Overviews the development of special education in several sub-Saharan African countries; describes the current status of special education programs in terms of financing and quality of educational services; and offers suggestions for improving special education services through curriculum development, teacher training, appropriate facilities and…

Argues that a combination of communication difficulties and differing agendas hamper educational endeavors between social science researchers and educators. Recommends creating formal positions at the state or local level to facilitate linking basic and applied research to educational policy. (MJP)

Provides a concise overview of the role of the federal government in educational statistics and research. Although the scale and methodologies of these projects have increased in size and complexity, federal educational statistical research has never become a significant force in educational reform. (MJP)

Analyzes three applications of online learning and technology in South Korea: development of single-mode virtual universities; online education in conventional universities; and Web-based corporate training. Concludes with principles of online learning derived from experiences in implementing such environments. (AEF)

Discusses a study which examined whether the social skill of responding appropriately to teacher questions could be taught using repeated (daily) exposure to an interactive video-based modeled sequence, and whether the use of role-play would have additional positive effects on rates of appropriate responding. (AEF)

This article describes quantitative growth in higher education and overall trends in the Norwegian economy and argues that the policy of expanding the capacity of higher education is being used as a buffer against youth unemployment. (JB)

Attributes the relatively high dropout rate among Welsh secondary school students to the educational processes within the comprehensive schools. Advocates extensive research into the nature of Welsh education and problems stemming from historical, socioeconomic, and political factors. Encourages policy formation that reflects Welsh rather than…

States that China's educational planning must address pressing economic development needs. Outlines a structure for reform of vocational education to produce a skilled work force. Describes the physical characteristics and work-force economy of the Haicheng area and discusses the area's multiple economic and education problems. Argues that…

Discusses educational equality and inequality from an economist's perspective. Considers human capital theory and interpretation of life cycles in learning and earning. Addresses schooling and experience components of changes in the inequality of earned incomes, educational expansion, and inequalities in schooling. Explores the roles of skill…

Contributors discuss the top ten technologies that allow for thinking in new and innovative ways about the concept of "school": virtual learning; wireless networking; collaboration tools; digital video; Application Service Providers; handheld devices; optical networking; videoconferencing; XML; and simulations. (AEF)

This article describes critical events that have shaped gifted education, including: psychometrically-based pedagogy, the space race, the civil rights movement, passage of special education legislation, changing concepts of intelligence, brain based research, curriculum differentiation, the inclusion model of instruction, and funding of gifted…

Teachers in Ireland fear that benchmarking in the context of the present review of pay and conditions for all public service workers camouflages a shift of concern away from the development of the individual student to concern for the quality of the educational process provided by schools. A recent dispute between secondary teachers and the Irish…

This review of literature was written in preparation for conducting a research study on the U.S. community college system as a potential model for developing countries, and using Vietnam as a specific case. It is divided into four sections: (a) a discussion of the purposes of higher education (HE), (b) an examination of problems faced by the HE…

The aim of the article is to critically consider the implications of the African Renaissance project for skills formation policies and priorities with a focus on the education and training systems of sub-Saharan Africa. The article commences with an account of the origins of the African Renaissance idea and its latest incarnation in the New…

This book brings together many of the outstanding scholars in the field of comparative and international education to provide new perspectives on the dynamic interplay of global, national, and local forces as they shape the functioning and outcomes of education systems in specific contexts. Various chapters in the book call for a rethinking of the…