Overview

THE WORLD BANK EDUCATION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN REGION

Education is at the heart of the World Bank's mission of poverty reduction.  It is a key driver of economic growth and is central to forming a competitive labor force and responsible citizenship in all countries.  It is also one of the most effective instruments for addressing inequalities. Our clients in Latin America and the Caribbean are diverse, ranging from the large economic powers of Brazil and Mexico to smaller island nations like St. Kitts and Nevis.  Equally wide-ranging are the issues that their education sectors face: low supply of services at the pre-primary level; unequal access to schooling; low quality of education, especially at the secondary level; poorly motivated teachers; low educational attainment;  skill gaps for employability and difficult transitions from school to work; creation of knowledge society through improved and accessible tertiary education; etc.  Much has been done to overcome these challenges, and the region has made great strides in meeting the Millennium Development Goals of universal primary education.  Nonetheless, much work remains to be done. The Bank has long-standing partnerships with our clients in Latin America and the Caribbean.   Through financial assistance in the forms of loans, credits and grants, we support policy development and improvements to service delivery at all levels of education.  Through technical assistance and country-level and regional studies, we share global knowledge and experience to analyze trends and developments and to inform future policy initiatives.