Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. 2002 Edition.

Overview & Synopsis

Across Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) member countries, governments seek policies to make education more effective, while searching for additional resources to meet increasing demand for education. The OECD education indicators enable countries to compare their performances to other countries' performances. The indicators contained in this volume represent the consensus of professional thinking on how to measure the current state of education internationally. They provide information on the output of educational institutions and the impact of learning, the policy levers that shape educational outcomes and how education systems operate and evolve, and the human and financial resources invested in education. This is as a resource for analyzing education systems across countries. The volume is organized thematically and includes background information accompanying tables and charts. Focus is on the quality of learning outcomes and the policy levers that shape these outcomes. This includes a comparative picture of student performance in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy, civics engagement, and attitudes. Not limited to national performance levels, the volume also examines questions of equity in learning outcomes and opportunities as broader private and social returns accrue to investments in education. Following the "Introduction" and a "Reader's Guide", the volume is divided into four chapters: (1) "The Output of Educational Institutions and the Impact of Learning"; (2) "Financial and Human Resources Invested in Education"; (3) "Access to Education, Participation and Progression"; and (4) "The Learning Environment and Organisation of Schools." Contains a glossary and three annexes: "Typical Graduation Ages"; "Basic Reference Statistics"; "Source, Methods, and Technical Notes." (BT)