The sheer size of the United States discourages an outward-looking mentality. Such insularity is counterproductive, since the experiences of other countries, particularly Western Europe, can be illuminating. There, teachers have greater status and schooling standards are higher. Even Third World schools are major contributors to national…

Results of assessing the adaptive behavior of 200 individuals classified as mentally retarded and living in the West Bank region of the Middle East suggest that the nature and development of adaptive behavior of the mentally retarded in Third World areas may not conform to expected trends. (Author/DB)

Presents Botswana's experience with a national literacy program as a model for the understanding of policies and implementation of national literacy programs. Concludes that, although the Botswana National Literacy Programme represents a significant effort in adult literacy education, a rapid increase in the literacy rate is unlikely. (KO)

Presents information concerning the dissemination of foreign aid relative to sources, recipients, purposes, and efficiency. Questions whether foreign assistance to the education systems of countries in sub-Saharan Africa solves problems efficiently. Concludes that foreign aid does not bring about perceptible improvement and that it very often…

Describes innovative applications of different types of computers and information systems considered to have had high development impact on Asian and Pacific countries. Government computer applications in the areas of clerical systems, management systems, and public systems are described, and their developmental impact is discussed. (CLB)

The first article discusses issues relating to copyrights in America, including domestic and international organizations formed to protect copyrights, court litigation, international piracy, responsibility toward developing nations, and information technology. The second and third articles describe the Berne Convention for the Protection of…

Discusses three models of consultation and their assumptions regarding the roles and responsibilities of evaluation consultants, suggests collaborative approaches as appropriate for evaluating the internal functioning of distance education programs, and presents the application of a collaborative model to the selection of evaluation issues at…

Reports on an on-going study of traditional education in Sierra Leone using examples of traditional crafts. Notes that traditional education is not cut off from life; involves the whole family; is practical and situational, interdisciplinary and multi-methodological; and is geared to the student's interests, talents, and learning patterns. (DHP)

Using an economic framework, studies on educational costs and related policymaking issues in the area of formal public education in developing countries are reviewed. Key issues include the nature of educational costs, determinants of educational costs, how cost analysis can improve educational policymaking, and informational needs for cost…

Examines effect of Nicaragua's 1979 revolution on education, especially for minority Miskito Indians. Summarizes history of Indian culture in region. Suggests Sandinista government began emphasizing bilingual, bicultural education in 1982-83, sparked by deteriorating economic situation. Concludes multicultural education program, while hindered by…

Argues that the underdevelopment of national information sectors is a major factor acting against developing nations and lists a number of problems for which developing nations must provide effective solutions if their respective information sectors are to support national development. An agenda of activities for the 1990s to address this…

When distance education is provided to developing regions, reports of the effects on culture and local educators should be mandatory. The growth of postsecondary education and the declining standards of basic education in the Pacific region are considered in relation to aid assistance and education policies. The advantages and disadvantages of aid…

Describes the role of the United Nations University (UNU) in promoting the effective use of new information technologies in support of science and technology for development. The UNU Information and Decision Systems (INDES) project examines the constraints preventing developing nations from using advances in informatics and from integrating their…

This issue and its introductions, postscript, and 11 chapters deal with the special evaluation problems of programs in the developing world. Views of policymakers, practitioners, and evaluators on ways to evaluate development are presented. The collection offers a framework for debate and proposes new emphases for development evaluation. (SLD)

Discusses information issues from the Caribbean perspective including the benefits of national information infrastructures (NIIs), developmental uses of telecommunication and information science, the need for global telecommunication policies, and collaboration of international governments. Reports on creating NIIs and reviews the need for…