Introduction

This chapter makes the case that, whilst there have been significant increases in both access to and quality of education, much more needs to be done, particularly for children in the low- and middle-income countries. It also highlights that current progress is at risk of being seriously eroded by COVID-19. Recognizing that, in the medium-term, financial resources for education are likely to be globally constrained, we make the case for seeking to leverage more from less – for getting Lean. This introductory chapter also provides an overview of the overall structure of the book, key messages, the potential for deep controversy, and our cigarette packet health warnings about the methodology and approach.