Explores the differences between educational and socio-political values. Maintains that the task of education is not wholly exhausted by the demands of government or prevailing society. Proceeds to consider the aims of multicultural education from a purely rational, culture-free, perspective. (JDH)

Examines the relationships between national language policies, ideology, and education, using South Africa as an example. Emphasizes the politics of language, the nature of the ideology of language, and the functions of language policy in education. Considers effects of educational responses to cultural and linguistic diversity. (PGD)

Reviews recent research in bilingual education and English as a second language (ESL) in an attempt to arrive at some generalization about what characterizes effective bilingual and ESL instruction. Challenges the conventional conceptualization of ESL as an isolated element within bilingual programs and offers suggestions for improving ESL teacher…

Studies show that the use of the mother-tongue (Guarani) as a medium of instruction with students in Paraguay is the most significant determining factor in the acquisition of knowledge. The discrepancy between educational ideology and educational policies in Paraguay regarding the implementation of bilingual education programs negatively affects…

Discusses the problems of selecting a language of instruction in Nigerian schools due to the fact that Nigerian languages are rich in expression in traditional settings but generally insufficient to cope with a modern school curriculum. Eight solutions to specific educational problems are offered. (Author/DB)

Since 1988, thousands of rural villagers across Senegal have participated in a basic education program called TOSTAN, which means "breakthrough" in Wolof, the majority language. Supported by UNICEF and implemented in the six national languages of Senegal, TOSTAN goes beyond traditional literacy programs to link literacy learning with…

Gaelic is a minority language in Scotland. Gaelic speakers tend to be older and concentrated in the Western Highlands and Islands and some urban centers. Gaelic is used mainly in craft work and with friends and community members at prayer meetings, stores, post offices, and social events. Gaelic has no official status and limited legal protection.…

This report describes a districtwide evaluation of the instructional services provided to English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in Structured English Immersion classrooms in grades 1-3. The program uses two models (teaching in English, with the primary language for clarification, and teaching primarily in English, with other instruction in the…

The notion of national unity through a single official language is defended by policy makers, who point out the practical and financial drawbacks involved in teaching in the vernacular in multilingual nations. Findings from grassroots-level case studies in Senegal, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka attest to the…

This briefing paper focuses on the choices of instructional language in Pacific classrooms, as mandated by national or state policies, and discusses consequences of such choices on students' academic achievement and career preparation in the changing Pacific region. The paper first notes that in most South Pacific secondary schools, English is the…

This study compared the impact of experimental bilingual schools to the impact of regular schools in Guinea-Bissau and Niger. The Guinea-Bissau school used Creole for instruction in the first two grades, then transitioned abruptly to Portuguese in third grade. Nigerian children were taught in one of the five main languages (Hausa, Zarma, Peul,…

Provides a brief depiction of cultural background of immigrant minorities and their location in Swedish society and describes major components of policy making within the educational system. Additionally, it provides a selective description of multicultural and multilingual instruction. (AH)

Presents results of research on the second-language proficiency of children participating in an experimental bilingual school, where children used mother tongue 75 percent the first year, 40 percent the second. Children attended neighborhood schools from the third year on. Supports the claim that mother tongue teaching does not harm…

Summarizes Quebec's White Paper reforms, i.e., schools rather than school boards are to become the pivot, parents are to become involved in management and control, confessionality to be abolished, universal sufferage to be abolished, school boards no longer intermediary with Ministry, schools to become more pluralist, schools quaranteed 5-year…

Investigated the effect of the medium of instruction and medium of examination on the achievement of Nigerian primary school pupils (N=599). Pupils were given differential treatments using either the Yoruba language or English. Results indicated that groups instructed in their mother tongue (Yoruba) performed better than the remaining groups.…