Speaking For All Mankind

Nineshift is reporting on the Brookings Institution educational conference sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  According to Nineshift, the conference has some interesting initiatives but the participants are missing the bigger picture:  the shortage of knowledge workers.  According to Nineshift, by 2015 there will be a shortage of 14 million knowledge workers.  Nineshift argues that instead of trying to solve the problem with the inexpensive way of encouraging two-year degrees, that the US needs to promote universal education with the goal of increasing the number of four-year degree-holders.

 Other nations have realized the value of universal education and its power to revitalize the economy and well-being of the citizens.  Ireland is the most notable example and one can argue that the rise of India and China is due to their emphasis on education.  American politicians claim to advocate education but after thirty years of concentrated effort, the US still lags behind other countries.  Clearly we need to rethink our approach and commit to bringing about universal education.