Scientific literacy in developed and developing countries

The concept of scientific literacy is now widely used to represent goal statements for science education. These tend to be remarkably similar in developing and developed countries. It is argued that, although this is desirable idealistically, a more realistic approach is required in determining priorities, given the differing cultural and economic contexts of science education. Exposure to science and technology varies in developed and developing countries, yet students in both contexts have difficulty defining science. However, the problem of equating science with progress, but not understanding why, is most acute in developing countries, for it leads to blind faith.

Many students in developing countries receive a limited exposure to science, those in developed countries are bombarded, The question for both is what is most important for them to know. The recognition of science as process is offered as a solution.     

Cognitive and socioemotional caregiving in developing countries

Enriching caregiving practices foster the course and outcome of child development. This study examined 2 developmentally significant domains of positive caregiving-cognitive and socioemotional-in more than 127,000 families with under-5 year children from 28 developing countries. Mothers varied widely in cognitive and socioemotional caregiving and engaged in more socioemotional than cognitive activities. More than half of mothers played with their children and took them outside, but only a third or fewer read books and told stories to their children. The GDP of countries related to caregiving after controlling for life expectancy and education. The majority of mothers report that they do not leave their under-5s alone. Policy and intervention recommendations are elaborated.     

Screening,deschooling and developing countries

This paper is concerned with the screening hypothesis of schooling and the issue of deschooling for developing countries. Initially the mechanics of the screening hypothesis are described and it is argued that if the hypothesis is accepted, deschooling is a next possible step. This leads to a very brief survey of Reimer's book School is Dead. In the second half of the paper recent data from Northern Nigeria are presented which indicate (a) a recent slowing down of primary enrolments, (b) a decline in, already poor, secondary school examination results, (c) an inability to promote formal technical schools as a base for technical training. Turning to the employment sector, data are presented from a sample of Nigerian textile workers which show that while both the unschooled and the primary school leaver start off at the same rate of pay, the unschooled worker falls progressively behind. Similar data, and conclusions, are also presented from a survey of small scale industry workers. Although both these results support the productive rather than the screening role of schooling, caution must remain since it may be that the schooled belong to a different ability group from the unschooled. Finally it is argued that in Nigeria the ideas of the deschoolers may have more relevance at the secondary school level, partly because the actual results of these have been so poor and partly because the existence of thousands of, at least partially, trained workers in the small scale sector suggests that alternatives to formal schooling do exist.     

Gender violence in schools in the developing world

This paper explores gender violence in schools in what is commonly known as the ‘developing world’ through a review of recent research written in English. Violence in the school setting has only recently emerged as a widespread and serious phenomenon in these countries, with the consequence that our knowledge and understanding of it is embryonic; much of it remains invisible or unrecognized. Informed by research from elsewhere, we use theories of gender/sexual relations to provide a more coherent understanding of the issues, to point to absences and open up spaces for further research with the potential to contribute to strategies through which it might be addressed. We start by clarifying the purposes and the broad position adopted in writing this paper. Then, we trace the conceptual connections between gender/sexual relations and gender violence in schools, acknowledging the importance of locating understanding of the phenomena within the context of the school’s culture, its structures and processes. We organize the review using two overlapping categories: implicit gender violence, which relates to the everyday institutional structures and practices, and explicit gender violence, which relates to more overtly sexualized encounters. Both categories cover gender violence perpetrated by students on other students, by teachers on students, and by students on teachers. In the final section, the theoretical connections (and distinctions) generated by the research allow for a critical overview of the strategies that have been used to address the problem to date.     

The university and the schools in developing countries

The work of universities in developing countries is reviewed in the context of a consideration of the whole system of education in such countries in the post World War II period. The author recommends closer links between the school and university systems with a view to improving teacher education, the creation of school curricula more relevant to current needs and flexibility in relation to admission to post-secondary education. Universities should develop programmes, including sub-degree programmes, designed to meet manpower needs. Efforts should be directed towards developing non-formal education, the training of administrators, political leaders and towards stimulating rural and cultural development. Universities in developing countries should maintain links with universities in advanced countries; the standards they set should be comparable with those of universities in advanced countries whilst at the same time being related to the needs and aspirations of the local communities. Examples are drawn from Africa and the South Pacific.