Survey of 48 multisectoral women-in-development (WID) units in governmental bureaucracies of developing nations indicates that most have educational activities but tend to focus on nonformal education for adult women (literacy, health, vocational education). Their limited contestation of the ideological function of schooling makes these WID units…

Examines Vietnamese educational reforms of the 1990s, aimed at modernizing education to support Vietnam's wide-ranging market reforms. Discusses the structure of preschool through higher education; the cluttered lower secondary school curriculum, rigidly tied to textbook content and teacher training; rural disadvantage and lesser access to…

The Netherlands is currently considering a change from special schools for special education students to a more inclusive, demand-oriented model of finance and provision. The experiences of Germany, England, and Austria suggest that "pupil-bound budgets" may strengthen parental choice and support inclusion, but may also lead to budget…

Draws on Canadian, U.S., and British policy documents and personal experience to examine how countries and their subjurisdictions are learning from each other about the nature of policy change and reform in education. Concludes that "mutual learning" does not necessarily describe such policy movements; analogies to diseases and epidemics…

In the debate on educational reform in Japan, the government's version of free choice would lead to commercialism and privatisation of education and an even more competitive system creating technocratic elites. In contrast, the Japan Teachers' Union has proposed reforms based on the people's right to justice in education. (JHZ)

Summarizes strengths and weakness of the Japanese approach to vocational training and education. Stresses the Japanese "obsession" with education and the high levels of education obtained by its citizens, the state's commitment to planning and financial support for high standards of industrial training, and industry's commitment to…

Looks at the problem in the Federal Republic of Germany over the past two decades of regulating access to higher education in the face of a growing demand for admission. (SJL)

Draws on interviews and published sources to examine Catholic educational policies and issues in Hong Kong, 1984-97, in the context of relationships between the Hong Kong Catholic Church and three authorities: colonial government, Chinese government, and Vatican. Discusses conflicts between Roman Catholicism and Communism, and language of…

The Danish education system has been characterized by democratic values, individual choice of education and institution, emphasis on general education, and teachers' freedom of teaching method. But these characteristics are being undermined by European unity and neoliberalist policies that see education as an element in the market economy.…

In 1984, Soviet educational reforms increased the number of vocational secondary schools, introduced pupils to vocational education at an earlier age, and strengthened vertical integration between local enterprises and schools. Unintended consequences may be occupational rigidity, course offerings based on obsolete manpower needs, and…

Japanese higher education functions primarily as a filter to certify students for entry into corporations or government. Scientific inquiry and professors' ability to produce knowledge, especially in the social sciences, are severely restricted by utilitarian conceptions of higher education. Nevertheless, some individual scientists linked to…

Outlines a set of generic "problems" emanating from the global economy that constitute the contemporary social, political, and economic conditions for educational and social policy making. Discusses the emergence of ideological and "magical" solutions to these problems, the dissemination of such solutions, and their…

Examines similarities between English and U.S. school-choice policies, and considers explanations of any convergences: broader social changes versus policy exchanges. Discusses the utility of concepts such as postmodernism and post-Fordism, neoliberal policy networks within and between the two countries, and evidence of the use of overseas…

Difficulties in the Federal Republic of Germany illustrate the problems of transferring educational policy-making from national state authorities to local communities. Important initiatives in equalization of teacher pay and standardization of teacher training were attempted during 1970-1980, but did not achieve success. Political competition was…

Summarizes data on educational experiences from a study exploring the effective job utilization of 266 Nigerian scientists and engineers. Compares experiences of foreign and locally trained personnel. Discusses existing notions about science and technology education in developing countries in general and Nigeria in particular. (NEC)