Countries that have sustained rapid growth over decades have typically had a strong public commitment to expanding education as well as to improving learning outcomes. South Asian countries have made considerable progress in expanding access to primary and secondary schooling, with countries having achieved near-universal enrollment of the…

The language of formative assessment, sometimes referred to as "assessment for learning" (AFL), is becoming ubiquitous within international educational discourse. Despite this, levels of common understanding might be considered questionable since the concept appears to have been subject to many different interpretations and to have…

Presents a model for inservice teacher education which emphasizes affective goals and personal growth of the teachers and utilizes individual personalized instruction, open access learning, affective-experimental group programs and feedback. (JT)

Fourteen innovative educational programs implemented by countries in Asia and the Pacific region are described to aid other educators engaged in planning and implementing innovative programs. The programs are: faculty-oriented breakfast programme (Australia); farm school on the air (India); multimedia, inservice teacher training for primary…

During 1997-98, a research team from the University of Leeds investigated the effectiveness of teacher resource centers (TRCs) as a strategy for teacher development in developing nations. The study included a literature review and fieldwork in four countries (India, Kenya, Nepal, and Zambia). The study examined the extent to which TRCs helped…

Reviews communications satellites configurations (point-to-point, distribution, and direct broadcast)and presents an overview of primary uses for satellite communications worldwide, including extension of preparatory and first year university courses; inservice teacher, professional, and continuing education; non-formal education; primary level…

This publication reports on the Commonwealth Secretariat UNESCO Regional Roundtable, which was held in Penang, Malaysia as a follow-up to the 1992 Colloquium on Alternatives in Initial Teacher Training, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. There were 28 participants from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,…

This publication is one of two prepared for a South Asian Colloquium on issues related to teacher training in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The papers in this volume focus on innovations and alternative strategies designed to improve quality in teacher education at preservice phase. The publication is in five sections. The first four…

This selection of the papers presented at a conference includes 6 introductory papers, 32 papers dealing with innovations and experiences in the authors' own countries, and reports from 6 working groups. These working groups addressed the six key topic areas of the conference: (1) relationships between new technologies and labor relations and…

This publication is one of two prepared for a South Asian colloquium on issues related to teacher training in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This volume includes four papers presented at the conference. The papers present an analytical view of both policy and practical measures on teacher education. The first paper, "The…

Directed at personnel responsible for distance education in India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the training materials in this publication have been compiled with the help of distance educators in each of these geographical regions. The materials are classified into three categories and presented in separate sections…

Highlights successful innovative practices in Indian teacher education, including microteaching, internships, programed learning material, models of teaching, and integrated teacher education; presents information on the teacher education curriculum, inservice teacher education, and teacher education for rural development. (SM)

Five study papers by educators from India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand focus on: (1) policies and strategies in the implementation of universalization of education; (2) current policies and strategies in the preparation of teachers; and (3) recommendations for teachers in the universalization of education. Each of these elements…

Participants from India, Korea, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia met to formulate strategies and develop alternative methods of teaching multiple classes and educating disadvantaged groups. Activities of the Study Group Meeting included four phases: presentation and discussion of country experiences relating to…

Part 1 of this paper reviews major research findings on the relationship of teacher characteristics to student achievement. Of the 16 teacher variables analyzed, those identified as important to student performance are teacher certification, ability and achievement, experience, inservice training, expectations for students, and methods. Policy…