Synopsis The education for all 2000 assessment was planned to combine quantitative and qualitative information for a complete picture of progress in EFA over the Jomtein decade. To complement the EFA country reports, fourteen global thematic studies were commissioned; their executive summaries are appearing in this book. These thematic studies reflect some of the key policy areas confronting basic educators in the first decade of the twenty-first century, no less than in the last decade of the twentieth century. These highly authoritative thematic studies—co-ordination of the research and writing of the studies was shared by various partners including DFID, SIDA, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank and the NGO Consultative Forum—provide rich insights and judgements about trends and issues that lie at the heart of the EFA movement. Each one provides theoretical vision and practical leadership to educational planners and decision makers.