BOAZ David - Tell us more. Which country and what were the specific things that happened?

I think everybody who comments is right in saying that it will not be easy. I've had good and bad experiences and reports. Most westerners who volunteer in Africa talk about the frustrations. Some talk about not being appreciated for what they try to do. In Kenya over one hundred local male teachers were sacked for sexually abusing their female students and there were hints in the reports, that there were many more still doing it and that much of the population thought that was the right of the teachers.

Other programs have been unmitigated successes, both small and global. There are many examples of volunteers teaching villages how to protect their water supplies or use irrigation, that have saved many lives. In much of the developing world when the locals became well enough educated they wanted freedom from their colonial rulers. That is a very positive aspect of education. In recent times education levels in some parts of some developing nations have increased so dramatically, that these areas are now part of the global economy.

My experience with the military is that they are tough, efficient and serious about achieving their goals. I think it is the people, not the fact that they carry guns. I think those are the traits that would help get organised education into many places that currently don't have the resources and that have other obstacles to overcome.

Wonderful article Eric.

It has a great deal of merit. As you say, the concept has had successes. So why one earth can’t it be expanded?

Well, maybe I should say that on the surface it has a great deal of merit, but once you start delving into it you see all sorts of issues confounding this simple concept. The five responses you received touched on a few of them. There are no doubt many more.

It is interesting that Boaz, a most prolific OLO contributor, didn’t get back to you. Pity about that, because he did make a couple of very good points – entrenched interests, which I take to mean religious/cultural practices and beliefs, and the inevitable perception of favour for one group in the eyes of another, where two or more groups exist together or as neighbours or even across borders, be they racial, ethnic or cultural entities.

Timkins also makes a good contribution: There are many causes of poverty, such as corrupt governments, where foreign education teams would not be allowed to go, or it would not be advisable if they were allowed.

But then you acknowledged that it would not be easy.

I still think that there are many situations where it has a lot of potential.

So back to the question, why can’t it be expanded? Why hasn’t the UN given it due consideration? Or have they, and found too many problems with it? I would love to have your thoughts.