Chapter 8: International Funding in Educational Reform in Trinidad and Tobago, 1996–2002

This chapter examines the role of international funding, particularly by the World Bank, in educational reform in Trinidad and Tobago for the period 1996–2002. First, there is a literature review of the philosophy of the World Bank in financing education. The sections that follow describe the Bank’s financial strategy for basic education in Trinidad and Tobago and the government’s response thereafter. The data show that the Bank applies “one-size-fits-all” policies designed to keep developing countries in a mode of dependency. The growing economy of Trinidad and Tobago has buffered the country from creating a nation of undereducated youth. The researchers argue that local policy framers adopt neoliberal policies to remain globally competitive. Today I resigned from the staff of the International Monetary Fund after over 12 years … hawking your medicine and your bag of tricks to governments and to peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa. To me, resignation is a priceless liberation, for with it I have taken the first big step to that place where I may hope to wash my hands of what in my mind’s eye is the blood of millions of poor and starving peoples. (Budhoo, 1990, p. 3)