Examines the need for literacy training in countries without well-established educational programs, focusing on Africa. Argues that literacy programs as traditionally practiced cannot provide a base for lifelong education, but that functional and consciousness-raising programs can act as a first step in developing sound lifelong learning programs.…

Describes Assessment of Basic Competencies (ABC), a methodology for measuring writing, arithmetic, and selected life skills that is simple, inexpensive, and easy to reproduce. Provides results of a pilot implementation of ABC among 2,100 children in Bangladesh between the ages of 11 and 12. (35 citations) (MAB)

Describes Australia's program of educational assistance to developing countries, indicating that over three-quarters of the assistance is for higher education. Suggests that the program's bias is driven by commercial considerations. Advocates increased assistance to basic education programs because of their greater relevance to developing…

Describes the structure and operations of a computer simulation model used in Papua New Guinea, developed with technical assistance from UNESCO. Notes that model establishes baseline data on student enrollments, teacher posts, and costs of education, and can be used to simulate policies under consideration and provide output on student flows,…

Discusses the relationship between education and Apartheid in South Africa and Namibia, asserting that the political system was fostered by unequal educational systems that provided different schools and resources for different population groups. Describes the increase of alternative education projects, including the National Literacy Programme in…

Examines three of the apparent deficiencies in the educational system in the six Gulf Cooperation Council member states: a mismatch between traditional and modern learning, an imbalance between indigenous and expatriate labor forces, and the gap between men and women. Concludes that a fundamental change in educational quality is needed. Contains…

Provides a case study on the quality of education in rural Ethiopia. Derives a measure for the quality of a school, which emphasizes responsiveness to household needs and willingness to try to attract students. Also derives a measure for teacher quality, based on teaching attitudes and behavior. (CAK)

Discusses the role of ideology in the World Bank's funding decisions. Describes the issues of literacy and development, especially as related to the World Bank. Concludes that adult literacy programs, which have relatively unpredictable and uncontrollable outcomes, may represent a commitment that, politically and culturally, is too risky for the…

Presents the results of a 1995 survey on the conditions of primary schools in 14 least-developed countries. Indicators include drop-out rates, class size, level of education of the teaching staff, student/teacher ratio, standard of classroom equipment, and quality of school buildings, among others. Overall findings are that conditions in many of…

Focuses on a recent study conducted on the incidence of illiteracy in specific disadvantaged communities in Sri Lanka. Indicates that in the present era of technological advancement, lack of literacy will continue to affect the life-chances of people in these communities. Policy issues are also discussed. Contains 20 references and 11 tables. (AMA)

Explores the role played by modernization policies of the government in promoting contemporary conflicts between private and public interests, using Mexico and Oregon's education systems as case studies. Finds modernization policies, especially the privatization of education, inappropriate in meeting social, political, and economic needs of both…

Draws upon case studies of countries that universalized primary education early in their development process and rapidly increased secondary enrollments thereafter. Examines the common elements of social and education policy among these high achievers, and also evaluates the policy lessons for other developing countries from the experience of…

Explores the positive impact of the non-formal education programme (NFPE) of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in the achievement of basic education for rural Bangladeshi children. Assesses three groups with different educational experiences: (1) children who attended BRAC's NFPE, (2) those attending formal school, and (3) children…

Tests the proposition that family and personal factors, in combination with school characteristics, contribute to the academic progress of Quechua school children. Finds that family background and nutritional history are not as important in shaping educational progress as initially envisioned, but that duration of schooling is an important factor…

Finds that, in comparing secondary education in different countries, two main systems are apparent: "sponsored mobility" and "competitive mobility." States that Brazil, in its recent history, has moved from sponsored to competitive mobility. Explores some of the lessons learned during this process and examines their…