-
-
Today’s children are growing up in a changing world. Globalisation is opening up economies and creating opportunities. Economic foundations have shifted, too, with the rise of the knowledge economy. Coupled with major social change, such as the ageing of populations, societies must fi nd solutions to new challenges.
-
In the global knowledge economy, people’s skills, learning, talents and attributes – their human capital – have become key to both their ability to earn a living and to wider economic growth. Education systems can do much to help people realise their potential, but when they fail it can lead to lifelong social and economic problems.
-
Raising children was once mainly a job for families and their neighbours. Today, as more and more women go out to work, how we care for young children is becoming an increasingly important public issue. Well thought-out policies can do a lot to support very young children as they take their first steps into the wider world.
-
Formal education is crucial in developing human capital. But schools and colleges are not always as effective as they might be. Poor teaching and outdated teaching methods can limit students’ progress. Education systems also fail to cater for the needs of every student, meaning some get left behind.
-
Populations in many societies are ageing, meaning that in future there will be fewer people of working age to support growing numbers of retirees. The result is that more of us will need to go on working for longer. To do that societies will need to break down the barriers that prevent adults from updating their skills and education.
-
-
-
-