This seven-chapter monograph elaborates on five components of an expanded vision of basic education. It presents material that deals with aspects of these components: universalizing access and promoting equity, focusing on learning, broadening the means and scope of basic education, enhancing the environment for learning, and strengthening partnerships. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the expanded vision. Chapter 2 focuses on four areas concerning the education of women and girls: advantages of ensuring that they do receive their fair share of education; the gender gap and the reasons why it exists; gender, literacy, and cultural differences; and efforts to overcome the problems. Chapter 3 deals with two interrelated means of enhancing the environment for learning: early childhood care and education and health and nutrition in education. Chapter 4 presents strategies and measures to improve the quality of primary education and enhance learning achievement of pupils. Chapter 5 discusses two other delivery systems: nonformal education and distance education. Chapter 6 focuses on participation and communication at grassroots level as well as the potential role of educational research. Chapter 7 summarizes main points. Appendixes include the World Declaration on Education for All and guidelines to implement it, titled "A Framework for Action To Meet Basic Learning Needs." (YLB)