McKinsey & Company

McKinsey on Society

How the world’s best-performing schools come out on top

Why is it that some school systems consistently perform and improve faster than others?

September 2007
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Changing what happens in the hearts and minds of millions of children—the main charge of any school system—is no simple task. That some do so successfully while others do not is indisputable. So why is it that some school systems consistently perform and improve faster than others?

To find out why some schools succeed where others do not, McKinsey studied 25 of the world’s school systems, including 10 of the top performers. The experience of these top school systems suggest that three things matter most:

  • Getting the right people to become teachers;
  • Developing them into effective instructors; and
  • Ensuring the system is available to deliver the best possible instruction for every child.

Download the report in English (PDF – 772 KB), Spanish (PDF - 109 KB) or French (PDF – 772 KB)

Comments

  • http://www.sengkongses.blogspot.com Online Citizen Journalist

    Awesome ! I’m reading it, having informed of this report from Th0mas Friedman.

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  • Hyemyeghayuo

    every student have their ow personality and IQ.

  • zorpia

    but what i think that there are a lot of other things which are not included in the steps

  • Mo13

    Everyone can teach something, but few can educate (to lead into the light). Educators are artists that change the landscape when needed. All learners need masters of motivation, masters of character, and masters of creativity. Therefore, seek artists not just teachers of art.

  • Yasseralnamaky

    choosing the right people to be right teachers is not an easy matter as teachers get employed according to their qualifications but the real problem is, we cant measure the personal qualities which are of a great importance for people who work in this serious field of life till later on.

  • Mohamed Nasir

    These days the education system encourages to perform well in exams so the teachers have no other option but to teach and train students for the exam. The “wholeness” is ignored.

    • Guilherme Maximiano

      I generally think that too much worrying with “wholeness”, whatever that means, will most likely mean not enough attention to developing writing, math and science skills. Which will mean people that can’t express themselves, can’t understand what they read, and therefore will get only the low paying jobs.

      • http://twitter.com/reddeviljp jaydeepee

        All of the above never stopped a single CEO from securing the top post. You quickly learn that not going to the right school has more effect on how you progress in life.

  • T TYlis

    My uncle was a brilliant MIT graduate in computer science but he could not teach senior citizens basic computer useage. MO13 has it right teaching is more of an art than it is about being the “sage on the stage”