Learning outcomes are always the product of the interaction between individual learner agency and social structures. Recently concern has been expressed about unequal access to English, recognised as an important resource for social advancement, for rural populations in developing countries. This paper explores this issue by focusing on one…

The paper examines e-government development in Africa. This study is based on the Cape Gateway project in South Africa, a leading e-government initiative on the continent. We observe that African countries have jumped on the e-government band wagon by looking mostly at the benefits without a clear risk assessment. We argue that African countries…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show a practical case of dialogic web-based learning that has provided a set of questions analysing two complex technological projects in "southern" countries with effects on multicultural equity. Design/methodology/approach: Structured online review processes in multicultural and systems science…

In the mainstream discourse on child development and education, 'school readiness' has been conceptualized as the skills and knowledge that children need when they enter school in order to learn effectively in the school environment. However, school readiness is an idea which is entwined with our beliefs about child development and child needs (E.…

The cultural environment as a major factor influencing reading achievement in primary schools is discussed. It is proposed that money be spent by Nigeria to improve the social and cultural environment of young beginning readers in rural areas to equalize their learning situations. The questionnaire is appended. (MLW)

Examines the library profession from a cross cultural perspective in order to explain how and why librarians define their work the way they do. The efforts of librarians to gain professional recognition are discussed as a means of understanding how librarians view their role and how they are ultimately affecting their society. (CLB)

Presents a historical perspective of educational and environmental curricula orientation in Africa. Examines environmentally-related problem areas (such as deforestation, pesticides, and endangered species) and lists the benefits and advantages of environmental education. A restructuring of Africa's formal education curriculum is recommended. (ML)

This book examines rural African women's educational experiences in Kilome, Kenya, providing testimony on the cultural, historical, social, economic, and political factors that have shaped, and continue to shape, women's educational and economic opportunities there. The author, a Kamba woman who grew up in rural Kenya and received an education in…

Case studies and seminar reports are provided that were presented at an international seminar to examine field experiences in using a culture-based approach to nonformal education. Part I, containing an introductory paper and nine case studies, focuses on indigenous institutions and processes in health, family planning, agriculture, basic…

The eight articles in this collection focus on the Fulbe culture in West Africa, its intragroup relationships as well as its relations with other ethnic groups. Each article relates the concept of ethnicity to social and political differentiation among tribes. Following an introduction by Emily Schultz, John Lewis presents the findings of three…