In their research in the field of international education, the editors found that the university admission function of terminating school assessment has largely eclipsed the school-leaving-certification aspect in systems where the two go together. But it is not only students from education systems which have curriculum-based external examinations at the culmination of schooling who aspire to enter university. Once the privilege of the well-heeled classes, university education has become to today's middle-class youngster what a high school certificate was to preceding generations at the same...

Upper secondary science is the bridge to science-related careers and thereby to human capital formation in science and technology. Quality rather than quantity is what counts at this level and teacher quality is a major determinant. This book looks at upper secondary science teacher quality in eighteen countries from affluent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members to very poor countries. The yardsticks applied to teacher quality are academic and professional education and training, professional practice including the resource base, continuing professional development,...