Introduction

This introductory chapter explores the use of cross-sectional data to understand global trends in educational expansion, focusing on key statistics such as enrolment, repetition and dropout rates. This research project originates from one of the editor’s experiences in international educational cooperation and intends to offer valuable insights into children’s enrolment through the analysis of longitudinal school records. This chapter explains the structure of the book and its objectives, thus preparing readers for the discussions in subsequent chapters.