Read the following passage about the Navigating Educational Transformation in an Uncertain Era and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answ...

Read the following passage about the Navigating Educational Transformation in an Uncertain Era and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.

The OECD's Trends Shaping Education 2025 examines how contemporary global dynamics will fundamentally reshape learning systems worldwide. Organized into four progressive themes from global to personal dimensions, it explores conflict, labour, communication, and health. [I] The publication employs strategic foresight methodologies rather than conventional forecasting, presenting alternative scenarios—continuation, transformation, or collapse—to assist policymakers in stress-testing decisions amid uncertainty. This approach acknowledges that educational institutions cannot simply divide and conquer complex challenges through isolated interventions; instead, comprehensive, interconnected strategies prove essential for addressing multifaceted pressures.

Geopolitical tensions increasingly strain public finances, potentially constraining educational budgets while simultaneously disrupting schooling and undermining stakeholder well-being. [II] Meanwhile, labour markets undergo profound transitions driven by environmental imperatives and artificial intelligence automation, necessitating enhanced skill development and continuous learning opportunities. Without deliberate resilience-building measures, these transformations risk exacerbating existing inequalities, leaving vulnerable populations further marginalized.

Democratic governance and communal solidarity face mounting threats from polarisation, misinformation campaigns, and evolving civic participation patterns. Consequently, cultivating critical reasoning abilities, media literacy competencies, and responsible digital citizenship becomes paramount. [III] The report simultaneously emphasizes holistic health considerations, encompassing mental wellness and "One Health" frameworks that recognize interdependencies among human, animal, and planetary vitality. Care professions and socio-emotional capabilities gain prominence as societies acknowledge their fundamental importance.

Three overarching concerns permeate the analysis: navigating AI-integrated learning environments, advancing environmental sustainability, and combating systemic inequality. [IV] Rather than offering definitive predictions, the OECD presents stakeholder narratives and scenario planning tools, enabling education leaders to anticipate diverse possibilities and implement proactive measures. The publication ultimately argues that education systems must simultaneously respond to external forces while actively shaping societal trajectories. By fostering adaptability, equity, and critical consciousness, schools can transform from passive recipients of change into dynamic agents driving positive futures, ensuring learners develop capacities to thrive amid complexity and contribute meaningfully to collective well-being across generations.

https://www.oecd.org/z

Question 31: The phrase “divide and conquer” in paragraph 1 has the closest meaning to _________.

A. break down                                B. set apart                                C. cut off                                        D. split up