Identifying common learning goals
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings have joined efforts to convene a Learning Metrics Task Force that will investigate the feasibility of identifying common learning goals to improve learning opportunities and outcomes for children and youth.
The task force is led by three co-chairs and is comprised of representatives from UN agencies, regional organizations, national governments, bilateral donors, and civil society organizations who have political influence at the global or regional level, technical knowledge of the evaluation of learning, and capacity to move learning forward on the global development agenda.
Based on recommendations from technical working groups and input from broad global consultations, the task force will propose global learning competencies and measures at the early childhood, primary, and post-primary levels. (Note that for this exercise, “learning” is not just literacy and numeracy but is conceived more broadly.)
These recommendations will be designed for use globally, building off and complementing efforts to measure learning that are already underway at national and regional levels. The task force acknowledges, however, that the way in which its recommendations are translated into prescriptions for action will vary across countries.
Currently scheduled for release in September 2013, the final report from the task force will include recommendations for:
- a set of learning competencies from early childhood through post-primary;
- how the competencies should be measured; and
- how countries and regional and global organizations can implement these measures to improve learning opportunities and outcomes for children and youth.
To access related documents concerning the task force or to take part in its global consultation process, please consult the secretariat website.