Vital years in education
The average adult in an OECD country has spent around 12 years in education, mostly in primary and secondary school. Students’ experiences and results during compulsory education help shape the rest of their lives - their attitudes and interests, their prospects for going to university and the sort of work they do.

Why do schools fail some students? Social background is key - students from poorer backgrounds consistently do less well. But much can be done to limit such impacts and raise standards overall. Useful approaches include providing proper care and education for pre-schoolers; attracting, retaining and developing effective teachers; and targeting support to ensure every child receives high-quality instruction.

What does OECD do?
PISA - the Programme for International Student Assessment - tests 15-year-olds around the world to see if they’ve acquired some of the knowledge and skills needed for the adult world. The results offer insights into how well students are doing, their attitudes to learning, and the success of education systems in overcoming factors such as gender and social background.

OECD work also covers research into early childhood education and care. In schools, OECD has examined teaching quality and recruitment, as well as management and leadership. With the TALIS survey, OECD is examining the working conditions of teachers and the learning environment in schools in 23 countries.

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