“Education reform is like a Russian novel - long with lots of wars and brawling, and everyone ends up dead.”

Robert Hughes, president of New Visions Public Schools, New York City, quoting a colleague

“The health issue in the United States shows that the private sector doesn’t always do good things.”

Professor Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad of Qatar, on whether schools need more private sector involvement.

“What our children are doing online today determines the function and form and community of our schools in 50 years’ time.”

Professor Stephen Heppell of Bournemouth University

“We can no longer afford the situation where a good education is conditional on parents’ income . For me it is crystal clear that education has to be a public good.”

Gerhard Schroder, former chancellor of Germany.