What can Montessorians learn from teaching in a war-torn country, and what can they hope to share with others in the process? These questions were much on the author's mind when she went to Sri Lanka in the summer of 2003. This article contains excerpts from e-mails the author sent home, chronicling her experience teaching two high school English…

In one generation, development progress has transformed the prospects for humankind, and international cooperation has been a catalyst. Technical assistance for developing countries through two predecessor organizations of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had small beginnings in 1950, and grew to become a multimillion dollar…

Discusses management aspects of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement (SSM) in Sri Lanka. Includes information on the history and organizational structure of the SSM. (JOW)

Discusses some problems facing scientists in developing nations, such as the lack of facilities, equipment, and libraries, and the effect of scientific bureaucracies in these nations. (MLH)

This digest examines the problem of child labor and education in India and other Southeast Asian countries. It offers novel insights into the extent of child labor and the shortcomings and inertia of educational systems in adapting to the needs of working children. Also, the digest describes a series of promising educational innovations meant to…

This issue of Reports Magazine focuses on the challenges that women face and their efforts to continue the struggle for a wider recognition in development and all other spheres of life. "Feminist Issues in Development" (Peggy Antrobus) discusses how feminist analyses offer critiques of conventional approaches to development that…

Includes "Millions of Workers on the Move" (Stalker); "Migrants Working and Living in Europe Today" (Bohning); "The Attraction of the Gulf"; "Sri Lanka to Kuwait and Back: The Crisis of Domestic Workers" (Goodson); and "Alternatives to Migration" (Fromont). (JOW)

Discusses the feasibility of educational development in a disadvantaged area of Sri Lanka, considering expectations which are unreasonably high. Concludes that ambitious goals should be operationalized at a practical level. Recommends using the human resources of eager children, supportive parents, and dedicated educators to improve education. (KS)

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)

This report documents the work of a study group which reviewed the distance education activities undertaken during the Third Cycle of the Asia and Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID), as a basis for the further development and utilization of distance learning systems and structures. Reports on distance education…

This discussion of the treatment of archives in Sri Lanka outlines their historical development and notes current activities, including records administration, storage considerations, conservation problems involving poor condition of records and use of microfilming, and education of the public to make use of archives. References are provided. (EJS)

Reports a case study of the village of Illukwewa, Sri Lanka, which examined traditional technologies, life skills and the feasibility of implementing formal learning programs based on these methods. Makes recommendations on focusing the learning process toward formal education. (KO)

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)