Education Ministers from Sweden, Victoria (Australian state), Hong Kong, Singapore, Alberta, and the U.S.A. participated in a conversation at the ICP Convention on the 1st day of the conference. The conversation was chaired by Sir Michael Barber and discussed how policymakers and educators can work together to uplift standards in education to better prepare students for the future. Questions from the convention delegates were submitted to the panel in writing prior to the session. During the conversation, the panel answered questions posed beforehand by delegates such as:

Is there any evidence that league tables of schools have improved student results?

Is there any evidence that league tables of schools have improved student results?

What do they feel should be the international benchmark / standards for school leadership?

Mother tongue education. Why did Singapore choose to go with English as their language of instruction? Negative impact? How did you sell the idea?

Do you have any advice for developing countries about how to get it right?

Developed countries are not doing enough to help poor countries.

How does Singapore ensure that students with disabilities receive the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled peers?

How do ministers see the relationship between central control and school autonomy?

How far have you moved from exams to something else?

What is one main challenge faced by the Ministers?

Sir Michael Barber

Michael Barber is an Expert Partner in McKinsey and Company's Global Public Sector Practice and head of its emerging Global Education Practice. He has been working on major challenges of performance, organisation and reform in government and the public services, especially education, in the USA, UK and other countries.Prior to joining McKinsey he was (from 2001) Chief Adviser on Delivery to the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. As Head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit he was responsible for the oversight of implementation of the Prime Minister's priority programmes in health, education, transport, policing, the criminal justice system and asylum/immigration. The approach to delivery he developed is widely seen as constructive and innovative and has been described by the IMF as "the frontier" of performance management in Government. His book about this experience - Instruction to Deliver: Fighting to Reform Britain's Public Services (Methuen 2008) - was described by the Financial Times as "one of the best books about British Government for many years." Between 1997 and 2001, Michael Barber was Chief Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education on School Standards. Prior to joining government

Michael Barber was a Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London. His other major publications include The Learning Game: Arguments for an Education Revolution (Indigo 1997), How to do the Impossible: A Guide for Politicians with a Passion for Education (Institute of Education, London 1997) and The Virtue of Accountability (Boston University 2005). His advice on public policy, especially education, has been sought by governments in over 20 countries including Australia, the USA, Russia, Estonia, Chile and Hong Kong and by major international organisations including the OECD, The World Bank and the IMF.