Publication

The study aims at assisting the Government in undertaking an evaluation of the system of secondary education, and skills development, in order to plan the many complex decisions, and future international finance assistance in the sector. The objectives of the study are to determine general employment trends, including a sampling of employer views on skill development; to evaluate the cost effectiveness, and quality of present academic, and vocational secondary education; and, to develop alternative scenarios for expansion of secondary education.

The study aims at assisting the Government in undertaking an evaluation of the system of secondary education, and skills development, in order to plan the many complex decisions, and future international finance assistance in the sector. The objectives of the study are to determine general employment trends, including a sampling of employer views on skill development; to evaluate the cost effectiveness, and quality of present academic, and vocational secondary education; and, to develop alternative scenarios for expansion of secondary education.

HIV/AIDS, and violent conflicts are giving rise to a massive generation of orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. The region currently has about 13 million orphans, most under the age of fifteen. Coping with the risks, and consequences of orphan-hood, poses immense problems: resources are limited, communities are being overwhelmed, and the realization of international development goals is being threatened. Yet, the contours of public action are unclear due to limited knowledge of the problem's magnitude, and a lack of clarity on the effectiveness of interventions.

Overriding all other issues in Russian secondary education and training is that of extreme financial stringency, such that only the most basic expenditures such as salaries and school heating and or meals can be met, and even those are often in serious arrears. This underlies the continuing limited ability to address effectively the following well-known issues, many of which are similar to other ex-communist countries. Vocational courses are often over-specialized and lnked to jobs for which there may no longer be any demand.

Universal education in Romania has been provided as of the middle of the nineteenth century, in three main regions, and, the first law on secondary, and higher education was passed in 1898, aligning the system to advanced European standards. Nonetheless, under the totalitarian regime until 1989, the educational system was totally distorted, particularly at the secondary, and higher levels, in comparison with that in other countries in the region.

The main goal of the overall Quality Program for Photovoltaics (QuaP-PV) project is to provide training to manufacturers of PV components and systems, testing organizations, and installation and maintenance service organizations on the importance of quality control and on ways to implement quality control systems. The objective of the task activities covered in this manual is to improve the capabilities of laboratories in developing countries to test and certify PV modules, balance of system (BOS) components, and loads.

Many countries suffer from high levels of water and sanitation-related diseases that affect the poorer segments of society, and children in particular. To break the transmission routes of these diseases increased access to water and sanitation must be combined with improved hygiene practices. Experience has shown that an effective method to improve hygiene is by teaching basic health and hygiene in schools, since children are important agents of change. This field note describes the experiences from a model for health and hygiene promotion through the school system in Peru.

Poland has in many respects made less progress than any other Central European countries in restructuring and updating its secondary education system to meet the needs of a transition economy. Consequently there are several serious issues which need to be further addressed. 1) Over-centralization: Educational policymaking in Poland continues to be mainly the concern of the Ministry of Education and the teachers' unions. Parents, pupils, local social leaders, and employers have limited involvement. This creates the impression that the system is run primarily to benefit those working in it.

In the first half of 1999, Kyrgyz authorities agreed with the International Development Association (IDA) that a review of Kyrgyz social expenditures, giving particular emphasis to health and education expenditures, would be valuable. This report presents findings from the resulting review undertaken between October 1999 and June 2000. The review team looked not only at these expenditures (including social protection) themselves, but also at their efficiency and effectiveness as a means for achieving Kyrgyz objectives in the social policy arena.

In the first half of 1999, Kyrgyz authorities agreed with the International Development Association (IDA) that a review of Kyrgyz social expenditures, giving particular emphasis to health and education expenditures, would be valuable. This report presents findings from the resulting review undertaken between October 1999 and June 2000. The review team looked not only at these expenditures (including social protection) themselves, but also at their efficiency and effectiveness as a means for achieving Kyrgyz objectives in the social policy arena.