Discusses the sociocultural context of education in the Comoro Islands, where effects of French colonization combine with Islamic influences. Examines education and cultural changes under French colonialism prior to independence in 1975. Since then, political changes resulted in establishment of French and South African hegemony. One table, 5…

Traces history of foreign language instruction (predominantly Russian as a result of former Soviet political domination) in the German Democratic Republic prior to unification. Russian instruction, as a tool for ideological control, emphasized receptive skills such as lexis and morphology. Explains changes in content and methods in foreign…

Discusses policies of choice and diversity in school provision in the United Kingdom and the United States. Outlines common elements of the context within which these policies have emerged. Highlights points of contrast between policy developments in the two countries. Interprets contrasts in terms of differences in systems of governance and…

Examines the main thrust of educational policymaking in Bangladesh during 1971-81 and compares policy goals with achievements. Finds there have been failures, but suggests underlying explanations for the persistent gap between policy goals and implementation come from the wider socio-political context in which educational policy is formulated and…

Summarizes the cultural and political background of the Council on Educational Reform with attention to Japan's social environment as it affects issues facing the Council. Discusses the question of internationalization of education in light of the history of foreign language teaching and looks at humanization in light of school violence. (JHZ)

Discusses educational development in China, examining two divergent educational systems: education for the disabled and education that promotes athleticism. Examines social and political context within which educational policy is formed and enacted. Analyzes new boundaries of educational specialization and diversification. Observes trend toward…

Describes and comments on rationale for moral education under socialism in Soviet Union. Discusses current Soviet children's literature as attempt to systematize and coordinate moral education and political socialization in elementary and secondary schools. Cites evidence of reconstructionist ideology in curriculum and planned educational…

The Nordic tradition of folkeoplysning (Denmark, Norway) or folkbildning (Sweden) is a form of adult education--"people's enlightenment"--linked to the emergence of democracy. Differing social, political, and cultural emphases attached to "folk"/"people" in various European languages have implications for the role of…

Points out problems of access to schooling in Zambia, especially at the primary and secondary levels and discusses existing types of alternative schooling such as night schools and supervised study groups. Argues that recent private school initiatives are not providing educational opportunities except for a few wealthy urban families. (JHZ)

African governments have immense power over their universities and are often tempted to tinker with the workings of these institutions, ostensibly to make them more responsive to the requirements of the nation. Such interference can be dangerous. Academic freedom is vital if the university is to truly serve society. (JHZ)

As educational systems evolved from consumption or culture-transmission devices to systems of investment in individuals, the rationale for public expenditure on education should have undergone a concomitant radical transformation. Instead, investment in many countries is still guided by political, cultural, and consumption criteria, resulting in…

Evaluates public education's contributions to Mexico's economic development from 1952-1982. Finds education's principal contribution has not been to improve human capital or government competence; education has instead been a vital source of political capital that has helped to maintain the political system as an "inclusionary…