The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspects and reports on the quality and effectiveness of educational provision in England. This research explores the extent to which non-mandatory curricular outdoor learning was recognised and reported by Ofsted in their inspections of state-maintained English primary…

Across the globe, the Salamanca Statement has provided the strongest impetus for drawing attention to the education of some of the most marginalised groups. In India, it has had a significant and specific impact on the provision of schooling opportunities for children with disabilities. This paper provides a critical analysis of key developments…

Despite the widespread education reform discourses attempting to alleviate high-stakes examination pressure and narrowly test-driven education systems in East Asia, none have been as systematic and drastic as the Free Year Program (FYP) recently implemented in South Korea. The FYP provides middle school students with a year-long reprieve from…

In recent years, the enhancement of learning and teaching has become a priority, not only for higher education institutions, but also for national governments, the European Union and the Bologna Process. This report aims to map the learning and teaching landscape in 28 higher education systems and to provide insight into how teaching enhancement…

Since independence, Nigeria has been searching diligently for a viable educational system capable of enhancing the socio-economic and political values inherent in the country. This paper discusses concepts such as management, qualitative education and Universal Basic Education. In addition to the above, the paper also examines the National…

Using interest group theory and the idea of public policy development and application following sequential stages, explores how key decisions were made about establishment and implementation of Australia's controversial national quality assurance program for higher education. Explains how Australia came to introduce a quality assurance program…

The purpose of this book is to discuss the history of educational reform in India and describe the steps taken by government to implement new policies. An education commission, better known as the Kothari Commission, published its report in 1966. As a result, the National Policy on Education (NPE) emerged in 1968 and was considered a major step…

This report describes the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a project designed to keep parents, school officials, and policy makers abreast of the educational realities. Information is collected and reported at regular intervals concerning the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of elementary and secondary school students. NAEP has…

A draft of proposed federal legislation entitled "America 2000 Excellence in Education Act" is presented in this document. Contents include a message from President Bush and a copy of the act, which offers proposals in the following areas: New American Schools; Merit Schools; training and certification of teachers and school leaders;…

This guide provides advice and recommendations on designing a system of external quality assessment (EQA) for systems and institutions of higher education. Based on a Dutch national model, key features of the suggested system include: ownership by higher education institutions themselves although sanctioned by the government; primary aims of…

Summarizes strengths and weakness of the Japanese approach to vocational training and education. Stresses the Japanese "obsession" with education and the high levels of education obtained by its citizens, the state's commitment to planning and financial support for high standards of industrial training, and industry's commitment to…

The thesis of this paper is that achievement tests have changed their primary function from serving as indicators of educational accomplishments to becoming instruments of educational policy, and have thus come to be regarded as effective means of altering educational achievement and productivity. This assertion is explored by using examples of…

In 1991, the Kansas Association of School Boards began a program called Quest for Quality. The program is based on the belief that public schools must adjust to changes in children, families, communities, and economic and political conditions in the nation and the world. Quest for Quality also reaffirms the American school system's responsiveness…

A study explored quality assessment and accountability in Dutch university education. The national system of quality assurance and various models used successfully to implement it are described, and the range of apparent effects and influences of quality assurance on Dutch higher education are examined. Comparison is made with American higher…

The minutes of eight Regional Forums (RFMs) conducted by the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) to solicit public comments on recommendations by the six NEGP Resource Groups (RGPs) concerning the President's and governors' six national education goals are presented. Between April 12 and May 17, 1991, eight governors conducted RFMs attended by…