Comments on World Bank report. Agrees with improved primary school quality as principal focus of endeavor, but suggests that Bank views on decentralization of primary school finance are incompatible with achievement of universal primary education. Questions whether suggested cost containment measures for higher education are politically feasible.…

Describes the financial crisis in African education, and comments on the World Bank's recommended educational strategies: selective expansion of services, financial adjustment through cost sharing and containment, and revitalization. Presents 26 specific suggestions for the Kenyan situation. (SV)

States that in a milieu of rapid educational development a dual educational system is emerging that does not allow equal educational opportunities for all students. Traces the development of a dual system in Japan and Hong Kong. Follows the attempts of both societies to tackle the ensuing problems. (GG)

Provides case studies of indigenous pedagogies in native populations in Canada and the Philippines. Suggests that these approaches to pedagogy have created opportunities for the educational development of indigenous groups. Describes an alternative model of education based on the case studies, highlighting the notion of democracy as a daily…

Coombs' book provides comparative educators with current cross-national statistics on various key topics and presents the (somewhat pessimistic) views of an experienced policymaker on future worldwide educational challenges related to financial problems, scarcity of resources, demography, failures of previous reform efforts, and language of…

Medical schools are taking up the challenge to foster interest in the generalist fields. Issues in education of generalist physicians include the need for basic science teaching, more teaching in outpatient settings, difficulties of forecasting workforce needs, the challenge to generalist physician faculty, and the challenge of chronically…

Reports on the Ecole Moderne, a French educational reform movement that began in the 1920s that views technology as a tool. Through a review of the literature, interviews with leaders of the Freinet movement, and observations of Freinet classrooms in France, the impact of modern technology on the Ecole Moderne movement and implications for…

Presents a common language model for understanding the literature on formative evaluation in instructional design. Identifies participants, roles, techniques, and situations, and analyzes 11 instructional design texts. The model provides a decision-making template for designing an effective formative evaluation. (AEF)

Analyzes prior knowledge based on the idea of knowledge structure; the relevance of using knowledge profiles is important in independent, distance learning. Suggests that prior knowledge can be helpful to enhance a student's learning process, to design more flexible learning environments, and to provide institutional support. (Author/AEF)

Discusses issues of information technology as they relate to the future of developmental education. Characterizes the potential applications for laptop-based technologies, telecommunications, and hypermedia. Suggests that educators will need to teach developmental students how to use the technology as an extension of their minds. (MAB)

Examines the influence of Norwegian populism, with its emphasis on rural roots and community values, on the development of Norwegian education. Discusses populist traits in Norwegian society and populist educational features: strong common school, weak academic tradition, use of New Norse vernacular, importance of informal learning at home,…

Profiles South Africa's system of 15 technikons, institutions providing 1- to 5-year programs in science, technology, engineering, business, and industry. Discusses growing enrollments, the shift away from science and technology fields, teacher qualifications, and the place of technikons in South Africa's postapartheid higher education system.…

Defines short-cycle higher education (postcompulsory, subbaccalaureate education). Identifies characteristics shared by short-cycle systems worldwide and the ways in which individual systems differ. Discusses issues of low esteem, community education, articulation and transfer, business/industry relations, financial support. Offers recommendations…

Maggie Woodrow, Director of Access and Community Education at the Polytechnic of North London, responds to questions regarding the opening up of access to nonuniversity postsecondary education to nontraditional, academically underprepared adult students in the United Kingdom and European Community and barriers to "access education." (DMM)

Traces developments in education in Saudi Arabia since the 1930s, including figures on expenditures. Efforts to implement educational technology and functions of an administrative unit concerned with educational technology are reviewed. Reasons why the Saudi government considers educational technology important and outcomes of its implementation…