For several years now, military conflict, climate change, lack of food, and other forces have compelled many people around the globe to leave their countries and live in exile. As shown by exponentially increasing statistics, children are leaving their homes, sometimes their families, and their schools. Once they arrive in a country of…

Discusses the decreased importance of educational planning to educational development, and the reasons for this trend. Analyzes basic assumptions in the relationship between planning and research. Uses examples from Latin America to illustrate available alternatives for re-establishing an effective relationship between research and educational…

This discussion reviews literature on early bilingualism and early reading in two languages and summarizes a research project aimed at developing the experimental conditions for teaching early bilingual reading in institutional settings. The review notes positive effects of early reading generally and of early bilingual literacy on intellectual…

Reviews developments in higher education in four Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs) in east Asia. Contends that improvements have resulted from policies that strengthen and develop scientific and technological capacity. Stresses the link between effective higher education and economic well-being. (CFR)

Examines literacy campaigns from a literacy educator's viewpoint. Stresses that misassumptions, inaccurate definitions, misused statistics, unrealistic goals, and the failure to listen to literacy students themselves have resulted in frustrated policies. Suggests 10 theses for improving literacy policy in both developed and developing nations.…

Describes the role of the World Bank in supporting educational improvement in developing nations since 1963. Assesses the impact of programs in curriculum development, teacher training, and nonformal education and training. Concludes with five lessons that are recommended to guide future World Bank funding. (CFR)

Asks who benefits from illiteracy to reveal the political implications of literacy's empowering potential. Observes literacy's ultimate capacity to overturn power structures and redistribute wealth and resources at international, national, and local levels. Relates the literacy problem to colonialism and its legacy. Offers examples of literacy…

Examines comparative education's status in India in college curricula and as an educational research topic. Argues that comparative education receives scant attention, referring to surveys that show almost nonexistent numbers of doctoral dissertations in comparative education at two Indian universities and that show the paucity of comparative…

States that the emerging systems of education throughout the world since 1980 provide a fertile ground for research. Reviews educational systems and focuses on topics such as compulsory education, growth in enrollments, women in education, and vocational education. Suggests that there is a convergence of structures and practices in much of the…

Compares the differences in purposes for literary campaigns when conducted in developed and developing countries. Considers literacy goals of students, teachers, administrators, and government policymakers. States this primary difference: developing nations' literacy campaigns identify literacy as instrumental to national and individual…

Explains nondirective or pupil-centered teaching, an alternative to traditional education in the Soviet Union. Uses Vygotsky's area of proximal development to envision teaching methods that anticipate and promote higher development levels. Stresses humanistic approach, involving students and responding to individual needs. Also proposes in-depth…

Considers the problematic nature of the role of the state in developing nations' education, specifically Latin American education. Analyzes several major challenges: (1) reconciling bureaucratic efficiency with educational equity; (2) allocating dwindling resources to ensure both basic adult education and higher education capable of producing…