What can we learn about improving teaching and learning from comparing policies across countries? A study of student achievement and teacher quality in Southern Africa

Type Conference Paper - International Invitational Educational Policy Research Conference, Paris, France, 2005
Title What can we learn about improving teaching and learning from comparing policies across countries? A study of student achievement and teacher quality in Southern Africa
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2005
City Paris
Country/State France
URL http://www.sacmeq.org/sites/default/files/sacmeq/research/Papers from the 2005 International​Invitational Educational Policy Research Conference/spreen.pdf
Abstract
This paper will examine student achievement and teacher quality under different policy approaches in five countries (South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Namibia) by looking at variables around teaching (goals, methods, teacher experience, training and support) and examining these in light of student performance and school capacity. Using the SACMEQ II data archive, our study compared and described at the national level how pupil characteristics and social context interact with schooling inputs and capacities (e.g. teacher characteristics, school and classroom-level inputs) to impact student performance. While more research in this area is necessary, the findings of this study help us begin to explain how teachers and schools are responding to the complex pressures of school reform - particularly in developing and/or transitional societies and enable us to begin to assess whether and how policies can be designed to improve teaching and learning to facilitate democratic transitions/development.

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