O trabalho visou o entendimento do sucesso escolar, na área de alfabetização, pelas experiências docentes, investigando os saberes e as práticas relacionados à vida pessoal, escolar e profissional de quatro alfabetizadoras bem sucedidas, que exerceram a profissão nas décadas de 50 a 80, no Estado de São Paulo. Estudou-se o peso da reforma de 1971 e os determinantes advindos das diferentes políticas, anteriores e posteriores, e o provável período em que se iniciou a conformação profissional das educadoras pesquisadas. Pelo estudo de histórias de vida, a investigação caracterizou as diferentes experiências das alfabetizadoras, identificando os saberes e as práticas, que deram sustentação ao trabalho bem sucedido com a alfabetização, e os condicionantes que acompanharam a formação docente. A articulação dos saberes da infância pré-escolar, da vida escolar, da trajetória no curso de formação e da vida profissional com o estudo das características das práticas alfabetizadoras justificou o sucesso escolar. Pela análise dos resultados, concluiu-se que as várias facetas da história de vida das educadoras, com saberes e concepções de ensino, sustentaram o êxito na alfabetização. Apesar das situações bem heterogêneas, o sucesso escolar decorreu da autonomia no trabalho docente para a organização de práticas de ensino, que garantissem a aprendizagem bem sucedida da leitura e escrita, sempre considerando que toda criança apresentava capacidade para aprender, independentemente das condições socioeconômicas, culturais e de aprendizagem. O estudo da história de vida das alfabetizadoras bem sucedidas, envolvendo saberes e práticas importantes e diferentes para configurações de práticas de alfabetização, que garantiram o êxito de todos os alunos, não visou apenas a sistematização de situações pedagógicas que servissem somente como referenciais para organizar o processo de alfabetização de docentes da atualidade, mas também a problematização de aspectos inerentes às ações educativas, no ensino da leitura e escrita, e o resgate de alguns valores que, na época dessas professoras, eram considerados essenciais e que, atualmente, recebem críticas e depreciações. A análise das práticas educativas sinalizou uma diversificação de estratégias de ensino entre as professoras pesquisadas. Apesar dessa diferença, as docentes apresentaram objetivos semelhantes, visando a aprendizagem de todos e rejeitando qualquer forma de discriminação. Verificou-se ainda a criação de rotinas e rituais, durante o desenvolvimento dos conteúdos e das atividades, mas com práticas e aspectos diferenciados. Essa característica confirma a formação de uma ética de trabalho pedagógico. A presente pesquisa oferece, assim, informações para o estudo da alfabetização, enriquecendo a análise dos elementos do trabalho docente, para o êxito escolar, e dos novos dados que possibilitam investigações da temática, também em outras abordagens. / This paper focused on the understanding of academic success in the alphabetizing area by investigating the knowledge and practices related to the personal, academic and professional life of four successful alphabetizers who exercised their profession in the state of Sao Paulo throughout 1950 to 1980. The impact of the 1971 reform was duly studied and so were the direct consequences of the different previous and posterior policies and also the probable period during which started the professional making of the researched teachers. By studying the life histories, the investigation underlined the different experiences of the alphabetizers, identifying the various knowledge and practices which gave support to the successful alphabetizing work, and the decisive factors which accompanied the process of a teacher\'s formation. The articulation of the pre-school childhood knowledge, academic life, personal performance, both scholar and professional, together with the study of the alphabetizing practices characteristics justified the academic success. The results analysis concluded that the various aspects of the teachers\' life history, together with their personal knowledge and teaching concepts, sustained the alphabetizing success obtained. In spite of quite heterogeneous scenarios, the academic success resulted from the autonomy in the work to organize teaching practices which would ensure a successful learning of writing and reading, always considering that every child presented capacity to learn independently of social/economic, cultural and learning conditions. The study of the life histories of the successful alphabetizer teachers, involving important and different knowledge and pratices to build up alphabetizing practices which guaranteed the success of every student, didn\'t focus just the systematizing of pedagogic aspects which would serve solely as references to organize the alphabetizing process of today\'s teachers, but also the intrincacies of those aspects inherent to educative actions, in teaching writing and reading techniques, and the rescue of a few values which were considered essential, back at the time when the researched teachers were active, and nowadays are criticized and depreciated. The analysis of educational practices pointed out a diversification of teaching strategies amongst the researched teachers. In spite of the differences, they presented similar purposes - everyone should learn and any form of discrimination was rejected. It was also verified the creation of routines and rituals while developing the contents and related activities, but with distinguished practices and aspects. This characteristic confirms the making of ethics applied to pedagogical work. So, the present research offers information for the study of alphabetizing while making richer the analysis of the elements pertaining to teaching work to achieve academic success, and of the new data which make possible the investigation of the matter also with other approaches.

