One of a four-issue series on educational reform and the world of work in Europe, this issue discusses educational planning and secondary school reform in Italy. Topics discussed include planning and research in vocational-technical education, and the relation between acquisition of specific skills and scientific and technical progress. (Author/DB)

The author argues that educational planning endeavors, especially in developing countries, must be accompanied by social and economic development in order to have significant long-term effects. (AV)

This study concentrates on the major organizational change of a massive university during its fight for survival. Three intellectual themes interweave as they form a framework to examine the problems of organizational change. (Author/RK)

Planners in the metropolitan institution must consider its special and vital relationship with the urban milieu and especially with nontraditional students. Program planning must include a design for systematic evaluation. (Author/LBH)

Examines how youths' plans are formed in the Japanese educational system compared with plan formation in the U.S. educational system. Studies the stability of Japanese students' plans by junior high school, the responsiveness of plans to grade changes, and high school rank. Discusses adolescent planning confusion and the effect of grades on…

The willingness and ability of Australian higher educational institutions to respond flexibly and appropriately to changing economic and social demands are limited by peculiar organizational and financial arrangements. While all higher education institutions legally belong to states, they all depend on the federal government for financial…

Examines the argument that "educational disadvantage" is a myth. States that critics holding this view create new myths that pose a threat to educational equality. Reiterates that persons from a non-English-speaking background have educational disadvantage. Concludes that a rejuvenated multicultural education program, which corrects for…

Discusses the Robbins Committee's mistaken assumption that full-time student enrollment would increase, resulting in a decline in part-time study. States that this miscalculation has had important social and financial consequences that, without adjustment, might impose obstacles for future expansion. Suggests changes in the student support system…

Joe Renzulli asserts that pull-out programs for gifted elementary school children that reflect horizontal enrichment and vertical acceleration can provide flexibility and enable radical departures from the regular curriculum. Joyce VanTassel-Baska counters that current pull-out programs are inadequately planned, provide insufficient time, are…

In the late fifties and early sixties, educational planners saw themselves as staff providing advice to high level government. In the seventies, they were more intent on implementation. However, in the eighties, they have far more direct influence on school reform. Responsibilities of the educational planning profession are explored. (MLF)

Presents a comparative sociology of education, using case studies from Canada, India, and China. In each case, government or others attempted to promote social change through introducing relevance into the curriculum. States that modern schools cannot escape having a role in social change. (CH)

This paper considers the membership, terms of reference, and assumptions governing the work of the Plowden committee. It evaluates criticisms made of the report and relates the committee's conclusions to possible change models and forms of policy analysis that might have been used. (Author)

Examines why, after a successful beginning, EPA programs faltered and all but disappeared by the end of the 1970s. Concludes that while there were many causes, three major factors were the failure of the EPA to respond to changing values, changing base of research support, and the worsening conditions of the inner city. (Author/JDH)

Presents a checklist of school enrollment forecasting issues and techniques applicable to British schools. Proper resource allocation depends on the geographical distribution of pupils, pupil and school characteristics, future primary level intake, new housing developments, consistency between forecasts, policy criteria, and other factors.…

Discusses economic and political influences on the education system of West Germany as decisions are made to introduce new information technologies in the schools, and describes a model of four levels of education decision contexts for use in developing specifications: pedagogical ideals, institutional conditions, factors of curriculum, and…