This handbook focuses on and compares the education systems in the three Americas: North, Central and South America, and includes a chapter on most countries in the region. The chapters follow a common structure and include schematic diagrams of the structure of mainstream education from pre-primary to tertiary level. Each chapter starts with a description of the historical and social foundations of the education system from the post-World War II period up to today, including political, economic and cultural contexts and conditions. By highlighting important dates and structural decisions, the current education system can be understood as resulting from past developments. The first part ends with a description of the transitions to the labour market that are offered, and the way in which these are organized in the education system described. The second part consists of an overview of the institutional and organizational principles as well as the structure of education from pre-primaryto tertiary level. It includes a focus on legislative bases and financial provisions for the education system and a description of the structure by using the ISCED-classification. It further includes information of the supply of human resources such as teachers and other educators. The third and final part of the handbook discusses selected educational trends and aspects. In this context, three topics are of particular interest: dealing with inequality, ICT and digitization activities, and STEM-related policies and programmes.
This handbook focuses on the education systems in the three Americas, North, Central and South America, and includes a chapter on most countries in the region. The chapters follow a common structure and include information on the development, organization, and current trends in mainstream education from pre-primary to tertiary level for each country. Chapter contributions are organized along three parts: Each chapter starts with a description of the historical and social foundations of the education system from their founding period up to today, including discussions of political, economic and cultural contexts and conditions. This first part closes with a description of how transitions from education to the labor market are organized. The second part consists of an overview of the institutional and organizational principles as well as of the structure of education from pre-primary to tertiary level. It includes a focus on legislative bases and financial provisions for the education system and a description of the structure by using the ISCED-classification. It further includes information of the supply of human resources such as teachers and other educators. The third and final part of the chapters discusses selected educational trends and aspects of particular interest: dealing with inequality, ICT and digitization activities, and STEM-related policies and programs.
The Handbook delivers a fundamental description of the educational systems, including information about how they were shaped, how they are organized and respectively cared for by national stakeholders. It provides both to students and scholars who seek concise and systematic knowledge about education in a particular country. Also, comparative researchers will find a basis for better understanding of various educational questions about the foundations and development of the national education systems.
Sieglinde Jornitz
education systems education systems USA education policy and research comparative education US comparisons of education worldwide comparative education research national education systems education systems North America education systems Central America education systems South America ISCED classification educational trends and aspects dealing with inequality in education ICT in education digitization activities in education