Issues in decentralizing the provision of education

This paper analyzes some of the problems that arise in decentralizing education to the private sector. We concentrate on the difficulties that result from the heterogeneity of students and competition among schools in a location setting. We analyze two main issues, the resources expended by schools and the mix of students in schools, and report on results for two others, the location of schools and their number. For each of these, we investigate the extent to which decentralizing the provision of schooling results in an efficient allocation of resources, and consider the use of vouchers to improve the situation. Our analysis draws on elements of three distinct methodologies: the theory of clubs, location theory, and the theory of monopolistic competition. We find that private schooling will typically be inefficient, but that inefficiency may sometimes be corrected by appropriately designed vouchers.We would like to thank Olivier Debande, Jean-François Wen, two anonymous referees, and seminar participants at the 1st meeting of the Canadian Public Economics Study Group and the 51 st congress of the International Institute of Public Finance for helpful comments. Stefan Buergi and Luc Savard provided useful research assistance. We are also grateful to the SSHRCC and the FCAR for financial support.     

Transferring and Transforming Technology Education: A Study of Norwegian Teachers’ Perceptions of Ideas from Design & Technology

What happens when educational ideas cross national and cultural borders? How do teachers respond to ideas originating in a different school system and a different national culture? This article reports on an empirical study investigating the transfer of ideas from Design &; Technology as a subject in England and Wales into Norwegian schools. A sample of teachers participating in a specific project on technology teaching inspired by this subject has been studied by means of interviews and classroom observation. Results of the study show that while some elements of Design &; Technology are adopted by the teachers, essential ideas of the subject are significantly transformed. Drawing on Barnes, (1992, Teachers and Teaching: From Classrooms to Reflection (pp. 9–32), The Falmer press, London) concept of teachers' professional frames for teaching, it is shown how specific aspects of the national and educational culture have had a considerable effect on?the teachers' interpretation of the nature of technology as a subject of teaching and its place in the curriculum. The study illustrates the importance of the cultural context in how educational ideas are interpreted, reshaped and realized in schools.     

高校教材建设的"两难"问题及其解决对策

教材建设是高校教学基础性建设的内容之一,日益被国家和高校所重视。在教材的选用上,以国家统编教材为主和以高校自编教材为主的理由和趋势都比较明显。根据不同的办学类型实施各自的教材管理和发展战略,是解决选用教材时应以谁为主的关键所在。     

试论农民教育消费力——以高等教育消费力为例

我国农民教育消费力低下对农民的生产、生活造成很大负面影响,应采取多种措施提高农民教育消费力,这对维护社会公平、构建社会主义和谐社会具有重要意义.     

论西部高等教育有效性发展

“有效性教育”就是指教育者向受教育者传授能够应用于现实社会和经济发展的知识与技能的教化活动。西部高等教育应在科学发展观指导下,要依据西部经济结构现状、未来经济结构调整目标以及社会经济可持续发展需要,实行有选择的重点发展战略,走为地方社会经济建设服务之路。     

网络对青少年的影响与对策

在网络逐渐大众化的今天,青少年疯狂上网已经成为所有家长和学校棘手的重要问题。从网络给青少年带来的影响入手,在肯定了网络对青少年积极影响的同时,指出了负面影响的消极作用,从明确责任、强化建设等方面提出解决存在问题、合理利用网络的应对策略。     

共享经济下高校大学生创新创业人才培养保障体系研究

以创新创业教育为导向的高等教育改革成为当前高等教育改革的重要任务.基于共享经济理论指导,论文构建高校大学生创新创业人才培养保障体系的框架;从组织、制度、平台、资源保障四个方面分析创新创业人才培养保障体系的构成要素.最后,分析了高校创新创业人才培养保障体系的利益共享机制、资源整合机制和分工协作机制.     

简论高等教育科学发展观的内涵

高等教育发展的内涵是数量增长、质量提高、结构优化和效率提高的统一。以人为本是高等教育科学发展观的内核,贯穿于高等教育发展的方方面面。规模、质量、结构和效益刻划了高等教育发展的全貌,发展、创新、和谐、法制描述了高等教育发展的要求,它们之间既相互联系,又相互作用。     

市场营销专业双语教学初探

双语教学是培养复合型人才的有效手段,是高校教学语言改革的一项新举措。从双语教学的含义和优势入手,着重分析市场营销专业双语教学的现状,探讨提高教学水平的若干建议。     

论学校体育在素质教育中的地位

加强学校体育是全面推进素质教育的必然要求。体育在学校素质教育中有着重要的作用 :能锻炼学生强健的体魄 ,能培养学生良好的心理素质和高尚的道德品质 ,能培养学生适应社会的多种能力 ,能促进学生健、力、美的和谐发展。