Besides the enrollment and attainment rates at the secondary level, more specific indicators are required. These consist primarily of three variables: teaching methodology, curriculum time, and nature of national examinations. The indicators relating to teaching methodology should focus on assessing whether the mode of instruction emphasizes the acquisition of received wisdom in the form of “facts” or focuses on inculcating problem-solving techniques and encouraging creativity in general. The indicators relating to curriculum time should focus on assessing the time spent on science and mathematics relative to other subjects in the curriculum, on the premise that science and mathematics represent the problem-solving disciplines par excellence. The indicators relating to the national examination system should focus on assessing whether the national
examinations place a premium on regurgitating facts or whether they