International PISA videos produced for the OECD in Mexico

Cornucopia have been back to Mexico to create 5 shorts for the OECD (Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation). These examine key aspects of the Mexican educational system reforms and report on the significant improvement in their 2009 international PISA scores released in December 2010.
 
We visited schools in deprived areas of Mexico city and filmed in primary and secondary classrooms. We asked what characterises good practice and how is this achieved? We interviewed Teachers and Headteachers who are in the front line of the reform process and many of the key figures from government and institutions. These include the Secretary of Education, Alonso Lujambio, Dr. Margarita Zorrilla the Director General of the National Institute for the Evaluation of Education and for an external perspective one of the major figures in the region, Dr Cristian Cox of the Centro de Estudios de Politicas y Practicas en Educacion, P Catolica Universidad de Chile.
 
The videos will be up on the OECD site early in the New Year when a link will also be available from here. We hope they will provoke discussion about the Mexican experience and the reforms.  We also hope lessons can be learned beyond their borders where similar challenges confront policy makers, institutions and educationalists.
 
Meanwhile, thanks to our crew with DOP John Podpadec flying in from his Chile assignment and (Dr) Katie Isbester Directing with characteristic integrity and determination. Thanks also to Michael Davidson of the OECD for his guidance and support.
 
Buena suerte a todos nuestros amigos en México.