Skills for society

By Julia Laplane, OECD. The Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Yet, universal education has not been always been associated with such commendable motives. Take the Elementary Education Act of 1870, in England and Wales. This piece of legislation set the basis for universal education for all children aged 5-12, but much of the political reasoning behind it was military and economic. Prime Minister Gladstone was quick to see a connection between the success of the Prussian army in the Austro-Prussian War and the German education system: “Undoubtedly, the conduct of the campaign, on the German side, has given a marked triumph to the cause of systematic popular education”. Furthermore, industrialists viewed the lack of an effective education system in Britain as a threat to Britain’s productivity. With the introduction of the Education Act the main purpose of universal education became that of serving national interests and the country’s particular needs. Read more...