School effectiveness in developing countries - A summary of the research evidence
Abstract
The report takes the form of a literature review, and presents evidence and findings from empirical studies and synthetic reviews which between them cover a wide range of contexts and of topics relating to school effectiveness.
The body of the report is arranged in seven sections. The introduction discusses the need for effective schools, and the concepts of effectiveness, efficiency and quality, with a note on the methodology of school effectiveness research. Section 2 presents evidence on a range of specific interventions: multigrade schools, preprimary education, school physical facilities, interactive radio instruction, textbooks and materials, and health. The third section looks at some curriculum and assessment issues: the relation of curriculum content to economic growth, vocational education, and examination reform. In section 4, factors influencing teacher effectiveness are considered. Section 5 presents evidence from general studies and reviews of school effectiveness in developing countries. In section 6 some relevant research from developed countries is summarised. Finally, section 7 is devoted to policy implications.
Citation
Educational Paper No. 01, DFID, London, UK, ISBN 0 90250 061 9, 25 pp. [reprinted in 1998]
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