"This survey is one of a series prepared for the UNESCO Education for All (EFA) Assessment, under the auspices of the UNESCO Division of Basic Education and the United Kingdom Department of International Development for the International Consultative Forum on Education for All. The EFA objectives ar
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e concerned with broad policy goals and targets in the provision of school books and other learning materials, including distribution mechanisms. While this survey also covers the situation in South and Central Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Anglophone Caribbean, and some parts of Central and Eastern Europe, special attention is paid to Africa, “where the book shortage has attracted more external support and generated more documentation over the past decade than any other region.” Part of the synthesis is based on a range of classroom studies commissioned by the UNESCO/ Danida Basic Learning Materials Initiative (119), covering Egypt, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Samoa, Senegal, and Tanzania. The survey first examines the basic issues and constraints relating to textbook availability and provision, and the role of funding agencies and donors. Thereafter it looks at global trends – in terms of decentralization, liberalization, funding, quality and use, etc. – followed by a survey of regional developments in the areas covered." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 231)
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"The synthesis of literature quoted in the bibliography and the country reports portrays the public library movement in Africa as being very weak, with numerous problems regarding financial constraints, lack of human resources, outdated materials and poor use. The only sector of the African populati
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on that uses public libraries is school children. However, each country report illustrated that children do not use the materials held in the library but use libraries primarily as places for study, because they are quieter and more spacious than their homes. The consensus of opinion seems to be that African librarians need to rethink what a public library is all about, in terms of what is needed, what will be used, and what is sustainable in Africa. Perhaps some new and more viable visions will result. In particular, public libraries in Africa need to start to be more aggressive and introduce services that are attractive to the users. Librarians must begin to know their potential users, and not only assume that they are school children. More dynamism and more involvement of the user community, extended to all users - school children, adults, literates, non-literates and neo-literates - are required for the improvement of public library services." (Synthesis Report Abstract, page 3)
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"The 2000 Yearbook treats two themes, both of which relate to newer features of the media landscape: violence in video and computer games, and pornography on television and on Internet. Some articles in the Yearbook also discuss findings on audience perceptions of violence and sex in the media. The
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choice of these themes has to do with the marked increase in the availability of such content to children and youth via new media technologies. The Yearbook comes with two bibliographies: Research on Pornography and Sex in the Media and Research on Video and Computer Games." (Publisher description)
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"En este trabajo han sido señalados aspectos puntuales que muestran el deterioro de la posición de los medios de comunicación frente a las esferas de decisión política ligadas al oficialismo [gubernamental]. La posibilidad de informar pluralmente es viable cuando las condiciones económicas, ju
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rídicas, políticas y hasta de seguridad personal, no constriñen ni presionan a los profesionales y empresarios de la comunicación. Pese al reconocimiento de tales condiciones en el Perú, quizá será necesario no solo un orden institucional que permita otros márgenes de acción a los periodistas y empresarios de la comunicación. Dado el desempeño de los medios de comunicación en la campaña [electoral] del 2000, deberán invertir tiempo, recursos y esfuerzo en ganar o recuperar la credibilidad o el prestigio que tuvieron antes de abril del 2000. La inexistencia de tarifas y criterios claros de colocación de publicidad y la postura excluyente de tres canales de televisión de señal abierta favorecieron la candidatura oficialista. Debido a la recesión económica y la estructura de costos de producción los canales de televisión han entrado en una situación financiera muy crítica, y la suma de sus deudas es similar a los ingresos totales que han percibido en 1999. Quienes cobran son principalmente la SUNAT [= autoridad tibutaria peruana] y el Seguro Social y esos pendientes han debilitado la posibilidad de un mínimo equilibrio político en los medios de comunicación." (Conclusiones, página 187-188)
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"Covers experiences of political parties and elections support, media assistance, support to women's and environment advocacy groups and reduction of ethnic conflict in Eastern Europe." (commbox)
"Une synthèse des politiques de plusieurs pays africains francophones en matière de développement et d'utilisation des langues africaines en tant que stratégie essentielle pour l'amélioration et l'expansion des programmes d'éducation, et la fourniture de matériel didactique pertinent." (Hans
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M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 2081)
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"First published in 1993, and with a new introductory essay providing an overview of significant developments since publication of the first edition, this is a survey of the various agencies and assistance programmes that are involved with publishing and book development in Africa and in other parts
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of the developing world. Profiling over 50 organizations, it provides extensive information about each organization’s activities, together with full contact information. In addition to the inventory section, a general review of book assistance programmes (reprinted from the first edition) looks at the context of support, the donor response, the factors affecting donor assistance, and priorities for donor support for long-term, sustainable indigenous publishing." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 1413)
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