Secondary Education reform efforts have focused on perpetual achievement gaps for more than a decade, highlighting the essence of state level standardized test scores in reading and math, among diverse student groups in relation to their white peers. The reauthorization of ESEA (2013), is a reform effort described as the Student Success Act, whereby the expectation of student success is described in terms of all students graduating from high school, both college and career ready. The concept of no child left behind remains at the base of the law, which designates federal funds for education programs designed to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for all students regardless of their demographics. In the 21st century, a major challenge of secondary school reform efforts is to guarantee equal access while supporting overall student success in accelerated learning environments. The major purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African American high school students’ on their experiences of success in accelerated learning programs, including Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), Advanced Program (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB). Other key interest areas of influence on their perceptions of success included academic efficacy, ethnic identity awareness, and future aspirations. The theoretical frameworks of Bandura’s social cognitive theory (1986), Erikson’s (1968) identity development theory, McClelland’s (1961) human motivation theory, Benard’s (1993) resiliency theory, and Phinney’s ethnic identity development model (1992) framed this research study. Using a qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted to obtain thick, rich, detailed materials to gain a deep understanding of the self-concepts, beliefs, and views of how African American high school students think about key influences on their success in accelerated learning programs. Data analysis applying a thematic approach through an inductive and interactive systematic process of data coding and analysis generated themes regarding knowledge strengths, academic and cultural diversity, resource systems, stereotypical expectations, future focused, commitment to give back to the community, and networking for progress. Implications for secondary education policy makers include the need for a more comprehensive resource system, to address opportunity gaps in accelerated learning programs, and expectations gaps in the preparedness of diverse students for college and careers. Understanding African American high school students’ experiences of success may assist in fostering an environment of wholeness and inclusion, in turn possibly leading to a full health approach to student success, including the physical, psychological, mental, and spiritual/inspirational aspects of human development for optimal learning and increased academic and overall life success among African American high school students and all diverse student groups.

Schools, Families and Inequality. Choice of Secondary Education in Contemporary Czech Society The dissertation work is concerned with the choice of secondary education in families, the influence of family and school on the choice of pupils born in the 1st half of 90s. A special importance of this phase is in that high schools in the Czech Republic are highly differentiated so the choice belongs to the crucial points of the school carrier. The type of the studied high school significantly influences learning aspirations and chances of the graduates to be accepted to further education, structures the field of possibilities in the life way of young people. The analysis is based on data obtained from two qualitative studies: 1. Focus groups with mothers of children in the ninth year of the compulsory education: students of (selective) multi-year grammar schools; pupils from basic schools (the main education stream); 2. Case studies carried out in two Prague schools focused on two classes in the eight and ninth year (2008-2010). The aim of both the studies was to map subjective perspectives of the participating actors - parents, pupils and teachers, to show different interests, attributed meanings, values in upbringing, education, abilities to distinguish types of high schools due to prospects of the new...

