Released on Monday, the study, by Andreas Schleicher from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), warns
"The time when
"This is profoundly changing the rules of the game," said the study, compiled for the Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think-tank which aims to make
Schleicher claims that increased spending on education, particularly at secondary and tertiary school levels, brings economic benefits that outstrip inflation, not just for individuals but entire countries.
Schleicher points to the "miracle" of
Meanwhile most of the big European economies, including
S Korea has one of the highest
"
education rates in the world
Lessons can be learned further north, though.
High on the list of complaints was class distinctions - notably in
Inequities
"Europeans from difficult socio-economic backgrounds don't receive the same educational opportunities as children from rich and middle-class families," the study said.
"In many countries, the data suggest that European schools reinforce existing socio-economic inequities."
Germany is singled out for dividing children between vocational and academic tracks from as young as 10 years old.
"Those from white-collar families have a four-fold better chance of heading down the path to a tertiary institution.
Educators themselves are also targeted for refusing to change the way they work despite the recommendations of researchers.
"Education in
Recommendations
To turn
He said countries must set up a network of diverse, high-quality institutions free to respond to demand and accountable for their results.
The OECD report supports public
Access to schools which are better and fairer has to be improved and public and private funding must be encouraged.
and private funding of education
Universities must also evolve in a way that matches their strategies to those of modern enterprises, the report said, recommending that they be governed by bodies other than just academic ones.
"
Source: AFP
