This paper reviews responses of educational systems facing demographic and economic constraint, with particular reference to issues of migrant populations, decreased public spending, unemployment, expansion of vocational education, and common areas of future development. Education is concluded to be generally perceived as an instrument for social…

Early childhood education has received an increasing amount of attention in the last two decades in the United States and in other countries. There is now a strong consensus on the many benefits of preschool. Studies have shown that attending a high-quality preschool program not only increases children's readiness for kindergarten, but also causes…

The New Agenda of the Honduran government proposes the provision of preschool and primary school education for all Honduran children, including those living in isolated areas and in extreme poverty. The Community-Based Education Program (PROHECO) was launched in February 1999, and by December 2000 some 820 schools serving 39,540 students were in…

This study examined the provision of early childhood care and education (ECCE) in Trinidad and Tobago, focusing on the educational environment and demographic factors within ECCE. A representative national sample of 2,370 children, 175 teachers, and 883 parents from 79 public and private centers across the country completed questionnaires or…

This reference book provides a basic understanding of how education works in Canada, from preschool to adult education. Chapter 1 examines Canada's elementary and secondary schools and covers: (1) decision making for public schools (roles and responsibilities of provincial, local, and federal governments); (2) paying for public education (revenue…

There are currently no significant policies or programs to address the underrepresentation of males in the early childhood and primary education teaching profession in New Zealand. This paper examines the reasons for male underrepresentation and presents arguments for and against the employment of male teachers in these fields. Reasons cited for…

This collection of essays exemplifies the universal theme that competence in language is key to success in learning and in life. The research studies reported in the collection offer insights into the challenges of literacy learning in Asia: social, cultural, and linguistic factors that sometimes constrain the teacher's approach to instruction.…

This report contains basic data about the organization and structure of pre-school and primary education in the educational system of the countries of the European Union. Three essential aspects of children's schooling are addressed: (1) the pattern of the school year and the time devoted to teaching; (2) organization of teaching and evaluation;…

This paper reports the results of a 3-year study of children's use of computers in their homes and examines the implications of such use for educators. Subjects were over 400 children between ages 5 and 12 who came from a variety of social, economic, and cultural backgrounds in urban Sydney (Australia). The study aimed to develop knowledge and…

This paper provides an overview of practices in small rural elementary schools in Ireland and recent trends related to school size. There are 3,200 "ordinary" elementary schools in the Republic of Ireland serving children aged 4-12 in eight levels: two preschool levels and grades 1-6. System-wide policies with implications for small…

This annual report details the activities and accomplishments of the Polish Children and Youth Foundation (PCYF), established in 1992 to foster the development of Polish children and youth from age 5 to 20 through financial support to organizations serving children and youth, through training programs for local government officials and others, and…

In light of recent international studies regarding children's mathematics achievement, this review examines United Kingdom research and literature into early numeracy. The review is designed to provide information about a range of teaching strategies as well as to stimulate discussion and challenge current practices. The review addresses the…

This paper compares and analyzes preschool mathematics education in Singapore and India in terms of strategies, learning activities, teacher expectations, and parental involvement. The paper describes the mathematics curriculum of one school in Erode, India, including teaching methods, and in Singapore. The results of a parent survey in each…

The influence of visual and auditory factors and intonational emphasis on sentence comprehension skills of young normal and mentally handicapped children was studied, using the Sentence Comprehension Test. (Sample items are appended). (Author/MH)

This monograph focuses on aspects of early child care in India. Conceptions of child care and child rearing, socialization processes, types of child care programs available, and research relating to the young child are among the major topics of discussion. (CM)