Many have argued that, despite the meritocratic ideals of equal access and social mobility that underpin examination-governed education hierarchies, the rural majority are typically excluded or eliminated in the early stages of the competition. The scholastic nature of the uniform curricula, much of which has little relevance to rural life,…

The efficiency of educational broadcasting in the Ivory Coast is assessed from the standpoint of what and how physical and human resources are utilized. Information was obtained by reviewing the large volume of documents that have been published about the project and through interviewing personnel involved in its management and operation. The…

Model IV, the rural-residential career education model, is committed to a goal of improving the growth, development, and employability of individuals in a six-state region, through an innovative, experimental system of career education. A residential community is one aspect of the innovative, experimental approach to be utilized in Model IV. Both…

In an effort to reach widely dispersed Indian children and provide them with an early education that will encourage them to enroll in conventional schools after the fourth grade, Jesuit missionaries in a mountainous rural area of Mexico have provided a radio school since 1955. The evaluation reported here reveals that the radio schools have been…

The article proposes training rural educators to become self-directed in their own improvement activities. The article summarizes current literature and notes four skills necessary for self-directed development: objectivity; self-critiques; examining only a few instructional skills at a given time; and reinforcement of self. (SB)

Systemic reform of rural education must move beyond strictly educational matters to encompass enhancement of technological infrastructure to combat isolation, changes in political thinking to overcome the disempowerment of rural citizens, increasing educational resources and services to achieve equitable rural education, and eradicating persistent…

Describes various approaches to multicultural education and their objectives. Considers characteristics of rural schools, social and economic trends in rural areas, and rural culture and attitudes related to relatively homogeneous population. Examines ways in which multicultural education goals and strategies are relevant to rural school reform…

Discusses the status and future of the rural former Soviet school. Reports that rural education has been restructured to influence students' lives, even outside school. Argues that the rural school schedule must promote comprehensive, harmonious individual development. Describes the schedule and some of the problems with rural education. (SG)

Describes historical background, organization, funding, and current course structure and accreditation in Australia's national system of Vocational Education and Training (VET). Discusses implications of recent VET changes for rural college libraries in terms of providing appropriate resources to training programs and flexible services to students…

Clearly defining what rural means has tangible implications for public policies and practices in education, from establishing resource needs to achieving the goals of No Child Left Behind in rural areas. The word "rural" has many meanings. It has been defined in reference to population density, geographic features, and level of economic…

In 2005, there was a transition in China, in which public policy toward education underwent a systemwide change. In this article, the author explores the educational development in China and examines reforms concerning educational issues that were of intense concern to society. In recent years, Chinese education at all levels has undergone massive…

The Appalachian Math Science Partnership (AMSP) is a project within NSF's (National Science Foundation's) Math Science Partnerships (MSP) initiative. Funded at $23 million over five years, the AMSP involved 51 school districts and nine higher education institutions in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. The AMSP faced two significant challenges in…

This paper describes cooperative endeavors involving a team of researchers and the staff of two rural school districts. In early 1990, the researchers asked teachers and administrators in an economically distressed rural Tennessee district (pseudonym Iris) to participate in a study determining school, community, and family characteristics related…

Rural schools in Utah responded to state and local calls for school reform by implementing Outcome Based Education (OBE) programs beginning in March 1984. Significant improvements in learning have occurred as measured by test scores. Workshops introduced rural educators to OBE which provided a philosophical and operational framework for school…

This report provides a brief description of a 1988 conference on distance education together with papers from 31 of the 44 sessions, including keynote addresses and presentations at general and informational sessions and application seminars. These sessions addressed the conference theme from different perspectives, and included consideration of…