This report submitted to the World Bank analyzes the early childhood development (ECD) policies, strategies, and programs in Egypt in 2001. Information was gathered from documents, observations in kindergartens and nurseries, interviews with more than 50 teachers and parents, and a survey of policymakers and program managers in Cairo, Egypt. The…

Explores questions regarding the knowledge and proficiency level expected of second-language learners, the acquisition of valued knowledge, the relationship between cognition and language learning, the nature of "progress," and quality curriculum design. These questions are discussed in reference to the development in Australia of the…

Provides an introduction to the German educational theory of didaktik. Didaktik emphasizes critical thinking incorporated into content instruction. Although originally developed in the 19th century, didaktik has enjoyed renewed popularity within the last 10 years. Discusses the history of the theory and its impact on U.S. pedagogy. (MJP)

Presents excerpts from two interviews, conducted in 1979 and 1995, with John Coe, a British primary education specialist and advocate for child-centered education. As primary education has veered toward a national curriculum and assessments, school choice, locally managed schools, and a strong, politically charged accountability element, teachers…

Focuses on English as an additional language assessment practices in England and summarizes a recent survey of the assessment frameworks being used in different parts of the country. Findings are discussed with reference to the need to develop appropriate assessment practices within the national curriculum. (11 references) (Adjunct ERIC…

Explores the meaning of going to school in Guajiquiro, a deprived rural area in Honduras. Detailed descriptions of daily experiences at an elementary and a middle school spell out the range of investments needed to improve and sustain educational opportunities for Honduran children. Highlights the importance of shared ownership and community-based…

Presents a case study of a fourth-year kindergarten teacher who has altered her teaching from academic to more developmentally appropriate ways and now attempts to incorporate new curriculum expectations. Examines how her teaching practice evolved, her approach to new curriculum expectations, and what tensions, worries, successes and concerns…

Discusses the educational restructuring movement in Australia and places it in the context of past educational reforms. Educational restructuring is defined as a national curriculum framework with a common set of national goals and a curriculum streamlined into eight key learning areas. The arts is one of those areas. (MJP)

This paper describes problems likely to arise as special education students in Great Britain follow the National Curriculum's programs of study in geography. The establishment of National Curriculum attainment targets which are based on prescribed content requires that teachers organize their classes into several groups working on different…

Refutes the multiculturalist's claims to current mathematics curriculum, including misinterpretation of mathematics history, promotion of racial stereotypes, and missing ethnic groups. Discusses the need for a national curriculum. (YP)

Reports on a survey conducted by the Association for Language Learning (ALL) of 199 foreign language teachers in England and Wales concerning the implementation of the National Curriculum in Modern Foreign Languages. Teachers felt that the major strengths of the curriculum included emphasis on the target language and enhanced status for foreign…

Considers questions relating to the introduction of particle physics into post-GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) courses. Describes a project that is producing teacher and student materials to support the teaching of particle physics at this level. Presents a proposed syllabus for a particle physics module. (KR)

National curriculum assessment in England and Wales is explored, focusing on its troubled implementation. The work of the Task Group on Assessment and Testing and teacher resistance to the mandated testing are discussed. Experiences in England and Wales provide insight into what can be expected in a national assessment system. (SLD)

Examines some of the questions faced by primary school teacher trainers in the design of programs of study for student teachers that provide a framework for economic and industrial understanding. Considers whether classroom teachers can incorporate this framework into the primary school curriculum. (MDM)

The paper discusses the role of schools in Great Britain's preservice teacher education, noting the political history of the country's teacher education. Research shows that the result of partnerships between schools and institutions of higher education has been teachers who enter the field with satisfactory qualifications. (SM)