After the fall of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe, the returns to education were substantially growing over time. We summarise the existing literature conducting a meta-analysis of returns to education for economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and test for several mechanisms, which can explain the evolution of the returns…

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has long been considered a global policy in language education. It has been borrowed and adopted by different polities across the world. However, it is still not clear why the CEFR, intended for European usage, has become a ubiquitous tool for overhauling the quality of teaching and…

This paper examines the usefulness of the new social movements (NSMs) paradigm in the changing context of East European post-communist societies and their agricultural systems and rural communities. Starting with statements formulated in Western sociology in the context of Western democratic societies about NSMs as a protest against modernity, the…

The Step by Step Program was designed to introduce child-centered teaching strategies and parent and community involvement in early childhood education systems in countries of the former Soviet bloc, where rapid social, economic, and political transformations were taking place. This study assessed the program's capacity, reach, and sustainability.…

Portrays the changed context of adult education in Central and Eastern Europe; social and individual learning needs such as training, retraining, upgrading, education for responsible citizenship, and adult educator training; and assistance needed from abroad. (SK)

Explains why the transition economies experienced sharp decline after the breakup of the former Soviet Union. Offers some personal accounts and comments on prospects for future development in Central and Eastern Europe. Notes how people in these countries view the transition to market economies. (DSK)

The article reports on efforts of scholars (including historians, political scientists, economists, and sociologists) to study the economic and political transformation taking place in Eastern Europe. Noted are analogies with Latin American development, difficulties of privatization, and contradictions between democracy and economic reform. (DB)

Describes two books of curriculum materials published by the National Council on Economic Education regarding the Central and East European transition economies: (1) "Economies in Transition: Command to Market" (1997); and (2) "From Plan to Market: Teaching Ideas for Social Studies, Economics, and Business Classes" (1997). (DSK)

These studies concentrate on unemployment among educated young people in Western Europe and Africa. The first study focuses on unemployment among educated young people in the developed market-economy countries. In seeking to outline problems relating to youth unemployment, the study first attempts to define unemployment. An analysis is then made…

Explains the leadership role taken by the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) in running programs in the transition economies to prepare classroom teachers and teacher educators for teaching the basics of how market economies work. Describes training, curriculum development, and exchange programs conducted by NCEE. (DSK)

This packet of lessons focuses on the transition from a legacy of central planning to a market orientation in the economic systems of Central and Eastern Europe, the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and China. These lessons seek to provide high school teachers with a well-informed approach to teaching about this transition. The…

Current trends, major controversies, and challenges in educational economics in Eastern and Central Europe resulting from dramatic social and political change since 1989 are examined. Democratization of decision making, an immediate trend toward decentralized administration, transformation of relationships between general government and education,…

This is a report sponsored by UNICEF on the effects of economic and political transition in Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, on young children and adolescents. The economic theories and changes in labor and markets which have characterized European transitions in the past few years have paid little attention to issues of poverty and child…

This theme issue presents an overview of the breakup of the USSR and the challenges faced by the emerging states under former Soviet influence. The volume contains: (1) "Preface"; (2) "Soviet Union: Prelude to the Coup"; (3) "Summing Up the Past"; (4) "Eastern Europe Who's Who"; (5) "The Economics of…

Part of a geography series which stresses understanding of the environment through mastery of specific skills and concepts, the secondary level textbook examines how and why different environments have changed through time. The book is presented in eight chapters organized around the three main themes of change in local areas, land use, and the…