Today we look at some of the challenges facing early level education around the world. But we also consider the power of education to act as a mobilising force with the power to tackle issues such as inequality and sustainability.

Simon Schwartzman, Christiane Spiel and Suman Verma remind us that of all world regions, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of children outside education and consider what can be done to change this. They point out to several issues that plague Global South education efforts such as gender parity, poverty, conflicts and teacher training. But, writes Martin Gusftasson, mass literacy can change the world.