The government's answer to the education crisis will prove to be of limited use.

The political problem that faces them is that in the absence of a sufficient manufacturing sector, increasing numbers of people who don't do well in school will be working in low paying, low skilled jobs for the rest of their lives and will become a threat to the stability of the government.  Their children will face the same. The lack of opportunity will result in a further decline in the middle class and an ever increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots.

The ingenius stop-gap solutions pay incredible short-term political dividends; increase in minimum wage and social services.  Unfortunately, these measures have limited traction.  

So they look to the education system to make good on the age-old and profoundly incorrect promise that anyone can be taught to do anything. 

All children do not have the same capacity. Not to learn, run, think, reason, live, enjoy, reflect, suffer, produce, console, or anything else for that matter.

Comments about knowledge versus skills is more ivory tower stuff.