Focus Articles

In each edition of the GEM Report, the Monitoring Section provides focus articles highlighting key issues that are shaping progress towards SDG 4. Here we provide a selection of these articles related to the themes of the SCOPE website.

Accès

Preschool leadership needs attention

GEM Report 2024

Leadership in early childhood centres and preschools is critical.

Will micro-credentials challenge traditional higher education degrees?

GEM Report 2023

Despite being part of the ‘three Rs’ of basic skills taught in schools, writing – unlike reading and mathematics – is rarely included in standardized learning assessments.

Équité

Peers affect individual education outcomes

GEM Report 2024

The composition of social groups can have a major impact on student achievement, educational trajectories and other relevant outcomes.

First-generation students have it hard everywhere

GEM Report 2023

One group that is not mentioned at all in the SDG 4 framework is first-generation learners, i.e. learners who are the first in their family to attend a particular level of schooling.

Apprentissage

Mathematics anxiety negatively affects mathematics performance

GEM Report 2024

Mathematics anxiety and low mathematics performance are closely linked and potentially exacerbate each other

Can leadership be taught?

GEM Report 2024

Whether leadership can be taught is an old debate reflecting the question of nature vs nature.

Qualité

School infrastructure must adapt to climate change

GEM Report 2024

Two types of climate-related adaptations stand out: thermal comfort and resilience to natural disasters such as storms and floods.

‘Teacher shortages’ is used to describe different problems which require different policies

GEM Report 2024

‘The term ‘shortage’ is used to describe phenomena with different causes – insufficient supply and insufficient demand.

Finances

New funding sources of scholarships are emerging

GEM Report 2024

Non-state actors outside of the Global North have been taking on a more prominent role in providing international scholarships.

Are school principals’ salaries attractive?

GEM Report 2024

Financial compensation is an important motivating factor for attracting and retaining talented individuals in school principal positions.