The investigation of the relationship between the learning culture and academic achievement is the focal point of this research. Owing to the poor scholastic performance of particularly black matric pupils in the erstwhile Department of Education and Training, an investigation was launched into the Department with a view to identify the possible causes of poor matric performance. As a point of departure an in-depth study was made into aspects of the Department of Education and Training, including those which did not fall within the ambit of the Department, which would shed light on the possible causes of poor matric results. The study revealed many signs and incidents which are symptomatic of an eroded culture of learning in a considerable number of schools. Subsequently, a comprehensive study of the establishment of a learning culture was made. According to this study the establishment of a learning culture should transcend the boundaries of the school because pupils do not only learn and study at school, but at home and in the community as well. After concluding this study it immediately became evident that a considerable number of black schools fall far short of the requirements of a learning culture. The responsibilities of the principal as the manager and instructional leader of his school, together with the selection of the principal and teachers for employment, were the next to be studied. Proper performance of the aforementioned functions as well as proper selection of either the principal or teachers for employment can contribute enormously towards establishing a positive school climate. In the empirical research data was gleaned by means of questionnaires. Thereafter the Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between variables and the t-test and chi-square test were used to test the null hypothesis. From the empirical investigation it emerged that there is a relationship between a learning culture and academic achievement. The ultimate conclusion reached is that the establishment of a learning culture is a prerequisite for academic achievement. Arising from this research certain conclusions were drawn, recommendations were made and areas for possible future research were suggested. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Instructional leadership is essential for the academic success of any schooling situation. Given this background, the researcher set out to investigate how instructional leadership is practiced and also could be improved in the Southern nations, nationalities and people’s region of Ethiopia; to this end, the researcher used a case study of four secondary schools. The main research question that framed the study was: How do principals practice effective instructional leadership role in secondary schools? A qualitative research method formed the basis of this study. The choice of schools for this study was deliberate, and was solely based on convenience. Participants in this study consisted of national educational experts, regional and district supervisors, as well as the principals of the selected schools from the sample areas. The following were selected from the sample areas: four school principals, six district supervisors and six regional experts. In addition, there were four experts from the Ministry of Education who also participated in the study. The analysis of the research data revealed that there is strong evidence of effective instructional leadership at the selected schools. However, despite the existence of this instructional leadership, these schools, like all other organizations, are still faced with a number of challenges that limit the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process. These challenges include lack of discipline, inadequate support, poor time management, lack of teaching and learning resources and poor training system. Participants were provided with a number of possible solutions to the problems identified. Principals were expected to be good role models in order to set examples for their staff members. An enabling environment had to be created for effective teaching and learning to take place. The researcher recommended the following new model: secondary school principals in the selected region were expected to have a vision and knowledge of instruction. In addition, they had to be committed to their work and be capable of creating a safe environment and a school culture conducive to effective teaching and learning. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. ( Educational Management)

L’Éducation Pour Tous mobilise la communauté internationale et les gouvernements depuis 1990. Cet engagement global renouvelé en 2000 sous l’auspice de l’UNESCO puis des Nations-Unies, porte notamment sur un objectif de base : l’universalisation de la scolarisation primaire complète pour tous les enfants d’âge scolaire à l’horizon de 2015. Plusieurs études sur la réalisation de cet objectif montrent que les pays en développement sont les plus à risque et que les progrès accomplis dans la plupart de ces pays, pourraient être plus importants si la pratique du redoublement faisait davantage l’objet de régulation et de contrôle. Cela contribuerait à améliorer la réussite scolaire et accroître la rétention des élèves au sein des systèmes éducatifs. La pratique du redoublement est en effet une tradition dans plusieurs systèmes éducatifs. Elle est particulièrement prépondérante dans certains groupes de pays ou régions, notamment en Afrique francophone au sud du Sahara. Dans ces pays, le PASEC - Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Éducatifs de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Éducation