Review education policies
Examine the OECD's extensive research and analysis of education policy around the world. Get a quick overview of key insights and policy options for a wide range of topics in education. Or delve deeper into the OECD knowledge base through quick and easy access to related websites and publications.
Education is complex. Policies and practices, as well as inputs, processes and outcomes, stand in a dynamic relationship with each other. Explore how different topics can be related through a visual network of education policy.
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Future of education
Underlying a host of recent political, economic and demographic transformations across the world is the recognition of their global scale. Thanks to technological advances, decreasing transportation costs, international agreements, and integration of markets, people, goods and services travel more easily than ever bringing to societies both, increased diversity, but also a growing uniformity of experiences and challenges. Migration, climate change, interdependency of financial markets, urbanisation, changes in family configurations, ageing societies, increasing public spending, and growing inequalities are just some of the current trends faced by governments around the world. Many of such deep transformations require not only local, but also global solutions. Education systems are certainly influenced by these trends, but they also have the power to affect them. More
Curriculum & Instruction time
In today’s rapidly changing world, education systems face the challenge of preparing students for complex societal and economic demands. Instructional time plays a pivotal role in achieving effective learning outcomes, with policies ensuring sufficient time is allocated for students to master essential skills and knowledge. Most countries establish minimum statutory requirements for instructional hours, recognising that quality time is key to fostering student success. Balancing this time with resources such as teacher expertise and institutional support is critical for optimising public investment and addressing diverse student needs in an evolving global context. More
Student outcomes
Profound environmental, social, and economic changes are reshaping societies, requiring students to develop skills beyond memorisation and repetitive tasks as AI replaces traditional roles. Success in the knowledge economy demands critical thinking, practical application of knowledge, adaptability, collaboration, and effective communication, alongside building resilience for navigating uncertainty. Lifelong learning is increasingly vital for personal growth and adapting to a dynamic world. Education systems must prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to fully participate in society and address the challenges of a technology-driven, ever-evolving environment. These abilities, fostering well-being, resilience, and social cohesion, will remain central to societal progress and education's transformative role in the coming decades. More
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Glossary
| OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms |
| Glossary of OECD Education at a Glance |
| International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) |
Note
The development of education policies always needs to take into account country-specific traditions and features of respective education systems. Not all policy options are equally relevant for different countries, different contexts give rise to different priorities. In some countries, policy suggestions may already be in place; in others, they may have less relevance owing to specific social, economic and educational structures and traditions. Policy options rather distil potentially useful ideas and lessons from the experiences of countries that have been searching for ways to improve their education system. As policy options are removed from their wider analytical context, it is strongly advised that readers should refer back to the original OECD source for the fuller picture.