DOCUMENT RESUME ED 362 466 SO 023 429 AUTHOR Spaulding, Seth TITLE Educational Development and Reform on the Soviet Periphery: Mongolian People's Republic and Lao People's Democratic Republic. PUB DATE Jul 90 NOTE 19p.; A version of this paper was presented at the World Conference of Comparative Education Societies (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June 26-30, 1989). PUB TYPE Journal Articles (080) Speeches/Conference Papers (150) JOURNAL CIT Journal of Asian and African Affairs; v2 nl p109-124 Jul 1990 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Curriculum Development; *Developing Nations; *Educational Change; Educational Research; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Instructional Materials; *International Educational Exchange; Literacy; Research Problems; Socialism; Teacher Education; Technological Advancement IDENTIFIERS *Laos; *Mongolia; USSR ABSTRACT This document examines educational reforms that have occurred in Mongolia and Laos. Both nations have expanded educational opportunity drastically over the years. Both had extensive literacy campaigns following the establishment of socialism. Laos has undertaken development projects with the support of the USSR, Eastern European countries, and Vietnam. Mongolia, which has been closely affiliated with the USSR since the 1920s, has strong Russian and English language programs and educational exchange programs with Vietnam. The curriculum in both countries emphasizes science and technology. Both countries suffer from a scarcity of instructional materials, although both employ audiovisual aids. Mongolia and Laos recognize the need to improve teacher education. International agencies support teacher training projects, particularly in the area of secondary level mathematics and science. Both countries are the beneficiaries of overseas development assistance programs; still, both continue to face significant educational finance and administration problems. At present, Laos and Mongolia are undergoing economic liberalization. Mongolia has a tradition of trade ties with the West, and Laos resembles the free market economy of Thailand. There is little educational research in either country. Future research could explore practical issues of educational quantity, and quality, while theoretical questions of democratization and ideology remain. Glasnost and perestroika in the USSR may encourage such research. (SG) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Educational Development and Reform on the Soviet Periphery: Mongolian People's Republic and Lao People's Democratic Republic U S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Deice ot Educational Research and Irnpnovemant EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION 7e.cCENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced AS ewe(' trom the (Arson or orgentistiOn ongina Inv 61 0 Minor changes have wen mule to enceove reproduction quality Points Onto* 0, optntonll Staled In tilts docu- ment clo not necessardy reprisontOboist OERI position or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY 13c" TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).- theEducational Soviet periphery: development Mongolian and reformPeople's on RepublicSeth Spaulding and Lao People's Democratic usefulrecentmanyPerestroika nationseffortsin a general and atwhich educationalglasnost way have in are betterclose development affecting understandingties with not and theonly reformUSSR. 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