The worst is yet to come

While some countries have already felt the impact of the financial crisis on education budgets, for others that impact will hit later in 2009 and in 2010. Dave Robinson, labour economist and representative of the CAUT, Canada, described the experience of earlier recessions at a TUAC meeting in Paris last week.

Typically, he said, an economic downturn impacts on public sector budgets, including education some time after a full-blown economic crisis hits bottom. So in this most serious crisis since the 1930s, the worst is still to come for education budgets in many countries.

(CAUT: Canadian Association of University Teachers. Dave also works with EI on higher education and trade issues.)