ABSTRACT
Latin America, compared to Africa and Asia, has made tremendous progress in providing access to elementary education; nevertheless, education in the region is still in great need of improvement. Primary schools have high attrition rates, a high incidence of grade repetition, and are characterized by low achievement standards and poor quality. Success rates in Latin American schooling are much lower than one might expect in view of the priority given to increased access for all. Among policymakers in Latin America and officials within international organizations, there is growing concern about how to improve primary education in the region.
