What happens with your skills when you leave school?

by Dirk Van DammeHead of the Innovation and Measuring Progress Division, Directorate for Education and SkillsMean literacy and numeracy score, by age and education enrolment statusOECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), 2012 or 2015Moving from the world of school to the world of work is one of the most dramatic changes in the lives of young people. And for many youngsters this transition does not go...

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Do countries have to choose between more educated or better-educated children?

by Francesco AvvisatiAnalyst, Directorate for Education and SkillsWhile Joana, a 15-year-old girl from Fortaleza in Brazil, was sitting the PISA test in 2015, her cousin, also 15 but living in the countryside, was busy working in the family business. In fact, by the time they turn 15, many adolescents in low- and middle-income countries are no longer enrolled in school (or have never been), particularly...

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“Youth are not the future; they are the present”

Interview with Oley Dibba-Wadda, Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) by Marilyn Achiron, Editor, Directorate for Education and SkillsOley Dibba-Wadda is the dynamic (and first female) Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). The organisation’s mission is to assist in “the transformation...

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Improving education outcomes for Indigenous students

by Andreas Schleicher Director, Directorate for Education and Skills Indigenous peoples are the first inhabitants of their lands, but are often poorly served by the education systems in their countries. Why? Is it necessary to wait until issues such as poverty or appropriate legal recognition for Indigenous peoples are resolved? Can education systems be expected to address Indigenous students’...

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How education can spur progress towards inclusive growth

by Andreas SchleicherDirector, Directorate for Education and SkillsCosta Rica is recognised across Latin America as a leader in education. The country was among the first in the region to enrol all children in primary school and combat adult illiteracy. Today, one in two young adults has completed secondary education, up from one in three among their parents’ generation. But, the demands placed on...

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