In traditional cultures, formal and informal education systems are ways older generations prepare their young for productive roles in families, economies and civil society. In post-industrial societies, education has become virtually a continuous activity for every person who wants to be active and productive.
Nations now compete to create the most intellectual capital, to have the best educational systems and to attain the highest levels of literacy and numeracy. These trends make public policy issues of educational opportunity, infrastructure and innovation central to the civic and political life of every community, state, region and nation.
The Deutsch Foundation offers this section of the website as a resource of locating important ideas and trends in educational policy and practice.