Education and skills
Education is the foundation for better jobs and better lives. Our work focuses on what truly drives high-quality education and skills: identifying where systems excel, where they struggle, and what strategies can enhance outcomes. We provide robust comparative data and policy advice and facilitate cooperation to empower governments to strengthen educational performance, create effective practices, and generate solutions to improve education systems.
Policy area
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Policy issues
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The world of work is changing. In the face of digitalisation, globalisation, population ageing and the transition to a low-carbon economy, new jobs are emerging and skill needs in existing jobs are evolving. Adapting to these changes, through upskilling and reskilling, is crucial for adults to reap the benefits of the ongoing transformations and for business to adopt new technologies and work practices.Learn more
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A good understanding of how learners progress from early childhood to adult education is essential for developing policies that benefit everyone.Learn more
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Higher educational levels help unlock a world of economic and social advantages that extend far beyond the individual.Learn more
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An equitable education system provides every student with the support and resources they need to reach their full potential, no matter their personal or social circumstances. By strengthening equity of access, we create learning environments that open doors for all learners, giving them fair opportunities to succeed in the future.Learn more
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Growing emphasis on quality and equity in education has prompted countries to implement assessment measures for students, teachers, schools and systems.Learn more
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How much is spent on education and how it is spent varies greatly across countries.Learn more
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Leadership in education is pivotal for raising school quality and creating environments in which teachers and school staff continuously improve their practice to support student learning and well-being.Learn more
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Modern education governance requires efficient processes to ensure stakeholders influencing decision-making are effectively aligned.Learn more
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Education systems must use robust evidence and creative thinking to innovate for the future.Learn more
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Student learning environments influence their levels of engagement and educational outcomes.Learn more
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The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) helps policymakers identify trends, strengths and weaknesses in education systems.Learn more
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The quality of teaching and instructors is the most important factor for effective learning.Learn more
Programmes
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The OECD’s programme on education and skills policy support policymakers in their efforts to achieve high-quality lifelong learning, which in turn contributes to personal development, sustainable economic growth, and social cohesion.Learn more
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The Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) provides and promotes international comparative research, innovation and key indicators, explores forward-looking and innovative approaches to education and learning, and facilitates bridges between educational research, innovation and policy development.Learn more
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The OECD Indicators of Education Systems (INES) programme seeks to gauge the performance of national education systems through internationally comparable data.Learn more
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PISA is the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment. PISA measures 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges.Learn more
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The Survey of Adult Skills, a product of the PIAAC, measures adults’ proficiency in literacy, numeracy and problem solving.Learn more
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TALIS - the Teaching and Learning International Survey - is the world's largest international survey about teachers and school leaders.Learn more
Related publications
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13 May 20268 Pages
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23 April 202698 Pages
Related data
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DashboardThis dashboard presents key findings from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). It brings together data and indicators on student learning outcomes and related themes, allowing users to explore performance trends, compare results across countries, and examine evolving topics such as digital use in schools. The dashboard is regularly updated in line with new PISA releases.
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DashboardThis dashboard displays the structure of tertiary programmes and their respective attributes as well as completion rates in tertiary education with various breakdowns
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IndicatorTeaching time is the number of hours spent teaching a group or class of students according to the formal policy in the country.
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DashboardThe OECD Education Equity Dashboard is a tool for policy makers and the public to monitor country efforts to promote equity and inclusion in education. The dashboard contains 35 key internationally comparable indicators on different aspects of equity in and through education, from the OECD and other organisations.
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DashboardThis dashboard shows how education systems responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through school closures and other measures.
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DashboardThe Education Policy Reforms Finder contains information about more than 1 600 education policy reforms in 38 education systems.