What the expansion of higher education means for graduates in the labour market

by Markus SchwabeStatistician, Directorate for Education and SkillsA university degree has always been considered as key to a good job and higher wages. But as the share of tertiary-educated adults across OECD countries has almost doubled over the last two decades, can the labour market absorb this growing supply of skills? At first glance, the answer isn’t encouraging: the number of unemployed tertiary-educated...

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Busting the myth about standardised testing

by Tarek MostafaAnalyst, Directorate for Education and SkillsStandardised testing has received a bad rap in recent years. Parents and educators argue that too much testing can make students anxious without improving their learning. In particular, standardised tests that could determine a student’s future – entry into a certain education programme or into university, for example – might trigger anxiety...

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Citizenship and education in a digital world

by Marc FusterConsultant, Directorate for Education and Skills"Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence”, George Orwell wrote in 1943. And in an era of ‘fake news’ and post-truth, it resembles our world today.Democracies are built upon the principles of equality and the participation of citizens in public...

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Educating our youth to care about each other and the world

by Andreas SchleicherDirector, Directorate for Education and SkillsIn 2015, 193 countries committed to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, a shared vision of humanity that provides the missing piece of the globalisation puzzle. The extent to which that vision becomes a reality will in no small way depend on what is happening in today’s classrooms. Indeed, it...

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How can countries close the equity gap in education?

by Dirk Van DammeHead of the Skills Beyond School Division,  Directorate for Education and SkillsEducation plays a dual role when it comes to social inequality and social mobility. On the one hand, it is the main way for societies to foster equality of opportunity and support upward social mobility for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. On the other hand, the evidence is overwhelming that...

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Who really bears the cost of education?

by Marie-Hélène DoumetSenior Analyst, Directorate for Education and SkillsIt can be difficult to get your head around education finance. Who actually pays for it, where does the money come from, and how is it spent are all crucial questions to ask if you want to understand how the money flows in education. In many countries, basic education is considered a right, and governments are expected to ensure...

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