What factors were important to the growth of public education in the early 20th century?

Some factors and aspects that influenced the growth of public education during the early twentieth century were: international wars and internal conflicts between social and racial groups as the gap between rich and poor was increasingly evident.

World wars and the emergence of new independent countries on different continents caused a change in international thinking. It was evidenced that education could be an instrument of national development and a means to overcome social, cultural and national barriers. As a consequence of this context, there was a great increase in the possibilities of education provided. The priority was to eradicate illiteracy, and educational institutions were built in many places.

In regions of North America and Europe, the increase in population with high incomes, particularly after World War II, had a high demand for secondary and university education.