The state of early learning provision remains elusive in Namibia. This study aimed at determining the provision of early learning to children aged between 0-8 years; caregivers' capabilities; and the resources availability in the country. The study used a mixed methods approach in collecting data from a sample of 32 ECD centres and caregivers. The…

This paper aims to examine the obstacles hindering the successful implementation of Free Primary teaching in Kakua chiefdom, Bo district, Southern Sierra Leone, focusing on the adequacy of funding and provision of educational resources to schools. The research employed a survey design with a cross-sectional approach, involving the collection of…

School leaders in Solomon Islands have shifted away from the basic education policy that promotes equitable access to quality basic education to practices that target high enrolment to generate revenue. This research highlights the implications of this shift and its impact on quality education. It aims at finding the balance between the school's…

In Namibia, natural science (NS) is one of the priority subjects in upper primary phases (Grades 4 to 7). However, in the Omusati Region of Namibia, there are increasing public concerns that many learners are not performing well in NS. This study surveyed the views of NS teachers on the challenges affecting upper primary learners' performance in…

This study explored the views of the lower secondary gifted students in relation to the learning climate established in their regular schools and the gifted education centers, with a focus on their psychological safety, in the Turkish context. It also investigated what these students and their teachers expect from a potentially safe and desirable…

In their own words, 50 students in two Los Angeles area schools reveal their feelings about litter, graffiti, and the appearance of their schools. The analysis includes a discussion of the research in environmental psychology as it pertains to overcrowding, noise and pollution, design and appearance, and their effects on productivity. Excerpts of…

Aiming to relieve overcrowded schools operating on multiple tracks, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has invested more than $19 billion to build 130 new facilities over the past decade. District leaders asked researchers at Berkeley to estimate the achievement effects of this massive initiative--benefits that may stem from entering…

This study exploits a unique policy environment and a large panel dataset to evaluate the impact of school crowding on student achievement in Wake County, NC. We also estimate the effects of two education policy initiatives that are often used to address crowding: multi-track year-round calendars and mobile classrooms. We estimate a multi-level…

Each school year, the School Climate Survey is administered to gather information on the perceptions that students, their parents, and school staffs hold concerning their schools and their performance. In 2008-2009, the survey was distributed to approximately 90,200 parents, 54,200 elementary, secondary, and adult students, and 25,000 staff. In…

The extent to which school buildings support education has been an important topic for policymakers. One issue is the physical condition of the buildings, particularly as school buildings age. Another is the ability of the buildings to accommodate shifts in the nation's population: some communities have experienced decreases in school-age…

A recent one-on-one attempt by 17 Brown University students to "shadow" high school pupils for 1 day disclosed the bewildering complexity of high schools and the difficulties inherent in categorizing or evaluating them. This paper discusses the nature of this complexity. First, most high schools are densely populated work places. This…

This report provides national data for 903 U.S. public elementary and secondary schools on the condition of public schools in 1999 and the costs to bring them into good condition. Additionally provided are school plans for repairs, renovations, and replacements; data on the age of public schools; and overcrowding and practices used to address…

Public opinion surveys conducted by Public Agenda confirm that parents, students, and educators from diverse ethnic groups share the same fundamental aspirations for education and agree on the basic reforms needed in schools. The author, a senior advisor for Public Agenda, describes survey findings that suggest that all groups see education as the…

Given the breadth and complexity of the current school improvement movement, the upgrading of physical structures may be the only specific reform area demanding a straight-forward approach. The widespread physical disrepair and overcrowding characterizing today's innercity schools provide students with no viable alternative to urban squalor and…

The purpose of this paper was to share findings from an earlier study and to provide a framework for administrators to use in the implementation of class-size reduction (CSR) in their buildings. The study examined actual and average class size (CS), pupil-teacher ratios (PTR), and their differences. A primary goal was to clarify the ramifications…