The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) organized a webinar discussion on the state of education around the world and the findings from its newly released Education at a Glance 2021 edition on September 21, 2021 via Zoom teleconference and broadcasted live via OECD Education and Skills Facebook page.
OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher presented the findings and key data from Education at a Glance 2021. The report is an authoritative source for information on the state of education around the world. Education at a Glance 2021 edition provides data on the structure, finances, and performance of education systems across OECD countries and partner economies.
During his presentation, Schleicher mentioned that education system across the world was disrupted during the pandemic. He reiterated that schools were closed for longer period of time in countries with lower education performance. Schleicher highlighted that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are at higher risk of disengaging from remote learning during these trying times. He discussed the reasons why students are deterred from pursuing tertiary education, citing high tuition fee as the main cause. He also tackled inequality in work environment wherein he pointed out that having poor education amplifies risk in the labor market. He presented data on the secondary attainment across OECD countries, where majority of India’s young people did not finish high school compared to only few people in Korea.
Schleicher said that education matters a lot in employment but emphasized that a tertiary degree does not always lead to a job in migrants’ host country nor to higher earnings. One of the highlights of his discussion is his call in countries to invest on teachers and increase their salaries.
When asked about making teaching attractive regardless of salaries, Schleicher recommended trying opportunities for personal development, in the way, which they can fulfill their mission, as well as spending time with students out of the instructional settings and contributing to the profession, apart from providing good pay to them. He shared that most countries spent massive in education as they were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The LCC Secretariat wishes to extend its appreciation to OECD for engaging us in this thorough discussion on education status around the world, which will be more helpful in our advocacy to universalize literacy and uphold quality education at the local context.
Jonnabel D. Escartin