International comparative ethnographic studies of ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care) are difficult to conduct but worth the effort. Comparative studies featuring thick description and polysemic interpretations can challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, expand the menu of the possible, expose the provincialism of national approaches, and…

This article focuses on the interplay between institutional arrangements, family strategies, and market devices in the transition to higher education (HE) in France with a view to documenting both persistent features of the French 'conservative' educational regime and recent changes, in particular those related to neo-liberal influences. Using a…

The promotion of "critical citizenship" has become a key objective of official school curricula around the world. Using an analytic framework developed by the authors, this paper identifies the diverse conceptions of critical citizenship that are promoted, by comparing the official school curricula for citizenship in England and France.…

In the following paper, I am going to discuss education and religion and consider the legacy of Christianity in education in West Africa with particular reference to the Evangelical churches in Burkina Faso. The paper will start with a general introduction to West Africa and the place of missionaries' activities in the region. I will then attempt…

Describes the levels at which young people in France can work for qualifications in technical fields, ranging from relatively straightforward trades to the highest levels of technology. Evaluates trends in vocational/technical and technological education in postwar France and discusses the relationship between national prosperity and high…

Looks at the "schools map" of facility distribution used as a tool in French educational planning and at criticisms of this technique. (SJL)

This paper falls into three parts: a description of the current French educational system and the groups influencing it; presentation of the more pressing educational problems of the 1980s; and a draft of developmental modifications likely to occur if liberals or, alternatively, socialists win political power in the early 1980s. (Author/SJL)

Examines recent attempts to restructure French secondary schooling in order to provide equal opportunity and more relevant curriculum. Discusses some impediments to these reforms, particularly the opposition of teachers and their unions. (SJL)

Compares Australian and French postcompulsory education delivery systems, focusing on participation by young people within respective frameworks. Examines substantial difference between teenagers' educational participation in two countries, reflecting basically different organizational frameworks. Examines educational stratification, suggesting…

Using video-recorded class activities, analyzes the teaching method used in a French grammar lesson given in Northern France to a class of 25 students of 6-7 years old. The "catechistic teaching style" employed involves an interactive question-and-answer format. Enumerates advantages and disadvantages of this style. (KS)

Examines how Australia and France are preparing youth for successful transition to employment in a rapidly changing world. Traces the historical development of technical/vocational education and general/liberal education. Highlights how Australia has tackled the problem of high and low status educational pathways and how the French Baccalaureat…