According to this report from Oxfam half of the children in Afghanistan still do not go to school despite a 500 per cent increase in enrolments in the last six years. This briefing paper outlines some of the key concerns, and proposes a plan for not only increased funding, but also reforming budget allocation and planning within the Ministry of Education and amongst other actors in the education sector.

This report from Oxfam draws attention to the fact that, despite commitments made in 2000 at the World Conference on Education for All in Dakar, Senegal, rich countries are still failing to fulfill their promises to fund universal primary education by 2015.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, a 2004 Saudi royal study group recognized the exigency to reform educational material in Saudi Arabia's public school curriculum. The study found that the Saudi public education system advocates a problematic legacy in their religious curriculum that condones violence, repression, and intolerance. Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, made public claims that the Saudi curriculum had been recently reviewed and revised to meet the needs of a more modern education. However, recent copies of Islamic Saudi textbooks that have been translated into English reveal a lack of modernization, which contradicts assertions of Saudi educational reform.

On October 15-16, FPRI’s Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education hosted 45 teachers from 14 states across the country for a weekend of lectures and discussion on Teaching 9/11 and the War on Terrorism.

The Institute for International Education reports on the growth of international students studying in the U.S. 

The U.S. education system is not as internationally competitive as it used to be; in fact, the United States has slipped ten spots in both high school and college graduation rates over the past three decades, according to a new report and scorecard from the Council on Foreign Relations' Renewing America initiative, which examines the domestic foundations of U.S. power. U.S. national security is directly linked to issues such as education because shortcomings among American workers threaten the country's ability to compete with other countries and set a compelling example internationally.

The Council’s Center for Universal Education has partnered with PBS Wide Angle as well as Channel Thirteen and the U.S. Global Campaign for Education to distribute the PBS Wide Angle documentary, “Back to School.”

Peter Orszag writes that the link between life expectancy and college completion is not well understood, but they appear to be related to growing income inequality.

Peter Orszag highlights research findings that reinforce the usefulness of test scores in evaluating teacher performance.

Peter Orszag argues that widening gaps in college completion rates between rich and poor students not only undermines the American ideal of equal opportunity, but also misses an economic opportunity to boost productivity.

Peter Orszag argues that simplifying access to financial aid can help more Americans earn college degrees, reduce inequality, and boost economic growth.

With money playing an ever more important role in politics, institutions of higher education need to lead the charge for greater accountability in corporate political spending, says Terra Lawson-Remer.

University endowments ought to be invested in corporations that promote their institutions' mission, argues Terra Lawson-Remer. But for that happen, the Securities and Exchange Commission will first have to require public corporations to disclose their campaign spending activities.

In the wake of a move to increase instructional time for Chicago public school students, Peter Orszag highlights education research showing a link between more time in the classroom and improved academic performance.

Peter Orszag explains how summer inactivity can leave lasting negative impacts on a child's academic performance and physical health.

Richard N. Haass and Klaus Kleinfeld argue, "If the United States is to remain economically competitive, it must do a better job educating its children."

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon argues that in the wake of recent poisonings in Afghan schools, safety in girls' education is a priority for Afghanistan's future.

Richard N. Haass says today's college graduates will lead 21st century lives, and in an age of globalization, the world will matter to them as never before.