This post is a summary of a report published, http://thelearningcurve.pearson.com/, on November 2012.
The report provides policy lessons and internationally comparable data on education alongside economic and social data from 40 countries in a accessible, open-source database. The databank will enable researchers and policymakers to connect education inputs and outcomes with wider social and economic outcomes more easily than before. Educators might hope that this or other similar bodies of research would yield the "holy grail": identification of the input, or set of inputs, that above all else leads to better educational results wherever it is applied. Alas, if this report makes nothing else clear, it is that no such magic bullets exist at an international level. Nonetheless, our research, which is also based on insights gathered from experts across the world, provides some definite signposts. Following are its highlights:
1) Finland and South Korea emerge as the "education superpowers" in some ways. it is hard to imagine two more different system: the latter is characterised as test-driven and rigid, with students putting in extra work time; the Finish system is more relaxed and flexible. Though shows that both countries develop high-quality teachers, value accountability and have a moral mission that underlines education efforts.
2) Income matters, but culture matter more, is the analysis suggest that, more important than money, is the level of support for education within the surrounding culture. While there is no doubt that money invested in education reaps rewards, cultural changes around education and ambition is equally, if not more important in promoting better educational outcomes.
3) Good teachers are essential and need respect, there is no substitute for good teachers. The impact of good teachers extends beyond positive educational outcomes and can be linked to positive societal factors, such as lower levels of teenage pregnancy. Creating the best teachers is about more than paying a good salary. The best performing countries attract top talents, train teachers throughout their careers and allow them freedom too.
John Fallon, Pearson`s chief executive, said: "education drivers success at an individual and national level. But when it comes to improving education Pearson is trying to illuminate, understanding on what really works, and why. We need to open up the black box of education data and what really drives learning outcomes, in order to help teachers and policy-makers base their work on evidence." Michael Barber, Pearson`s chief education advisor, said: "we are urging all governments to commit to recording and sharing more data, so that globally we can really understand what works, equipping teachers and schools with the tools they need to produce students who shape the economies and societies of the futures and we are making this data open to contribute to the debate."
2ºSouth Korea 17ºUSA 24ºItaly 33ºChile 39ºBrazil
HDI 0.91 0.94 0.87 0.82 0.73
PISA 541.2 496.4 485.9 439.3 400.9
Pub expend/pupil as % GDP 22.2% 22% 25.3% 15.3% 21.1%
School life expectancy 17.2 16.7 16.2 15.2 14.2
Graduation rate 3º level 63% 38.7% 31.% 24.1% 15.1%
Pupil/teacher ratio(primary) 20.9 13.6 10.3 22 21.3
