Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. This book outlines educational accountabilities which are linked to changes in the functioning of contemporary capitalism globally, particularly the spread of information infrastructure as a key technology for monitoring and managing education systems in connection with national economies. The book provides an historical and contextual account of the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The empirical basis for this chapter includes data collected through more than fifty interviews conducted with policy actors located at the OECD, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement's (IEA). It also focus on the articulation of gap talk as it relates to the analysis of outcomes by gender in the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) and the role of OECD's PISA as technology for further steering equity policy in Ontario and within the Ontario Ministry of Education.