This first edition of the World Education Report presents an analysis of major trends and policy issues in education in the world today. The report reviews the worldwide expansion of enrollment in formal education since 1970, focusing especially on primary and elementary education and on continuing challenges for educational policy in those areas. The report also seeks to identify continuing challenges to educational development, specifically discussing rising literacy thresholds, various limits to participation, educational structures, and content and purposes. Finally, the report identifies emerging prospects and issues, highlighting in particular teacher requirements and measures aimed at assessing and improving learning outcomes. Detailed figures, charts, and tables accompany the text of the report. Two lengthy appendices are included. The first appendix features tables of data for various regions of the world. The second appendix features world education indicators, giving a country-by-country summary of key aspects of education in over 160 countries. (DB)