Quantity without Quality: A Report Card on Education in Latin America, 2006
By PREAL
December 15, 2006
Latin America is working hard to improve its schools, and is making clear progress in at least a few areas. Most governments have taken important steps over the several years since our last report—increasing investment, establishing and consolidating national testing systems, working toward standards and delegating authority and responsibility to municipal governments and local communities. As a result, more children are going to school than ever before, and the stock of education in the labor force is gradually rising.
But on key measures of success—quality, equity, and efficiency—levels remain low, and progress is scarce or nonexistent. Low levels of learning, lack of performance-based systems, weak accountability, and a teaching profession in crisis conspire to deprive the majority of Latin American children of the knowledge and skills needed for success in modern societies. For these reasons, the region’s report card on education remains unsatisfactory.
Also available in Portuguese, and Spanish.