A study found first-year physics students at the University of Namibia (UNAM), considered to be a select group of students, to be as prepared for laboratory work as Australian tenth-graders. Comparison with students of Potchefstroom University (South Africa) found UNAM students deficient in both cognitive and affective aspects of laboratory work.…

Discusses the International Survey on Reading Abilities in Primary School (IGLU) and its data on achievement in reading, mathematics, and natural science. Compares this data to that collected by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Identifies achievement relevant correlations such as gender, migration background, socioeconomic…

For many poor children in Latin America, successful adjustment to primary school is impeded by child, family, and school characteristics. Early intervention efforts have been moderately effective, but their initial effects are often overwhelmed by structural features of primary schools. A coherent, carefully supervised educational program with…

This monograph represents an attempt to deepen the understanding of educational contexts and practices in Hungary and Finland, to shed some light on findings in multi-national studies, and to serve general information interests. The study documents observations about the Finnish educational scene in late 1992, although the situation has changed…

This is one of nine volumes describing the results of extensive research carried out by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) over a seven-year period. The overall aim of this extensive empirical study is to relate student competence to instructional, economic, and social factors which account for…

In 1973 a study of the national primary schools was begun in Ecuador to consider effects of school and non-school factors upon student flow and achievement, to examine the relative productivity of different types of schools, and to study the costs of primary education to the family and nation. Although other variables such as teacher preparation…

In this paper, selected evidence on the effects of Japanese schools is presented. The author believes that Japan is one modern society where the schools have fostered individual and social development. The primary focus is on the effects for individuals in the area of cognitive skills, motivation, educational and occupational attainments, and…

In 1965 the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) inaugurated a cross-national survey of achievement in six subjects: Science, Reading Comprehension, Literature, English as a Foreign Language, French as a Foreign Language, and Civic Education. The overall aim of the project was to use international tests in…

Interviews with head teachers gathered information to study the relationship between academic achievement and variables such as availability of classrooms, furniture, and books in Botswana primary schools. In contrast to some studies carried out in the West, research supported the view that school facilities are integral to academic achievement.…

An evaluation of a humanities course taught to mixed ability classes of 11 year olds in England showed that the most important factors for a successful course are teacher commitment and enthusiasm, careful course planning keeping in mind student interests, and teaching styles that emphasize student activities and interaction and oral work. (RM)

Drawing on literature; conferences; interviews in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and two surveys in Canada, the organization and administration of graduate study is examined. Focus is on program design and administration, supervision of graduate students, student progress and completion, and quality. Recommendations are made for…

Discusses administrative policies related to projects of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). Describes a typical budget for an IEA project. Includes a figure illustrating a typical project timetable. (CFR)

In both China and the United States, educators are committed to the provision of rigorous academic instruction in inclusive environments to students with disabilities. This paper presents the reflections of the authors from the 2004 U.S.-China Conference on Educating Students with Special Needs held in Beijing, China in June 2004. The authors…

This publication reports the results of the second International Assessment of Educational Progress for science. Twenty countries assessed the mathematics and science achievement of 13-year-old students and 14 countries assessed 9-year-old students in these same subjects. In some cases, participants assessed virtually all age-eligible children in…

This paper, commissioned for the development of the national report, "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent," analyzes the policies and practices for educating high-ability students in Japan, Taiwan, and China. It reports on studies over the past 11 years of East Asian children's academic achievement. In the first…