This paper presents a comparative analysis of the current education investments from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). It seeks to evaluate what has been the strategic plan from each country in relation to their education and training agenda to ensure a highly skilled workforce who will maintain and enhance economic growth across these prominent economies. It identifies gaps in the education and training agendas, analyses public expenditure by level of training and raises questions in relation to if their choices are adequate to promote effective economic growth, maintaining successful profiles in the contemporaneous highly competitive global environment. Findings suggest that the BRIC countries have enormous potential to continue their upward economic trend, provided they more equitably invest in education and training. In addition to extra funding, better management practices seem to be essential to elevate the quality of outcomes.

Abstract