A conventional definition of Quality includes literacy, numeracy and life skills, and is directly linked to such critical components as teachers, content, methodologies, curriculum, examination systems, policy, planning, and management and administration.

An education system with characteristics that may be considered of poor quality, in terms of current thinking, can be a barrier to enrolment and completion. Families and students who live in difficult circumstances will not spend financial and time resources on an education that they do not consider to be of quality.

According to UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Center for Universal Education, there is a demand, however, for education to reflect upon its relevance to the modern world.  While in the past much of the emphasis in education related to cognitive understanding and development, now there is a need to also address the social and other dimensions of learning. 

Education is expected to make a contribution to addressing sustainable human development, peace and security, universal values, informed decision-making, and the quality of life and individual, family, societal, and global levels.