South Africa's economics of education: A stocktaking and an agenda for the way forward

This paper reviews some of the existing economics of education literature from the perspective of South Africa's education policymaking needs. It also puts forward a suggested research agenda for future work. The review is arranged according to five areas of research: rates of return, production functions, teacher incentives, benefit incidence analysis and cross-country comparisons. Production functions, especially if translated to cost-effectiveness models, can point to important policy solutions. Teacher incentives is a policy area that is in need of a better theoretical and empirical basis. Rates of return are difficult for policymakers to interpret, but suggest a need for a qualification below the Grade 12 level. While benefit incidence analysis can demonstrate large improvements in the equity of public financing, cross-country comparisons reveal that not only is the distribution of schooling outcomes particularly unequal, on average it is well below what the country's level of development would predict.     

Perceptions of pre-service teachers on seismic risk and their implications for science education: a comparative study between Spain and Portugal

Abstract

This study investigated the importance given by two groups of pre-service teachers of primary education from Spain and Portugal to seismic risk in a framework of different natural risks, both in personal terms and as future teachers. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Some questions about the seismic phenomenon were also included. The sample groups consisted of 110 students from an institution in Spain and 121 from one in Portugal. Both institutions are in cities affected by the historic Lisbon earthquake of 1755. The results showed that the risk of forest fire was the first choice for classroom study in both cases. The Spanish group was also more focused on the importance of other risks like flood and drought. The Portuguese group showed a greater concern with seismic risk, frequently referring to their own historic earthquake of 1755. A few gaps in knowledge concerning earthquake prediction and comparing seismic risk in different regions of their own countries were also found. In accordance with the results, it is suggested that training courses for primary school teachers should include Disaster Risk Education in Science Education for a better understanding of the impact of various hazards and a greater concern with seismic risk due to its particular features, especially in regions where the seismic pattern is characterized by long seismic cycles with major earthquake episodes.     

西部高校教师的质量问题及原因分析

西部高校教师的整体质量问题不容乐观,造成这种状况的一个重要原因是教师中人才的严重流失,但更重要的原因是教师管理与开发存在一系列的问题,如分配制度缺乏激励性,高层次人才引进困难,教师人力资源开发工作落后,工作条件相对较差,个人难以施展才华,人才管理水平落后,人事制度改革滞后,西部高校外部环境相对较差.     

新加坡教学工厂模式对我国职业学校教师能力培养的启示和借鉴

国家中长期教育改革和发展规划纲要(2010-2020)提出大力发展职业教育,要以服务为宗旨,以就业为导向,推进教育教学改革,我国职业教育发展遇到政策支持的大好时机。当前,我国职业学校教师能力和素质还不能适应职业教育发展的要求,教师实践性职业能力极为有限。新加坡教学工厂模式是一种创新的办学思想和理念,对我国职业学校教师能力培养很有启示和借鉴作用。     

基于胜任力的高校教师薪酬体系初探

高等学校教师薪酬体系直接影响着高校教师的发展及高校核心竞争力.从阐述胜任力的内涵和特征入手,探讨和分析了高校教师胜任力的内涵,剖析了我国高校教师薪酬体系目前存在的缺陷和构建基于胜任力的教师薪酬体系的意义,并提出构建基于胜任力的高校教师薪酬体系的四个步骤.     

中小学生职业生涯规划教育的构建与实施

培养教育学生,为其引领人生和职业发展方向,是教育者义不容辞的责任。从这个意义上讲,中小学职业生涯规划教育尤显重要。本文试图在得出中小学学生职业规划教育概念的基础上,从实施者、阶段化实施两个层面提出实施的途径与方法,以促进中小学学生更好地成长与发展。     

心理教育与班主任工作

良好的心理素质是人才的固有内涵。班主任教师必须提高心理教育能力,掌握心理教育规律和分析影响学生心理素质的因素,充分认识学生心理教育的重要性及必要性,加强心理教育研究。     

影响高校体育教师心理健康的原因分析与对策研究

采用文献资料法、问卷调查法和数理统计法等,对高校体育教师的心理健康状况进行了调查研究,结果表明高校体育教师存在程度不等的各种心理健康问题,常见的心理问题类型包括躯体化、抑郁、焦虑和恐怖。并存在着性别和年龄的差异。本文还对高校体育教师心理健康的影响因素及对策进行探讨。     

高师院校钢琴课教学的思考

高等师范院校钢琴课要合理制定教学目标,合理确定教学内容,合理进行教学安排,切实培养学生具有扎实的钢琴基础理论知识和一定的实际演奏技能。     

90后大学生的特征及班主任工作策略

基于独特的时代背景和成长环境,90后大学生在心理、思想性格、言语行为等方面表现出自身的特征。本文描述了90后大学生的若干特征,并进一步做了归因分析,认为针对90后大学生的特征,班主任可尝试一些新的工作策略,以期收到更好的教育效果。