Suggests that the means to eliminate illiteracy are available in Africa if nations devise and implement a strategy of action based on an effective political will and adopting a methodical, rational approach. Discusses the current situation, negative factors, repercussions on development, and future demands. Argues that promoting basic education…

Examines educational policies and issues in small nations and territories with high degrees of administrative autonomy. Maintains that strong feelings of nationalism can be both a benefit and a barrier to establishing an effective educational system. Argues that small countries are not simply scaled-down versions of larger nations; they have an…

Describes the development and current status of educational systems in 14 small nations or self-governing states in the South Pacific. Indicates that a primary concern is educational access and equity. Contends that the driving force behind all educational endeavors is to balance economic development with preservation of the cultural heritage.…

Analyzes UNESCO's policy initiatives over the past 50 years in recognition of International Literacy Year (1990). Targets adult education, functional literacy, and lifelong learning as policy initiative milestones. Stresses the intrinsic value of literacy and universal access to education. Observes that the egalitarian distribution of knowledge…

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…

Examines the relevance and contribution of universities to national development in economic, sociocultural, and political dimensions. Discusses rates of return, employment, vocational curricula, equality, and ideology. Concludes that a major problem in developing nations is ambivalence of universities stemming from their international and national…

Discusses options for the financing of postcompulsory education. Describes developing and developed nations where a funding crisis has resulted from an increased demand for education when new technologies require ever more highly trained workers. Includes discussion of public versus private funding, business contributions, international…

Clarifies the concept of universal basic education. Highlights the need for performance criteria and ways to measure literacy attainment. Identifies issues related to improving primary education, seeing adult literacy as its necessary complement. Underscores the substantial resources required to achieve universal basic education. (CH)

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…

Identifies socioeducational research problems in Latin America, relating them to colonialism's legacy. Contends confusion over development goals impairs setting research priorities; reliance on Western research paradigms impedes developing indigenous models; and, for research to have impact on education, decision makers must have more access to…

Delineates the need to make rural education more relevant to rural students in developing nations, stressing limitations in traditional Western approaches. Advocates rural pedagogy that encourages lifelong learning and develops community resources. Provides a case study of a rural pedagogy program in Sri Lanka. (CH)

Contends that, although educational improvement policies in Latin America during the 1960s and 1970s achieved quantitative goals, structural deficiencies blocked efforts to make education equitably available throughout society. Concludes that cumulative partial innovations seem to be more successful than attempts at massive change. (CFR)

Discusses problems facing developing nations in achieving UNESCO's goal of equality of educational opportunity. Mentions continuing inequality in literacy rates between developed and developing countries, and between the sexes. Describes functional illiteracy. Blames lack of progress on rates of demographic growth, pace of educational expansion,…

Links literacy for women with justice and empowerment. Cites that 70 percent of illiterates are female. Stresses that this statistic reflects the strength of patriarchal attitudes and male-dominated literacy campaigns. Presents three case studies to show cultural differences in women's literacy issues. Suggests strategies for achieving justice…