ABSTRACT

Our discussion of equality of opportunity and of the relationship between education and the economy was within the context of advanced industrial societies like those of Western Europe and the United States of America. This chapter focuses on the examination of the contribution which education may make to the national development of countries within the Third World. The metaphor frequently used is of a column of countries marching through progress: those at the front, the USA, Japan and Western Germany, for example, enjoying the advantages of progress, but with development those at the rear, Bangladesh, Upper Volta and Burundi for example, will eventually be where the leading countries are now and will also enjoy the fruits of progress. The history of most Third World countries must be seen in the context of the colonial policies pursued by Europe from the sixteenth century. Frank (1971) examines four theories, labelled the index method, stages of growth, psychological and diffusionist approaches to development.