Nationale des pays ayant le français en partage) - œuvre à améliorer l’accès à une éducation de qualité pour tous, par exemple, en informant les politiques sur la situation nationale du redoublement. Cette recherche sur le redoublement, la réussite scolaire et l’objectif de la Scolarisation Primaire Universelle (SPU) privilégie la dimension pédagogique, l’analyse empirique et étudie le cas du Sénégal. Elle présente et discute les indicateurs internationaux de suivi de l’objectif de la SPU, fait le point de l’état des connaissances sur le redoublement et la réussite scolaire et montre le défi que représente la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU notamment dans les pays francophones d’Afrique sub-Saharienne. Exploitant les données existantes de l’enquête longitudinale de suivi de cohorte du PASEC au Sénégal entre 1995 et 2000, cette recherche examine le parcours scolaire des élèves en vue de la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU. L’examen effectué combine des approches d’analyse transversale et longitudinale du redoublement et des apprentissages par rapport aux caractéristiques personnelles, familiales et scolaires de l’élève. Les résultats d’analyse montrent des variabilités, notamment par rapport aux caractéristiques personnelles de l’élève et à celles de sa classe et de son milieu de scolarisation. L’analyse longitudinale du redoublement s’est appuyée sur le diagramme de flux scolaire et a permis de produire un ensemble d’indicateurs d’efficacité interne du système éducatif du Sénégal. Pour la cohorte étudiée, du fait de l’importance des redoublements et des abandons scolaires, il faut en moyenne 9,4 années de scolarité pour que l’élève progresse du deuxième au sixième (dernier) grade du primaire. Seulement 39% de l’effectif de la cohorte survivent au dernier grade ce qui suggère que si cette tendance se maintenait, le Sénégal serait à risque de ne pas réaliser l’objectif de la SPU. Une évaluation de la situation courante à partir de données plus récentes serait requise. Le diagramme de flux scolaire constitue un outil de planification de l’éducation et représente de ce fait un important levier aux mains des autorités politiques pour agir sur les paramètres du système éducatif (paramètres liés à la qualité de l’éducation, à l’efficacité interne, etc.) afin de répondre à des objectifs spécifiques ou d’étapes pouvant conduire, par exemple, à la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU. / The Education for All is mobilizing the international community and national governments since 1990. This global commitment which was renewed in 2000 under the auspices of UNESCO and the United-Nations has set a basic goal: the universalization of a complete primary education for all school-age children by 2015. Several studies on the achievement of this goal show that developing countries are most at risk and that progress in many of these countries could have been higher if the practice of grade repetition was better regulated and controlled. This measure would contribute to the improvement of academic achievement and increase retention within the education systems. Indeed, grade repetition practice is a tradition in several education systems. It is particularly overwhelming in some groups of countries or regions, especially in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. In these countries, the PASEC – «Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Educatifs de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Éducation National des pays ayant le français en partage)» - works to improve access to quality education for all, by for example, informing policies on the national situation of grade repetition. This research on grade repetition, school success and the Universal Primary Education (UPE) goal favors the pedagogical dimension, the empirical analysis and studies the case of Senegal. It presents and discusses the international indicators for UPE goal monitoring, takes stock of current knowledge on grade repetition and academic achievement and shows the challenge that represents the realisation of UPE goal especially in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa countries. By using the existing 1995-2000 PASEC longitudinal survey data in Senegal, this research examines pupils’ school careers toward the realisation of UPE goal. Transversal and longitudinal analyses of grade repetition and learning achievement based on the pupil’s personal, family and school characteristics have been used. Results from these analyses show variabilities related especially to individual, classroom and school location factors. The longitudinal analysis of grade repetition is based on the school flowchart which allows the calculation of a set of indicators about the internal efficiency of Senegal education system. For the cohort studied, due to the high grades repetition and dropout rates, pupils are required, on average, 9.4 years of schooling to progress from the second to the sixth (final) grade of primary. Only 39% of the initial cohort survives to the last grade, which suggests that if this trend remains unchanged, Senegal would be at risk of not achieving the UPE goal. An assessment of the current situation based on more recent data would be required. The school flowchart is an educational planning tool. Thus, it represents an important lever for political authorities to act on education system parameters (parameters related to education quality, internal efficiency, etc.) in order to effectively attain specific objectives or milestones resulting, for example, to the achievement of the UPE goal.

