Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR): The Case of Learning Outcomes

This paper looks at the nature and unintended consequences of the “data revolution” in learning and global assessments. It argues that a wealth of data on learning outcomes already exists nationally and regionally; and... [ view full abstract ]

This paper looks at the nature and unintended consequences of the “data revolution” in learning and global assessments. It argues that a wealth of data on learning outcomes already exists nationally and regionally; and that the priority should be enhancing existing national and regional assessments and capacities. Before a costly new global framework of cross-national assessments is established, all interested parties should examine the current assessment systems and how they can be improved to support schools and classroom learning.

Illustrations of the trade-offs between international benchmarking and the improvement of national assessments can be drawn from South Africa in its ambivalence around participation in TIMMS and PIRLS. There is also relevant debate about national and regional versus international assessments in Anglophone Eastern and Francophone Western Africa. A parallel discussion surrounds the current explorations of PISA-for-Development in pilot countries. An apparently different debate has continued for years in Brazil about rationales for participating in PISA but with very poor PISA results.

The Open Working Group’s goal and targets for education may be nuanced by September 2015, but it is not likely that the current text about education ‘leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes’ will be changed to emphasise the importance not only of international benchmarking but also of regional and national frameworks. This reflects the theoretical importance of CBDR, as well as the difficulty of implementing a correct, contextualised – hence sustainable - balance between a utopian Global Governance of Education and a too opportunistic acceptance of existing governance arrangements.