Governing by numbers: Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s policy for basic education

Abstract

This paper proposes to analyze the assumptions of the Learning Compass 2030 project of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, aimed at education, with a view to create an international school curriculum through the definition of competencies, knowledge, skills, common attitudes, and values. By using the compass metaphor as a methodological and ideological inspiration, it spreads the idea of curriculum flexibility, lifelong learning, learn to learn and autonomy, and anticipates the needs of students in their future life and work options. We argue that terms, vocabulary, conceptions, written language, and purposes inscribed in the Common National Curriculum Base — High School are aligned to corporate and mercantile interests, and also systematize a pragmatic, instrumental and functionalist character for Basic Education.