Many countries are experiencing a growing skills gap – what can be done to address the issue? WorldSkills, the largest international skills competition, aims to help. Held every two years, it sees more than 1,400 talented young people compete in 62 different technical disciplines, from Cloud Computing and 3D Game Design to Plumbing and Floristry. The aim is to show off the importance of skills-based learning and to make technical and vocational professions more attractive to school leavers. The OECD is working with WorldSkills to ensure quality vocational schemes support the jobs of the future. OECD Editor Duncan Crawford travelled to Lyon to check out the contest.

Learn more about the work of the OECD and WorldSkills here👉 bit.ly/4dcVxTq

Learn more about the OECD’s new PISA-VET initiative here 👉 https://bit.ly/3uMb9wX

On average, science scores have been falling globally for over a decade. What can be done to improve the quality of science teaching? In this episode of Top Class, Nobel Prize winning physicist Carl Wieman, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Education at Stanford University, and Yidan Prize winner, tells OECD Editor Duncan Crawford that current science teaching techniques are often ineffective. He argues that traditional lectures need to be ditched in favour of more active learning methods.

Learn more about global science scores in the latest PISA report here: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en.html

Learn more about The Yidan Prize here: yidanprize.org

Education budgets are huge. Public spending on schools, universities and other public and private educational institutions is around 5% of GDP across OECD countries on average. But is the money well spent? In this episode of Top Class, Economist Professor Eric Hanusek, the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Yidan Prize winner, tells OECD Editor Duncan Crawford that smarter spending would lead to considerably better learning outcomes and make societies better off.

Learn more about public spending on education here: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/public-spending-on-education.html

Learn more about The Yidan Prize here: https://yidanprize.org/

With some three-quarters of employers reporting difficulty in filling jobs, do traditional hiring methods need to change? As companies shift their focus from past job titles to specific skills, individuals are also rethinking how they present themselves to potential employers. In this episode of Top Class, Papia Debroy from non-profit Opportunity@Work and Dan McCabe, a 3D artist and WorldSkills Champion, tell OECD Editor Duncan Crawford that it is time to reconsider hiring practices. They argue that a skills-first approach benefits businesses and job seekers, and can lead to better job matches and career growth opportunities.

Want to learn more about skills? Check out the OECD Centre for Skills: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/directorates/centre-for-skills.html

How do you create a classroom where students are actively creating, innovating and problem-solving? A part of the answer involves empowering teachers with the tools and training they need to help students be more creative. But what does that involve? In this episode of Top Class, OECD Editor Duncan Crawford speaks to US Primary School Teacher Billie Freeland and Jennifer Mansfield, Senior Lecturer in Science Teacher Education at Monash University in Australia, about how to rethink teacher training so that teachers are better prepared to foster creativity in students.

Do smartphones help support learning in classrooms or are they a distraction that harms education? A growing number of governments have implemented restrictions on the use of smartphones in schools. Even without nationwide bans, many schools collect phones at the start of the day or insist on children keeping them in lockers during lesson time. Are the bans justified? In this episode of Top Class, OECD Editor Duncan Crawford speaks to two educators on opposing sides of the debate: Matt Miles, an American teacher and co-author of “Screen Schooled: Two Veteran Teachers Expose How Technology Overuse Is Making Our Kids Dumber” and Damian Maher, a senior lecturer from University of Technology Sydney, who backs the use of smartphones in schools.

Bullying is an urgent issue in many schools and crucial steps need to be taken to address it. In this episode of Top Class, Professor James O’Higgins Norman, the UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, highlights a common but flawed response from teachers: “I haven’t seen it therefore it doesn’t exist.” What can schools and policymakers do to ensure bullying is tackled effectively, including extreme forms of bullying such as violent attacks? Professor O’Higgins Norman, who is based at Dublin City University where he is also Director of the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, tells the OECD’s Duncan Crawford about the best practices and techniques to combat bullying and support victims.

As artificial intelligence integrates into the world of education, how can we ensure it supports effective learning in the classroom? AI learning bots and other AI tools are increasingly being used by students and teachers, but not every agrees this is a good thing. While supporters champion AI as a transformative force that improves personalised learning and efficiency, sceptics are concerned about the erosion of critical thinking skills, the potential for algorithmic biases and privacy issues. In this episode of Top Class, Adeel Khan, Founder of MagicSchool AI, and Associate Professor at University College London, Wayne Holmes, speak to OECD Editor Duncan Crawford about the potential benefits and risks of AI, and the balance between technological progress and educational integrity.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is a growing concern for many policymakers around the world. It affects approximately 5% to 10% of children globally and can influence how they learn and behave, including through hyperactive and impulsive behaviour. In this episode of Top Class, Sam Pittis, a British radio presenter who was diagnosed with ADHD and hosts the podcast “You're Wrong About ADHD”, discusses how to navigate ADHD in schools with OECD Editor Duncan Crawford, alongside OECD analyst Cecelia Mezzanotte, who has worked extensively on how to support children with ADHD.

Sola Mahfouz was pulled out of school in Afghanistan at the age of 11 after a group of men threatened her safety if she continued studying. After years with no education, she began to secretly teach herself through online classes. Against the odds, Sola later passed a college entry test, travelled to the US to study and is now a quantum computing researcher at Tufts University. Writing under a pseudonym, she is also co-author of her memoir Defiant Dreams: The Journey of an Afghan Girl Who Risked Everything for an Education. In this episode of Top Class, she tells OECD Editor Duncan Crawford her remarkable story and reflects on life with the Taliban.