Purpose: Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) was first reported in Malawi in 1997. The major strategy used to deal with BBTD required banana growers to uproot and burn all their bananas and replace them with disease-free imported planting materials. This had limited success only. This paper uses an actor-oriented approach to explain this experience…

The aim of this article is twofold. It describes a long-term relationship with a not-for-profit organisation in the UK, focusing on a particular project that used drama as a tool for building self-confidence and employability. At the same time it reviews autoethnography as a research method, describing its distinctive features and questioning the…

The nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area enjoy the greatest advantages of the innovation economy. The Bay Area accounted for nearly $1 trillion in economic productivity in 2018; the only metropolitan area with a higher per-capita gross domestic product was oil-rich and comparatively tiny Midland, Texas. Unemployment in most Bay Area…

International large-scale assessments (ILSAs) are one of the most important tools policymakers and other educational stakeholders have to inform evidence based decision making for educational reform. Despite this, and the widespread use of ILSA data, results are sometimes misunderstood or misinterpreted. Here, we offer a brief guide to ILSAs and…

Part of the process of broader research is presented, in which it is necessary to establish a context of comparison between two Latin American nations. They implement educational policies related to human rights and training for social coexistence. It is assumed that the role of international organizations strongly influences the definition of…

At this transformational moment in history, this report takes time to center Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) within the assessment realm; from teaching and learning experiences to internal and external mandates, from accreditation requirements to advocacy and agency. This work requires more than a statement composed of…

This discussion builds on the analyses in the chapters in this volume. As the OECD has been and remains a powerful agent in the development of public governance, and thus in education governance, the discussion is also structured on the basis of OECD governance and leadership reports. Some of the results from those reports are used but that does…

This paper discusses participation in the pre-university education sector by reviewing three stakeholders: Local communities, the Boards of Trustees (BOTs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), their contributions to the sector, and their main challenges that prevent them from realizing more significant impacts from the perspectives of…

This paper examines the influence of Iranian teacher unions on educational policy reforms, focusing on the evolution of teacher unions over the past two decades. Our key finding reveals a shift in the discourse and mental model of Iranian teacher unions, with an increased emphasis on education policy changes for quality and equity education.…

Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) began with the ambition of reducing inequalities in education. This paper unpacks the enactment of SDG4 in Laos in relation to ethnic minority students by three groups of policy actors: policymakers, donor agencies, and teachers in an ethnic minority boarding school. Informed by Nancy Fraser's three dimensions…

Cultural perspectives impact governance, and certain cultures may prefer hierarchical and centralized forms of governance, while others may lean towards more democratic and participatory ones. Governance, guided by ethical worldviews, ensures transparency, accountability, and integrity in decision-making. Worldviews significantly impact leadership…

The 2024 Illinois Career and Technical Education Report is submitted in compliance with Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 435/2e, which requires a written career and technical education (CTE) report to be issued to the governor annually. This report describes the establishment of and delivery of CTE in Illinois, the existing condition of Illinois CTE…

Migration is a complex phenomenon shaped by personal and systemic crises that disproportionately affect asylum seekers. These individuals often experience traumas spanning pre-migration, transit, and postmigration phases. This study examines the psychological impact of migration, focusing on early maladaptive schemas (EMS) which are deeply…

Background/purpose: This study investigates the state of education for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Afghanistan, focusing on the challenges and opportunities within special vocational schools and inclusive education practices. Despite legislative frameworks like the 2004 Constitution and the ratification of the CRPD in 2012, systemic…

While the socio-ecological challenges of the Anthropocene are complex and interdisciplinary in nature, contemporary science is profoundly implicated in understanding and responding to them. The latest Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Development (PISA) 2025 Science Framework has…