This study outlines a comprehensive benchmarking strategy used for comparing policies, processes and strategies across national borders. Comparative benchmarking can empower nation states in the global South to review education systems, discover hidden sources of inequity, and establish comparative benchmarks for system reform. The utility of the…

The paper attempts to investigate the influence of textbooks on the results of international assessments such as TIMSS [Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study] and PIRLS [Progress in International Reading Literacy Study]. It tries to consider the role and impact of school textbooks on PIRLS and TIMSS performance across countries. As…

This paper explores the PISA [Programme for International Student Assessment] achievement of twenty countries in light of some of their demographic differences. SES [student socioeconomic status], nuclear family, gender, home language, and native status were predictive of achievement for every country. Demographics accounted for as little as 8…

The paper examines the application of educational technology to special education in East Asia and specifically in Japan, the Republic of China on Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the People's Republic of China. The potential role of the microcomputer in special education is stressed and American applications of the microcomputer as a special…

Encouraging parents to participate in school education to improve home-school relations is one of the prime focuses in the current education reform movement in Hong Kong. However, there is a paucity of empirical studies on how parental involvement in school is affected by parental social status. This study reports the thoughts and perceptions of…

Educational developments in Mexico, South America, and Southeast Asia are covered in five seminar papers. In addition, country educational profiles are presented on Mexico, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. In "International Students from Southeast Asia," John F. Brohm considers the following…

This publication contains papers read at the Conference on Urban Geography for Secondary School Teachers in Hong Kong, 1973, and experimental teaching materials on urban studies based on some of the ideas of the American High School Geography Project. The following papers are included: (1) "Teaching Urbanization" provides general…

This study sought to determine how student-teachers perceived their competence as they proceeded through a 2-year certificate program and to identify what changes occurred in their perception during the first year of teaching. The subjects were student teachers in a new Certificate of Education Program (in primary education) at the Hong Kong…