even among students with a similar performance in mathematics reading and science the likelihood of having repeated a grade is often linked to socioeconomic background oecd h however research has also begun to shed light on the predictive power that social and emotional skills such as selfcontrol and selfmotivation have on earnings health engagement in violence and many other life outcomes oecd kautz et al providing opportunities for adult learning challenge is important for retraining and upskilling high levels of longterm unemployed is challenging for the economy as a whole as it leads to high spending on unemployment benefits and a reduction in tax revenues challenge