The National Institute of Mental Health reported in 1998 that suicide in the United States is the third leading cause of death among young people, and that they are the only age group whose mortality rate has increased due to suicide during the last 20 years. The United States Territory of Guam has also experienced an increase in adolescent…

Since the United States has National Goals for Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress, a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a "National Initiative" in reading and the language arts, a National Commission on Excellence in Education, why not have a National Curriculum? Two questions arise: (1) does the…

In 1984 Australia's federal government decided to reactivate the Curriculum Development Centre, an agency abandoned in the early 1980's for political and economic reasons. This paper examines the context in which the center currently acts and the operations that it conducts. The paper first considers background issues related to national…

In this discussion on the feasibility of establishing a "National" curriculum for physical education, it is pointed out that it would first be necessary to reach an agreement on the overall goals or objectives of physical education. Consensus would have to be obtained on the primary focus of such a curriculum and a realistic set of desired…

Uganda's education system was damaged and retarded by the military regime of the 1970's. About 50 percent of the primary school age children go to school and of these only 20 percent manage to proceed to secondary school. The ultimate number that manage to gain admission to the single university is 0.8 percent of these. Curriculum provides for an…

Describes a national project on computer and information literacy in the Netherlands for all students in lower secondary education, i.e., the 12- to 16-year-old age group. Curriculum development is discussed with emphasis on equal participation by female students and teachers, and hardware and software specifications are noted. (LRW)

Curriculum reform in Scotland in the 1970s is described. The implications for testing and teaching are discussed. (GDC)

These papers, delivered at the 1981 World Assembly of the International Council on Education for Teaching, reflect the theme of the conference: provision of basic education for all persons, focusing particularly on policies and situations in developing nations. The 14 presentations were from nine nations: (1) "Curriculum Materials for Basic…

This overview of the current status of computer-based learning in the United Kingdom (U.K.) begins with a discussion of the Microelectronics Education Program (MEP), which was implemented in 1981 to: (1) provide inservice teacher training in the educational aspects of microelectronics; (2) stimulate and service curriculum development efforts using…

Issues associated with the lack of statistical skills among educational and psychological researchers are discussed. Issues are associated with accreditation standards, faculty positions for psychometric specialists, measurement curricula, and licensing organizations. The Test User Qualification Working Group has produced a model test user…

The government of the Netherlands is currently rethinking national educational policy on a broad basis, according to this report. In addition to preparing the way for a substantial restructuring of the educational system, from the pre-primary to adult education levels, this national policy overhaul has raised major issues regarding the purposes of…

To enhance the professional development of teachers and encourage an ongoing climate of innovation and reform, while providing for direct benefits for students, Australia's Schools Commission instituted a program allowing funds for curricular innovation to be granted directly to teachers. Interviews with a random sample of 45 of these grantees,…

A comparative research project is being implemented to describe how curriculum guidelines are developed and applied in Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, and to compare the underlying structures and strategies that influence and determine curriculum work and curriculum-making at different levels of decision making and enactment.…

A study was conducted in England in 1990 to determine the impact of the l988 Education Act, which requires all primary school teachers of the 5-16 age group to pursue a common and detailed national curriculum in each subject. This legislation mirrors the trend within educational systems towards centrally determined goals with local responsibility…

In Malawi, adult literacy deserves immediate attention in order to promote health, family planning, and productivity. While policy commitment for adult literacy promotion has not been lacking, intensified action has been. In 1979 the government accepted the Unesco Mission Report to undertake a functional literacy program on the successful…