La présente étude traite de la problématique de la réussite scolaire chez les adolescentes âgées de 13 à 18 ans des lycées et collèges du département du Logone et Chari dans la région de l’Extrême-nord du Cameroun. Les filles de cette région font face à un certain nombre de difficultés liées à leur environnement, tant familial que scolaire, ainsi qu’à leurs propres attitudes qui compromettent leurs études. En dépit de ces écueils, certaines adolescentes réussissent à passer en classe supérieure avec des moyennes élevées et à décrocher leurs diplômes. Notre objectif en abordant cette recherche est d’étudier l’influence des facteurs personnels, familiaux et scolaires sur la réussite scolaire des adolescentes. En effet, nous nous sommes posé une question fondamentale, à savoir : quels sont les facteurs personnels, familiaux et scolaires qui prédisent le plus la réussite scolaire chez les adolescentes des lycées et collèges du département du Logone et Chari ? Pour répondre à cette préoccupation, quatre hypothèses nous ont guidé notamment une hypothèse générale intitulée « des facteurs personnels, familiaux et scolaires prédisent le plus la réussite scolaire chez les adolescentes des lycées et collèges d’enseignement général et technique, publics et privés du département du Logone et Chari », et trois hypothèses spécifiques : « les aspirations élevées contribuent à la réussite scolaire chez les adolescentes » ; « les attitudes éducatives parentales positives encouragent la réussite scolaire des adolescentes » et « les attitudes et les pratiques éducatives encourageantes des enseignants expliquent la réussite scolaire chez les adolescentes ». Trois questionnaires préalablement validés ont été administrés à un échantillon de 1031 adolescentes des lycées et collèges, de 1010 parents d’élèves, de 180 enseignants et 36 entretiens ont été conduits auprès de « femmes/filles sorties de l’école après y avoir réussi ». L’analyse des résultats a montré qu’il existe des corrélations significatives entre les différents facteurs personnels, familiaux et scolaires et la réussite scolaire chez les adolescentes. Nous avons suggéré quelques recommandations aux responsables du ministère des enseignements secondaires, aux parents et aux enseignants pour une meilleure implication des uns et des autres dans la réussite scolaire des adolescentes. Enfin, des propositions des recherches complémentaires ont été suggérées dans l’optique de pallier les limites mentionnées à la présente étude / This study focuses on the problem of the school success of the teenage girls between the ages of 13-18 in the secondary and high schools of the Logone and Chari division, in the far-north region of Cameroon. Girls in this region face a number of problems related to their environment, family as well as academic due to their attitude which affect their studies. Inspite of these difficulties some young girls succeed in their studies. Our aim is to study the influence of individual, family and school factors on the school performance of the girl child. In effect we have raised one fundamental question in order to know: what are the individual, family and school factors which have to do with the teenage girl which determine their school success? In answering these question, the following hypotheses guided us: a main hypothese entitles “personal, family and school factors favour school success among the teenage girls in government and private secondary and high school both general and technical of Logone and Chari division” and tree specific hypotheses: “high aspirations contributed to school success among teenage girls”; “the attitudes and parental positives educational encourage school success of teenage girls” and “the attitudes and positives educational practices of teachers explain school success among teenage girls”. Tree questionnaires and a pilotated interview guide were administrated to a sample of 1031 teenage girls of secondary and high school, 1010 parents of students, 180 teachers and 36 “women/girls who succeeded in school before leaving”. The analysis of results showed that there are significant correlations among individual, family and school success factors and the school success teenage girls. In conclusion, we made some suggestions on areas of intervention to the hierarchy of the ministry of secondary education, to parents and to teachers in order to involve each of them in the school success of girls and make them more resilient. At the end some proposal, for further researches were made with the view to amend the limits of research

