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Catalogue About Publish with us Libraries Sales Open Software Support us 0 DOI https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0332 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Copyright Montserrat Gomendio; José Ignacio Wert; Published On 2023-02-14 ISBN Paperback 978-1-80064-930-9 Hardback 978-1-80064-931-6 PDF 978-1-80064-932-3 HTML 978-1-80064-936-1 XML 978-1-80064-935-4 EPUB 978-1-80064-933-0 AZW3 978-1-80064-934-7 Language English Print Length 362 pages (xviii+344) Dimensions Paperback 156 x 25 x 234 mm (6.14" x 0.98" x 9.21") Hardback 156 x 28 x 234 mm (6.14" x 1.1" x 9.21") Weight Paperback 511g (18.02oz) Hardback 688g (24.27oz) OCLC Number 1370497119 LCCN 2021385930 BIC JN JNF JNK VSK BISAC EDU034000 EDU014000 EDU040000 LCC LB2806.23 Keywords educational emergency education reforms education policies comparison policies around the world Powered by Thoth . Education Dire Straits-Education Reforms Ideology, Vested Interests and Evidence Montserrat Gomendio ( author ) José Ignacio Wert ( author ) Read Online Download Printed Editions Responding to an ‘educational emergency’ generated largely by the difficulties of implementing education reforms, this book compares education policies around the world in order to understand what works where. To address the key question of why education reforms are so difficult, the authors take into account a broad range of relevant factors, such as governance, ideology, and stakeholder conflicts of interest, and their interactions with one another. Drawing on their experiences as policymakers in the Spanish government and as governmental advisors worldwide, Montserrat Gomendio and Jose Ignacio Wert produce a publication like no other, shifting the usual Eurocentric narrative and shedding light on frequently overlooked educational policies from elsewhere. In this context, they dive deeper into details of educational failures and successes, the processes of implementation and investment priorities in different countries. They provide revealing accounts of stakeholder conflicts of interest and the challenges of implementing educational reform during a financial crisis. The authors also investigate why the evidence from international large-scale assessments (ILSAs) has, contrary to expectation, not generated improvements in most education systems. Gomendio and Wert investigate the evolution of different education systems, closely examining their advances or declines. Gomendio and Wert’s expert voices illuminate the current state of global education systems and the necessary changes to ensure long-awaited improvements. This is a revelatory and informative resource for policymakers, teachers and academics alike. Endorsements Reviews Metrics Resources Contents Contributors Endorsements This is the first comprehensive examination of OECD’s PISA surveys and policy recommendations by insiders that go beyond the ideological battles and mainstream narratives of ‘what works’ to improve our failing education systems. The book is extremely well argued and substantiated with a vast amount of evidence and, without a doubt, will be a critical source for those concerned about the present and future status of education systems not only of the OECD countries but also low-income countries. Susanne Wiborg UCL Institute of Education, University College London Previous 1 of 2 Next Reviews From my own experience as an educational scholar in Malaysia, I suspect that many of the book’s insights will resonate with, as well as challenge and surprise interested readers. The book is an engaging read, achieving that oft-elusive balance between (academic) rigour and accessibility. [...] I felt that I benefited most from Chapter 3, on the governance of education systems, where the authors’ close analysis of governance arrangements—the distribution of power and responsibilities between levels of government, financial incentives, etc.—was eye-opening and incisive. In particular, I appreciated the authors’ nuanced intervention in the centralising vs. decentralising education debate, which will no doubt be of interest to many. [...] Chapter 6 then allows the reader to view the task of reform through the prism of front-line policymaking. While framed as the authors’ personal anecdote, this chapter nonetheless vividly illustrates the complex interplay between politics and policy, including the roles of political parties, the media and PISA. It is a sobering account of the political realities of education reform, conflicts of (vested) interests, and the questionable role of non-state actors like PISA.[...] Dire Straits deserves a wide readership, particularly with educationists outside academia, and is essential reading for university courses in comparative education and education policy. Ngee Derk Tiong Educational Review, 2023. doi:10.1080/00131911.2023.2252704 Full Review Previous 1 of 2 Next Additional Resources [ blog ] Dire Straits-Education Reforms: Ideology, Vested Interests and Evidence A blog post by authors Montserrat Gomendio and José Ignacio Wert on the book 'Dire Straits-Education Reforms: Ideology, Vested Interests and Evidence' [ article ] PISA: Mission Failure With so much evidence from student testing, why do education systems continue to struggle? Read this article by author Montse Gomendio [ article ] La reforma imposible de la educación [ article ] Why Latin America needs to embrace a mixed tertiary model Contents Preface (pp. xi–xviii) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 1. The Functions and Role of Modern Education Systems: A Brief Summary (pp. 1–18) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 2. Education and Ideology (Or Is It the Other Way Around?) (pp. 19–72) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 3. The Governance of Education Systems: How They Constrain or Facilitate the Implementation of Reforms (pp. 73–118) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 4. ILSAs: Do They Count? (pp. 119–186) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 5. Does the Evidence Count? (pp. 187–244) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 6. Spain: An Inside Story (pp. 245–268) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert 7. Education Reforms: The Interaction between Ideology, Governance, Conflicts of Interest and Evidence (pp. 269–298) Montserrat Gomendio José Ignacio Wert Contributors Montserrat Gomendio ( author ) Tenured Research Professor at Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Montserrat Gomendio, a biologist by training, holds a BSc from Universidad Complutense (Madrid), a Ph.D. from Cambridge University (UK), and is currently a tenured Research Professor at the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). For many years, she combined her research work with leadership positions such as Director of the Spanish National Science Museum and Vice-President of the Spanish Research Council. In 2011 she was appointed Secretary of State for Education, Vocational Training and Universities in the Spanish Government. In 2015 she joined the OECD as Deputy Director of Education and in 2017 she became Head of the OECD Skills Centre. Since 2020 she has co-founded and co-chaired Skills WeGo, a consultancy on education, training and employment. Montserrat is a member of the Board of the International Baccalaureate. She has authored books and over 100 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. José Ignacio Wert ( author ) José Ignacio Wert holds a law degree from Universidad Complutense (Madrid) and a master's degree in Political Sociology by Instituto de Estudios Políticos (Spain). He has been Deputy Director of the Centre for Sociological Research (a public research institution) and founder and CEO of Demoscopia, a leading polling firm in Spain, as well as serving in different managing capacities in other private ventures. From 2011 to 2015 he was Minister of Education, Culture and Sport in the Spanish Government and from 2015 to 2018 he was Spain's Ambassador to the OECD. Since 2020 he has co-founded and co-chaired Skills WeGo, a consultancy on education, training and employment. He is the author of four books and co-author of over two dozen others, plus several hundred articles in journals and magazines. UK registered Social Enterprise and Community Interest Company (CIC). Company registration 6707027 Books All books Categories Submissions Policies Privacy policy Information policy Anti-slavery policy Environmental policy OBP Contact Our team Vacancies Social Blog Patreon Instagram Bluesky Mastodon LinkedIn YouTube Copyright © 2007-2023 Open Book Publishers. Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license . Phone number Phone number