Tony Blair says he would be 'even more revolutionary' with education as Prime Minister today

Former leader says countries worldwide need to improve teaching quality for forthcoming generation

Tony Blair has said if he was in power today he would take an “even more revolutionary approach” to education.

The former prime minister said developing education was the “single most transformative thing you can do for a country” and argued that as a developed nation, Britain should place greater emphasis on ensuring teaching standards are of a higher quality.

Speaking at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on 18 March, Mr Blair said technology has the potential to “revolutionise the world” but current hostility leads to the stagnation of opportunities.

The former Labour leader, who prioritised education when he became prime minister in 1997, said countries across the world need to improve the teaching quality delivered to the next generation.

"We made a lot of changes when I was prime minister and we were in government,” he said.

"However, if I was back in power today I think I would be taking an even more revolutionary approach to the whole question of teaching and education."

Additional reporting from agencies