Critical Analysis of Global Education Policy: Past Lessons and Future Directions

Around the world, students face challenges at all education levels, including insufficient access to education, limited learning and achievement in the early grades, modest transitions into secondary education, and the neglect of public higher education.

On May 13, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings hosted a discussion on the state of global education policy. Drawing upon analysis of the progress made and existing gaps, panelists examined policy options for transforming education processes and outcomes in developing countries; ways of prioritizing the vital needs that compete for attention and constrained resources; and foreign assistance reforms that could support transformed results.

Steven Klees of the University of Maryland, Joel Samoff of Stanford University, and Gita Steiner-Khamsi of Teachers College-Columbia University took a critical look at the challenges and prospects in global education. Brookings Fellow Rebecca Winthrop moderated the discussion.