There is constant pressure on governments and policy makers to raise the standard of education, and to develop appropriate curriculum and pedagogies for students. It is no easy task. This book presents eight specific case studies of education reform implementation which capture how the design and implementation choices of policy makers are shaped by national and historical contexts. They offer real examples of the choices and constraints faced by policymakers and practitioners. The cases are a mix of nationally and locally mandated reforms with five examples from nations where the state initiated and guided reforms. The concluding synthesis chapter highlights commonalities and differences across the cases and disparate responses to shared concerns. Providing a breadth of real-world research, it will assist policy makers, practitioners and other stakeholders interested in system change. (1) Contains eight case studies of national reform and other major types of reform; (2) Situates policies and actions in national and historical contexts, and identifies the choices and constraints faced by policymakers and practitioner; and (3) Cases are written by people closely involved in the design, implementation or evaluation of aspects of the reforms.