Describes education in poor Sri Lankan villages, examining the effects of poverty (poor teacher training, lack of equipment, and inability of students to attend); the influence of ministerial-level traditional or negative attitudes (questioning the worth of investing in equal education in remote rural areas); and weaknesses in the system that…

Responds to an article that described research on education in a poor, remote village school in Sri Lanka, discussing the wisdom of returning to a research site after an extended absence of 12 years and noting the necessity to maintain optimism and hope when dealing with school change. (SM)

Discusses author's observations of poverty-related problems within rural Sri Lankan schools. Juxtaposes literature on Third World education problems at national, district, school, and individual levels. Concludes high educational expectations in developing world are tightly constrained by poverty, negative attitudes, and weaknesses of systems.…

Representatives from 15 villages participated in a workshop planned to give teachers in rural small schools an understanding of the nature and problems of the small school and its community, an appreciation of the cultural background of village people, and the skills to implement practical village development programs. Prior to the workshop,…