This, the second in UNESCO's series of World Education Reports, is designed to provide useful data and analysis on major current issues and trends in education worldwide. Written for a wide audience including policy makers, educators, and citizens, it provides an empirical basis for discussion of education. The main task facing education today is making universal education a reality, not just a right. As the world enters the Information Age, many people, particularly women and girls, do not have access to education. Closing the knowledge gap between these people and the best educated people is a challenge. This report also considers education standards and quality of education. Chapter 1 is an introduction. Overcoming the knowledge gap is the topic of chapter 2, which discusses changing balances, literacy gap, schooling gap, higher education opportunities, and cooperation and assistance. Chapter 3 covers expanding the educational choice, including the international conventions, educational adjustment issues, challenges to formal education, and systemic reform. Searching for standards is the topic of chapter 4, with a focus on definitions, international comparisons, and educational research. Four appendices include statistical notes, regional tables, world education indicators, and national reports and UNESCO reports, publications, and periodicals concerning education 1991-93. (JPT)