Today, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published ‘Governing Education in a Complex World’ (edited by T. Burns and F. Koster) as part of OECD’s book series from the Centre for Educational Research and Innovations. The book addresses challenges that educational systems are facing worldwide, particularly in relation to governance and the complexity of decision-making, drawing on perspectives from international scholars. Such trends include decentralisation, readily available information and data for a wider set of actors, and the emergence of a ‘multi-level governance’ system.
The book is made up of eleven chapters split into four parts, covering:
Part 1: Setting the Stage: Governance in Complex Systems
Part 2: Accountability
Part 3: Capacity and the Use of Knowledge
Part 4: Complexity in Policy Making: Thinking Strategically
Part 1 provides a backdrop to the volume by exploring concepts and ideas, the complexity of theory, and the potential of governance networks. Following, in Part 2, the role of accountability is considered, looking into worldwide uses of test scores and their use in measuring performance, as well as how accountability is relevant for the improvement of the quality of education. Part 3 then presents case studies to exemplify successful capacity building and tools for improving knowledge production and use. Finally, Part 4 pulls the book together by providing the means of translating theory into practice, promoting the allowance for risk-taking and exploring what is required for reform.
The book closes with a final conclusion, focusing largely on how ‘successful modern governance is built on trust’.