This paper reviews and discusses some critical issues related to the use of questionnaire surveys in educational planning. Ten brief sections discuss survey objectives, coverage, questionnaire design, administration, validity, nonresponse, cost considerations, coding, statistical analysis, and interpretation. Five illustrative questionnaire…

The author updates his 1973 comparative study of the "rate of return" literature with 13 new country cases, revised figures for most of the original 32 countries, and further interpretation. He also discusses a series of controversial arguments associated with the rate of return literature of the 1970s. (Author/SJL)

The author reacts to the World Bank's 1980 Education Sector Policy Paper, highlighting changes in emphasis from the Bank's 1974 report. Part of a theme issue on the World Bank Paper and on aid to educational development in the Third World. (SJL)

Provision of free education at all levels is one of the most cherished political goals in modern society. Argues that in reality free education is likely to have the opposite effect to the one advocated by politicians, namely that it might further aggravate rather than alleviate social disparities. (Author/RK)

The new Greek law (309/1976) extends compulsory schooling from six to nine years, with full effect from school year 1980-81. The author traces the probable major economic implications of this legislation. (Author/RK)

The purpose of this paper is to clarify a number of issues centering around the nebulous concept of "macro-educational planning" and to consider some omitted parameters that could influence the planner's objective and methodology. (Author/RK)

Author presented a critical analysis of the conclusions drawn by Jencks in his book. (RK)

Looks at the socioeconomic rationale for higher-education provision in developing countries. Reviews costs and benefits associated with investment in higher education as a whole (especially in different postsecondary subjects) with particular attention paid to returns to scale from university expansion. Makes distinction between incidence and…

This paper reports on the economic returns to investment in education in a large number of countries and attempts to trace patterns that might exist between the returns to education and other socio-economic characteristics of the countries involved. (Author/RY)

Enrollment of Greek students in domestic and foreign universities has increased dramatically since 1960. Demand for higher education continues to be strong despite diminishing income differentials, because higher education is cheap in Greece and is still associated with an earnings premium. Movement toward a privatization model for higher…

A review of eight new books suggests that increased privatization of education in Europe is inevitable, particularly for higher education. Twelve data tables provide statistics for 29 European countries on enrollment ratios, private school enrollments, vocational education, engineering and science students, public expenditures on education, and…

Colombia's rural "escuelas nuevas" feature multigrade classrooms, flexible promotion, rural-oriented curriculum, parent and community involvement, mastery learning, peer instruction, and library resources. A study of over 3,000 students found that, compared to traditional schools, Escuela Nueva schools had lower dropout probabilities, higher…

In Guatemala and Bolivia, countries with high proportions of ethnic (Native) population, indigenous workers had lower educational attainment and earned less at every educational level, relative to nonindigenous workers. The differences between ethnic groups were greater in Guatemala than Bolivia. (SV)

Quantitative comparative research provides lessons for educational planners and policymakers unrelated to theoretical labels. This point is illustrated by comparative education "solutions" to typical policy problems in developing countries: increasing access to primary education, expanding secondary and postsecondary education, improving…

Replies to commentaries on the relationship of comparative education theory and practice, addressing the beneficiaries of educational planning and policymaking, the planner's role, evaluation criteria for educational planning, choice of discipline, simplification of theory, analytical versus quantitative research, theoretical foundations of…