The first years of life lay the foundations for a child's future development and learning. Many countries have increased their financial support for provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) over the past years. More recently, the focus of debate has been shifting from expanding access to affordable ECEC to enhancing its quality. A…

A statistical survey of continuing vocational training (CVT) in a sample of companies was carried out in 1993 in the 12 countries of the European Economic Community (EEC). The French part of the survey was conducted on a sample of 1,848 companies. France had the highest rate of access to courses with a recourse to training that falls within the…

Reviews French government policies and initiatives in lifelong learning since the 18th century, including the current emphasis on labor force flexibility and individualization. Concludes that flexibility-based approaches may exacerbate inequality because of differing access to opportunities and different measures used for various target groups.…

This report aims to inform Canadians on the extent to which Canada's post-secondary education sector is contributing to Canadians' social and economic objectives, its ability to respond to a fast-changing global environment, and how Canada's approach to higher education compares with other leading developed countries. Analysis of currently…

This report describes current systems and procedures for certification in France. An introduction makes brief reference to the characteristics of the general and vocational training systems. Part 1 provides details of the respective powers of the various bodies and authorities involved in the establishment of certification procedures. It examines…

This paper explores the traditional European model of vocational training in light of a new focus on employability and lifelong learning that is becoming more common in Europe. It includes the following four sections: (1) an overview of some examples of vocational training systems in Europe and the proposal that they share enough to be considered…

A 2-day regional seminar was held to raise awareness of the problem of youth unemployment in Southeastern Europe and assist countries in the region to develop their own framework of action and concrete projects. The following were among the topics discussed: ways policymakers can help young people find valid employment opportunities within…