National surveys and 1990 census data in Thailand show that the gender gap in educational attainment has closed at all levels, and preferences for educating sons more than daughters have declined substantially. Rural focus groups revealed that parental views on gender and schooling are complex, and access to schooling locally has greater benefits…

During 1960-95, unplanned and uncontrolled educational expansion in Nigeria, coupled with a population explosion, military coups, and a depressed economy, created an environment of crisis in the educational system. Problems included poor funding; inadequate facilities; corruption in admissions, certification, and examination practices; emergence…

In Finland and England, national policy on subject- versus child-centered curriculum are moving in opposite directions. Comparative studies of four small elementary schools indicate that teachers' beliefs, values, and practices were powerful mediators of their interpretations and responses to imposed changes, and the ethos of very small schools…

Examines the World Bank's 1995 policy statement, "Priorities and Strategies for Education: A World Bank Review." Reviews the bank's evolving policy of the past 35 years. Interprets the statement in light of recent structural adjustment strategies and end of the Cold War, which have sharpened bank attitudes about economic, social, and political…

This journal focuses on comparative education and has four major sections. The "Viewpoint/Controversy" section contains one article: "Is the Globalization of the Economy Creating Values for a New Civilization?" (Koichiro Matsuura). The "Open File: Rethinking Educational Aid" section contains the following articles: "From Project to Programme to…

This collection of scholarly essays on comparative education is divided into four sections. The first section, Viewpoints/Controversies, contains the essay "Educational Policies and Contents in Developing Countries" (Jacques Hallak). The second section, Open File: Education in Asia, contains the following essays: "Some Current Issues, Concerns and…

This theme issue focuses on professionalism in teaching. It begins with an article in Viewpoints/Controversies titled "A Renewed Sense for the Purposes of Schooling: The Challenges of Education and Social Cohesion in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Central Asia" (Stephen P. Heyneman; Sanja Todoric-Bebic). In Open File: Professionalism in…

Explores the issue of peace education in Northern Ireland in a broad sense. Examines the sectarian context of schooling in Northern Ireland, the growing number of integrated schools, peace and conflict studies in colleges, school-level curricular innovations in peace education, interschool activities, positive attitudes of youth, and the…

Outlines initial steps toward education for a sustainable future in the Asia-Pacific Region. Presents results from over 10,000 secondary students in 13 countries on environmental interest and attitudes and willingness to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Describes an international program to support teacher educators as they reorient teacher…

Argues that unresolved debates about the content and meaning of sustainable development now affect the reform of education systems throughout the Americas, raising questions about the school's place in relation to its cultural and physical environment. Discusses ways in which market-oriented educational reforms and others that ignore the…

Examines population and environmental issues in sub-Saharan Africa and efforts to heighten awareness of the need for sustainable development and behavioral changes. Describes national initiatives in Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Benin, and Burkina Faso to incorporate education for sustainability into the schools, teacher education programs, and public…

Examines the implementation of intercultural bilingual education throughout Bolivia and its relationship to the linguistic and cultural rights of the majority indigenous population. Discusses institutional and curriculum reforms, particularly in rural schools; a new emphasis on students' learning needs; relationship to indigenous…

Analysis of a national Moroccan literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at adult farmers found that despite the farmers' strong motivations to learn, the initiative had little impact due to irrelevant content, inappropriate teaching methods and poor teacher training, failure to take account of students' expectations and needs, and the top-down nature…

Presents an overview of uncertainties and challenges facing academics in the late 1990s. Discusses postmodern attacks on conventional assumptions about knowledge, decline of academic disciplines, increasing demand for vocational relevance, new modes of virtual pedagogies, diversification of education and training, transition to mass higher…

Globalization has brought market and business practices into universities, but with serious negative ramifications. Interviews with 253 U.S. and Australian faculty, plus additional data drawn from New Zealand and Canadian studies, focused on the rise of performance-based accountability and corporate managerialism and their effects on faculty…