What countries could gain

A new report from the OECD projects economic and social benefits that will accrue to countries -- regardless of national wealth -- if they ensure every child can not only access education but acquire baseline skills to participate fully in society. The skills that drive economic growth are not measured by school attainment; access to schools alone is an incomplete and ineffective goal. Using data from 76 countries, the report focuses on that portion of a country's population lacking basic skills for full participation in today's global economy, which it defines as acquisition of at least Level 1 skills (420 points) on the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), corresponding to modern functional literacy. Based on these metrics, the report predicts that under three scenarios -- all current students attain basic skills; full enrollment at current educational quality; and universally attained basic skills -- lower middle-income countries (e.g., Ghana, Honduras) would gain 627 percent of their current GDP; 206 percent of their current GDP; or 1,302 percent of their current GDP, respectively. High-income OECD countries (e.g., U.S., Greece) would gain 142 percent; 19 percent; or 162 percent of current GDP, respectively. The report also makes projections for upper middle-income countries (e.g., Thailand, Hungary) and high-income non-OECD countries (e.g., Hong Kong-China, United Arab Emirates). More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

Published by LEAP

Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.