In 1996 the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt initiated a basic education enhancement program to extend full coverage to vulnerable groups, especially girls, and to raise the quality of instruction. The basic education reform program was followed in 1998 by the government's secondary education reform program, supported by the World Bank. In…

The World Bank has been assisting the efforts of developing countries to reform secondary education systems for more than 35 years. During this period, the context and imperatives for education reform have changed considerably due to various factors such as globalization of the world economy and the impact of new technologies. This paper is one of…

This paper compares the changing role of local government in developing countries' education systems. Using case studies, it examines the role of local government in Zimbabwe, Chile, India, and Tanzania, thus offering a representative range of low- and middle-income countries. Each of the countries attempted to use local government as a source of…

The development of a higher education system in India based on three imported models is outlined. Problems arising from application of the "MIT model" of technological institutes are discussed specifically, including isolation of the elite from reality, mediocrity, and irrelevance of curriculum and system. (MSE)

The author delineates the scope of this special journal issue on the last 25 years in world education and summarizes the findings of various contributors on the issue's main themes: quantitative and qualitative changes in education and educational processes, education's contribution to human welfare, and international cooperation efforts. (SJL)

Discusses the three channels for education in developing countries: schools, or the formal education system; modern nonformal education through mass media and government programs; and the traditional incidental education serving most of the people. Suggests reforms in all channels to emphasize adult and continuing education. (MF)

Studies on Indonesia and the Philippines in this special issue examine how local financial control affects costs of providing primary schooling. In both countries, schools with greater financial decentralization operated more efficiently. These results have important implications for U.S. schools, where decentralization reforms in Kentucky and…

Expresses concern about recent trends in financing higher education in India. Outlines several proposals for finance reform and considers national and international experiences with them. Argues that reform suggestions being made for developing countries are not empirically valid for the contexts in which they are to be implemented. (Author/MSE)

Discusses decentralization as a key concern in educational planning and management in Malawi. Outlines key dimensions to decentralization: work culture, accountability, accurate and well disseminated information, provision of levels of resources, and sustainability. Concludes that two overarching issues have emerged from this study: (1) policy…

Describes a trip to Russia by a delegation of educators from the United States to learn about educational reform, examining the 10 principles currently guiding reform efforts in Russia. Participants learned that education there has already changed from the version that existed under the U.S.S.R. governmental structure. (SM)

This article examines parallels between participatory development projects and English language teaching (ELT) projects in the developing world, focusing on the need to involve local teachers and administrators in ELT development projects. Ten strategies for managers of innovation in ELT projects are included. (12 references) (MDM)

The conjunction of development funding and educational research in Africa and the dominating role of a single agency, the World Bank, have consequences for research and educational policy: structuring of research according to agency constructs and policies, legitimation of poorly supported propositions, lack of critical review, a fixation on…

Explores the role played by modernization policies of the government in promoting contemporary conflicts between private and public interests, using Mexico and Oregon's education systems as case studies. Finds modernization policies, especially the privatization of education, inappropriate in meeting social, political, and economic needs of both…

States that in "developing" countries such as Cameroon, educators struggle to overcome the remnants of colonial educational systems and instructional methods, which are not in keeping with current educational theory. Examines the inadequacies of the Evans English textbooks used for literacy instruction in West Cameroon schools as an…