ABSTRACT
Mr. Secretary/Senator: You asked a simple, straightforward question as to what is meant by quality in the sixth Education for All goal: Improving all aspects of the quality of education.
Unfortunately, there is no consensus or single answer. Quality is a relative term. The goal of quality education involves a relentless pursuit of ever-improving learning. It is evolutionary and cannot be short-circuited. It can be hastened or retarded, but not leapfrogged. Quality of education is a dynamic concept that varies depending on who asks the question, the nature of the circumstances and context, and what one views as the purpose of education, and it can change over time. Any answer starts with, “It depends. . . .” The literature is rich with concepts of quality education and the components required for creating a quality education. A principal conundrum is how to defi ne and deliver quality education in diffi cult situations.
