Public expenditure
on education has remained stable despite the steady rise in enrolment. The private
sector, which has long been involved in education, has reinforced its position in
the market and staked new territory in software and computer tools for learning.
Rising
tide of students During the
past 50 years, total enrolment (at all levels) has grown twice as fast as the world
population. The most dramatic increase has been in developing countries: primary
and secondary enrolment has risen eight-fold, while the number of higher education
students has increased by a factor of 14.
Public
expenditure remains the same despite growing demand In general
terms, the poorer the region, the smaller the budget for public education. At all
levels, public expenditure per student has generally remained the same in relation
to the gross national product. Yet it is widely believed that greater investment
is required to educate all students properly, including those from disadvantaged
backgrounds.
Private
education gains new ground Data concerning
private education is generally sparse, incomplete and not always coherent. It is
estimated that the private sector accounts for about 20% of total spending on education
and is generally on the rise. This proportion, however, can vary widely between countries
and often within a single country depending upon the level of education.
1-Source: Jupiter Communicatons;
Moe, Michael T., Market Overview and Trends, World Bank/EdInvest, 2000.
2-Source: IDC Financial Times; Heyneman, Stephen P., Educational Qualifications:
The Economic and Trade Issues, 2000.
3-Source: Waterlow New Media Information
Facts and figures
