Two related measures of educational inequality are proposed: one for educational achievement and another for educational opportunity. The former is the simple variance (or standard deviation) of test scores. Its selection is informed by consideration of two measurement issues that have typically...

This paper reviews the progress report on implementation of the National Strategy for Socio-Economic Development (NSSED) during 2004 in Albania. The NSSED established a multiyear plan to combat poverty and strengthen governance. The main implication of the Integrated Planning System for the...

The Joint Staff Advisory Note gives positive feedback on the elaborations made in Burundi’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Report (PRSR-II), and commends the measures taken to eliminate the implementation weaknesses and pitfalls of PRSR-I. The note puts forth guidelines to be followed by the...

In a multilingual context, this study investigates the role of language skills on mathematics achievement. It compares characteristics of 5048 Grade-6 learners in 275 Namibian schools. The outcome variable is the standardized SACMEQ mathematics score collected in year 2000. Hierarchical linear...

Poverty has been a major challenge for Liberia. All developmental, governance, and social indicators have shown improvement as a result of a more robust implementation strategy led by the government with the support of development partners, civil society, and the private sector. The general...