The dimensionality of school marks in compulsory schools was examined using databases (BACE72 and BACE73) on 200,000 Swedes born in 1972 and 1973 who had received a school-leaving certificate. Marks for 17 subject areas were analyzed for multidimensionality, and gender differences in ranked abilities were noted. Factors affecting achievement were…

Examines Wisconsin teachers' perceived competencies in, attitudes toward, and amount of class time devoted to teaching about the environment. Discusses the effects of Wisconsin environmental education mandates concerning preservice preparation in environmental education and K-12 environmental education curriculum plans. Identifies areas where the…

Comparison of U.S. and British systems of postcompulsory education leads to reflections on how to achieve a unified system in Britain. Possibilities include requiring education to age 18 and having a single qualification at that age. (SK)

In this article, the author discusses the impact of compulsory state schooling in North America. The author stresses that schools are not making kids smarter, more capable or more skilled. The basic aspects of everyday school life have emerged and continue to evolve not as a response to the needs of students, but as driven by institutional needs.…

This report seeks to address critical issues such as these by synthesising the evidence on innovations in more market-driven education systems. The analysis draws on data from over 20 OECD and non-OECD countries, including both developed nations that seek to move beyond established systems of state-run schools, and developing nations where formal…

This paper examines the contribution of parents' education and children's gender on parental expectations of their children's future education and the role of parental perceptions of their child's competencies in the formation of their expectations. A group of university and vocationally educated parents (N = 418) were asked to estimate the…

Based on the research of new educational inequality in the minority regions of present day China, this article points out the importance of educational equality principle in government's decision making and suggests that it should give top priority to ethnic minorities when distributing education resources, to develop their compulsory education…

Lack of access to basic education leads to diminished individual and national capabilities, therewith furthering cycles of poverty. An equitable education system meeting basic learning needs represents not only a human right, but also a means for reducing poverty, promoting productivity, and sustaining development. The Government of China--the…

Despite Sri Lanka's 1990 commitment to provide 10-11 years of free education to all, only 93% of children in the 5-14-year-old age group were in school by the year 2000. Moreover, the education participation rates are not equitable across the country, varying by socio-economic groups. This paper examines the determinants of school…

This publication contains a brief description of secondary education in Estonia. The first section provides an overview of the societal and political context in which the educational system exists. The second section discusses current educational issues, including policy formation, finance, the school role in the community, administration and…

Author tackled the controversial subject of compulsory school attendance and based upon our educational history supplied his reasons for extending it upwards to the age of 18. (RK)

"Learnfare" is a term applied to the mandating of school attendance for teen parents and/or school age dependent children in households receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits as a condition of continued eligibility. This idea emanates from policymakers' concern about high truancy and dropout rates generally,…

This document was prepared in response to a comparative study tour undertaken as part of the European Communities Commission's Community Education Programme. It describes the educational structures of Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of German, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemborg, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Each country's…

In this monograph, the author examines the often controversial area of compulsory attendance, its philosophy and implementation. Through various case histories, the State's power vs the fundamental rights of individuals is studied at length. Litigations are reviewed in which a 3-way balance was sought among the State's interest, the child's…

A recent United States Supreme Court ruling requires that school staff with contagious diseases be treated like other handicapped employees who may be "otherwise qualified" to continue work under reasonable accommodation. Compulsory education laws are facing court challenges in several states, as parents seek more flexibility in…