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Education and Training

World Business Council for

Sustainable Development Geneva, September 2007

Doing Business with the World - The new role of corporate leadership in global development

The global view

Global literacy

Overview

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The global view

Plot of national adult literacy rates vs. GDP/capitaData source: Human Development Report 2006

There is a positive correlation between the literacy rate of a

country and economic growth.

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Global literacy

Adult literacy rates around the world (% of total population, 2000-2004)

Source: UNESCO. EFA Global Monitoring Report 2006.

Women comprise almost two-thirds of those who

are illiterate. 1

Where are the gaps?

What is needed?

What are the challenges?

Needs &Challenges

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Where are the gaps?

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According to the World Bank, the secondary curriculum in many

developing countries is not relevant to students’

social and economic needs.Although secondary

enrollments are increasing, the

transition between primary and secondary

school still poses a significant hurdle

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What is needed?

Diverse and flexible learning options for upper secondary and higher educationRelevant curriculumTeachers need to be preparedConnect school to workInnovative partnerships to meet financing needs

Second chances are critical

Learning opportunities need to be provided for all, including young people who failed to acquire basic skills the first time around.

-World Bank, World Development Report 2007

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What are the challenges?

Main challenges include:

Additional expensesTransport to and from schools (especially in rural areas), school uniforms, supplies (textbooks, writing materials) often make school attendance relatively expensive

Quality of educationLack of qualified and often absent teachers

Poverty and disincentives Child labour, armed conflict, brain drain

FundingLow levels of government expenditures on education

Poverty restricts governments’ capacity to provide education and drives children into the labor force.

How can business contribute?

Key messages

Opportunities

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What can business do?

More opportunities Provide financial assistance Foster relationships with universities and

secondary schools in order to ease the transition from university to workplace

Curricula development• E.g. offering feedback from the

labour marketOffering lecturesCreating apprenticeships

Core services1: Public-private partnerships for

educational infrastructure Offering adult education and skills

training for company staff and suppliers Private sector administrative and

curriculum support Private management of public schools Government contracting

Core and Non-core services Non-Core services2:

Food services School transport Facility maintenance

What is needed for public-private partnerships to work?3

Public institutions need sufficient autonomy and resources to manage for results

Private institutions need well-defined quality standards

Government needs accreditation programs

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Key messages

Public-private partnerships can alleviate fiscal restraints and improve

learning outcomes and efficiency1For large corporations, investments in education and training can:

Create a healthier, better trained, more qualified work force

Create a larger pool of local labor with the appropriate skill sets and knowledge

Lead to improved capacity and performance of local suppliers

Strengthen the business license to operate

Make an important contribution to curriculum development

For governments, an effective policy framework for training and education can:

Create higher level of human development within the population

Create a better qualified workforce

Lead to improved levels of overall health and more control on population growth

Enable local businesses to grow by becoming viable economic partners for larger companies

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www.wbcsd.org/web/development.htm