and bureaucratic concerns provides a critique, in miniature, of the post-war history of the United Nations and related organisations.

Based on detailed analysis of thousands of confidential World Bank documents, this book demonstrates that the World Bank lies at the centre of the major changes in global education of our time. It outlines the evolution of World Bank lending policies in education, and assesses the policy impact of the Bank's educational projects, looking at how it has: shaped the economic and social policies of many governments, including policies that affect education been an influential proponent of the rapid expansion of formal education systems around the world, financing much of that expansion been instrumental in forging those policies that see education as a precursor to modernisation served as a major purveyor of Western ideas about how education and the economy are, or should be, related. Following on from the success of the first edition, this revised edition covers topical issues of globalisation and looks into the political debate concerning aid to developing countries. It will be of enormous value to those studying, or working in, educational policy in developing countries, international organisations and financial institutions, and aid agencies.

The UN is often questioned about its ongoing relevance and overall effectiveness in the 21st century, particularly in its involvement with educational policy and co-operation around the globe. This ground-breaking book examines the four key agencies within the UN system that share the vital role of addressing educational futures: UNESCO, the World Bank, UNICEF and UNDP.

As the core of educational multilateralism, these agencies powerfully reflect the UN's historic grounding in peace, human rights and economic development. The history of each agency's commitment to education is explored with critical detachment, with particular attention paid to the post-Cold War period, during which each agency has needed to re-think the impact of globalisation on both its modes of operation as well as the content of its education policies. Just as education policy itself has been subject to the impact of globalisation, so to has each agency had to adapt at a time when not only education but also their own mandates have been thrown open to question.

This timely book will be essential reading for all those working with and for UN agencies, foreign aid workers and the development co-operation industry. At a time when education policies, budgets and strategies appear wide open to profound changes, this book will provide a much-needed roadmap to the future.