The author examines the actual concept of a practical curriculum. He notes that educational planners, especially in the Third World, have argued for a strong vocational element to curricula (often with an emphasis on manual skills) and yet, historically, this has often conflicted with parental perceptions of the value of schooling. (Editor/CT)

Argues that economic constraints for educational planners and the political/ideological context in which educational decisions are made have changed despite the demand for educational expansion with reduced spending. Suggests development of new strategies to increase public spending and improve educational quality. (Author/TRS)

Education of the gifted and talented, from the perspective of Botswana's past and present national and educational development, is reviewed. There is a need to balance much needed education for gifted students (who may become the country's leaders) with the basic education needs of the majority of Botswana's citizens, many of whom lack basic…

Individual students and scholars from developing or developed countries are entitled to have their personal achievements in education, research, and science evaluated according to identical standards. Only the development of systems of comparability in these fields will increase the level of mutual confidence and cooperation. (MSE)

Discusses development of educational television in Nigeria, some aspects of educational and instructional television, and their importance in Nigerian education and national development. Some educational programs broadcast on Nigerian television are described, major problems facing the television industry are discussed, and recommendations for…

Reports from five librarians who recently worked for the Canadian University Service Overseas on 2-year contracts in the Third World are excerpted: Molly Walsh Miller (Nigeria); Peggy Sinclair (Papua New Guinea); Doug Arnott (The Gambia, West Africa); and Shirley Giggey (Sierra Leone, West Africa, and Papua New Guinea). (EJS)

Discusses the need for, and the development, use, and future trends of, the University of the West Indies Distance Teaching Experiment, which utilizes telephone and communications satellite technology teleconferencing to extend educational opportunities to the peoples of the Caribbean. (MBR)

Assesses the promotion and development of online information retrieval in China. Highlights include opening of the first online retrieval center at China Overseas Building Development Company Limited; establishment and activities of a cooperative network; online retrieval seminars; telecommunication lines and terminal installations; and problems…

Provides description of four branches of the National Library of Papua New Guinea: (1) Readers Services Branch (reference, film, serials, and Papua New Guinea collections); (2) National Archives and Records Service; (3) Advisory Services (provides support to special, public, and school libraries); (4) Technical Services Branch (acquisitions,…

Addresses overall contribution of nation's university libraries to nation's library network--public, schools, academic, special, and national libraries of defined geographical area--with special emphasis on Nigeria. Highlights include dual roles of university and national libraries, cooperative schemes for materials acquisition and regional…

Presents a model for simultaneously addressing the problems of illiteracy and the counseling requirements of the skill training programs in Third World countries. The model includes advisory committees, needs analysis, staff development and training, program assessment, and a placement and follow-up component. (KH)

Discusses the development of entrepreneurship programs for women in developing countries. Examines the importance of focusing on rural areas, developing basic and entrepreneurial skills for women migrating to urban areas, encouraging linkage between urban and rural women, and considering women's personal needs. (CT)

Describes the background to and the aims, development, production, and testing of the Improving Port Performance project initiated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to provide training for port managers in developing countries. The content and approach of the first set of materials produced are outlined. (MBR)

Case studies provide evidence as to why Third World employers generally prefer male workers and consider certain jobs to be more suitable for men, and other jobs, much less numerous, to be more suitable for women. The authors also draw a number of distinctions between stereotype and fact. (Author/CT)

In many African countries tests used as a selection examination for entrance to secondary and higher levels of education do not have content validity. The practices and problems of test development in Africa are discussed. The advantages of domain-referenced tests are examined. (RM)