This paper examines the outstanding performance of Shanghai, China on PISA 2009 and its effects on other national systems and within the global education policy field. The OECD's PISA is helping to create this field by constituting the globe as a commensurate space of school system performance. The effects of Shanghai's success are considered in…

Policy makers in both England and France have sought to increase participation and attainment in postcompulsory education and training (PCET) through creation of new vocational tracks. Compared with England, France has considerably higher rates of participation in PCET, a higher proportion of students in the academic track, and higher proportions…

Compares Australian and French postcompulsory education delivery systems, focusing on participation by young people within respective frameworks. Examines substantial difference between teenagers' educational participation in two countries, reflecting basically different organizational frameworks. Examines educational stratification, suggesting…

Examines German policies concerning its "temporary" foreign guest-workers, particularly Turkish immigrants and their German-born children. Discusses legal, social, and cultural difficulties in obtaining citizenship and educational opportunities for aliens in Germany. Compares the German monoethnic ideal with Australian efforts to…

In four rapidly developing east Asian nations, educational similarities include strong national curricula and highly competitive selective systems. However, the countries differ in educational funding sources; access to education, particularly tertiary education; extent of state control; relative emphasis on general and technical education; nature…

Compares Australia's and Britains' higher education "binary system," consisting of university and non-university (colleges of advanced education or polytechnics) sectors. Examines problems, politics, and processes involved when institutions attempt to bridge sectors. Reviews examples of cross-sectorial amalgamation in both countries and…

Uses France and England--because of their radically different institutional and ideological traditions in education--to illustrate common trends in educational accountability. Explains general trends affecting advanced capitalist societies at the present time, e.g., the use of corporate management approaches in education and the adoption of…

This paper is designed to help our understanding of the incidence and distribution of special education programs throughout the world. There are huge differences among countries. In one country, one of every 5,000 elementary and secondary pupils receives special education; in the United States, it is one in 20. (KC)

Compares attempts and outcomes in Fiji junior secondary schools and in Kiribati community high schools to provide alternative schooling of either vocational or local/practical orientation. Focuses on nature of educational decision-making process and influence of public pressures on planners and politicians. Identifies new and influential factors…

Reviews historical context and recent research on vocational education in 15 Commonwealth Caribbean countries and the United States. Identifies supportive American vocational legislation. Derives synthesis based on juxtaposition of vocational education in both regions and draws inferences regarding the larger question of vocationalization. (NEC)

Discusses educational development in China, examining two divergent educational systems: education for the disabled and education that promotes athleticism. Examines social and political context within which educational policy is formed and enacted. Analyzes new boundaries of educational specialization and diversification. Observes trend toward…

Discusses author's observations of poverty-related problems within rural Sri Lankan schools. Juxtaposes literature on Third World education problems at national, district, school, and individual levels. Concludes high educational expectations in developing world are tightly constrained by poverty, negative attitudes, and weaknesses of systems.…

Compares public intervention schemes in Britain and Norway supporting participation of public educational institutions in the delivery of continuing labor force development and training. These schemes demonstrate that British policy is based on belief in free market principles, while Norwegian policy combines elements of consumer choice and legal…

Compares educational policy changes in such areas as language of instruction and curriculum during postcolonial transition in Singapore during the 1960s and in Hong Kong during the 1990s. Discusses the extent to which the regional autonomy promised to Hong Kong by China is possible. Contains 32 references. (SV)

Draws on sociological and learning theory perspectives to compare Scottish and Dutch initiatives in the modularization of initial (postcompulsory) vocational education and training. Features of the modular system in both countries seem closely related to strategies chosen to offer customized vocational training for various client groups while not…