Purpose: Shared understandings of curriculum reform within and between the levels of the educational system are suggested to be crucial for the reform to take root. The purpose of this paper is to explore variation in perceived curriculum coherence and school impact among state- and district-level stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach: The…

Analyzes the circumstances that led to the governmental decision to transfer the administrative control of the separate group of Maori primary schools in New Zealand from the central Department of Education to the regional education boards. (Authors)

Compares the proportions of staff in various types of positions in public K-12 education in two Australian states and two Canadian provinces. Joint state department of education/school district (decentralized) education systems appear to require the allocation of a higher proportion of personnel and salary resources to administrative and support…

Arising out of the reform of school inspection are questions about whether inspections are necessary, how accountability and promotion are to be managed if they are not, and whether inspectors are justified in feeling insecure. (Author/WM)

Supports greater governmental control of the Nigerian education system and a state takeover of voluntary (parochial) schools that is based on mutual agreement. Voluntary agencies and private individuals should, however, be allowed, within the broad framework of government regulations, to own and run their own schools. (Author/IRT)

Explores the assumption that Australian state school systems are too highly centralized and inflexible to cater to students' diverse educational needs. An examination of Queensland and New South Wales schools shows that system-level directives are not unduly prescriptive. Regional office staff often practice "benign neglect" of central…

Examines the emergence and early implementation stages of Queensland (Australia) Education Department's policy for devolving responsibility to state schools. Clarifies the department's rhetoric in developing and promoting its decentralization policy; examines policy efficacy at the "school face" level; explores possible policy outcomes,…