Les groupes de travail font partie des principaux animateurs informels de la vie scolaire au Sénégal. Alors qu’ils sont au cœur des activités de sociabilité scolaire observées dans l’enseignement secondaire, ils n’ont fait l’objet d’aucune analyse sociologique. Force est pourtant de reconnaître qu' ils sont devenus des espaces concurrents et alternatifs à la transmission officielle des contenus d’enseignement face à l’incapacité croissante de l’école à assurer cette mission essentielle d’encadrement des élèves. Les enquêtes qualitative et quantitative effectuées auprès de 110 groupes de travail montrent que ces derniers sont un espace d’activation des pratiques sexuées. Deux modèles de socialisation introverti et extraverti régulent les activités sociales et les projets scolaires et professionnels des élèves. Le modèle introverti pousse les filles à faire un usage limité des activités de sociabilité scolaire et à privilégier leur projet matrimonial et les formations de courte durée ; tout le contraire du modèle extraverti qui incline les garçons à construire un projet scolaire et professionnel solide. Cette thèse interroge les transformations en cours, dans les modes de sociabilité sénégalaise, s’expliquant en partie par l’accès des femmes aux secteurs modernes de l’emploi. Cette présence féminine sur le marché de l’emploi n’a pas forcément entraîné une renégociation des rapports parentaux. L’étude du rôle des groupes de travail dans la réussite scolaire des élèves montre que les groupes sociaux défavorisés tirent un grand bénéfice des activités de sociabilité scolaire, par l’accès à un espace social favorable à la création de vocations scolaire et professionnelle. / Work groups are part of the main informal school life-stirring factors in Senegal. Though they are at the core of socializing activities in high school education, they have never been studied on a sociological basis. Nevertheless, one has to admit that in the past years, they have become simultaneous and alternative to official and regular transmission of education contents due to the ever growing incapacity of school to take on this essential mission of students’ supervision. Qualitative and quantitative surveys carried towards 110 work groups show that these groups are where gender-related practices start off. Two socializing models, introverted and extroverted, regulate social activities and school and professional projects. The model we shall call “introverted” lead girls, one the one hand, to a limited use of school sociability activities in order to favor their matrimonial project and short-term trainings. On the other hand, boys in this model are encouraged to build on a strong school and professional project. This thesis study questions the on-going transformations in the Senegalese socializing trends, that can be partly explained by the access of women to modern employment sectors. This feminine presence on the employment market doesn’t trigger necessarily a negotiation in parental terms. The study of the work groups’ role in school success show that disadvantaged social groups benefit a lot from socializing activities through access to a social space prone to school and professional vocations.

L’Éducation Pour Tous mobilise la communauté internationale et les gouvernements depuis 1990. Cet engagement global renouvelé en 2000 sous l’auspice de l’UNESCO puis des Nations-Unies, porte notamment sur un objectif de base : l’universalisation de la scolarisation primaire complète pour tous les enfants d’âge scolaire à l’horizon de 2015. Plusieurs études sur la réalisation de cet objectif montrent que les pays en développement sont les plus à risque et que les progrès accomplis dans la plupart de ces pays, pourraient être plus importants si la pratique du redoublement faisait davantage l’objet de régulation et de contrôle. Cela contribuerait à améliorer la réussite scolaire et accroître la rétention des élèves au sein des systèmes éducatifs. La pratique du redoublement est en effet une tradition dans plusieurs systèmes éducatifs. Elle est particulièrement prépondérante dans certains groupes de pays ou régions, notamment en Afrique francophone au sud du Sahara. Dans ces pays, le PASEC - Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Éducatifs de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Éducation Nationale des pays ayant le français en partage) - œuvre à améliorer l’accès à une éducation de qualité pour tous, par exemple, en informant les politiques sur la situation nationale du redoublement. Cette recherche sur le redoublement, la réussite scolaire et l’objectif de la Scolarisation Primaire Universelle (SPU) privilégie la dimension pédagogique, l’analyse empirique et étudie le cas du Sénégal. Elle présente et discute les indicateurs internationaux de suivi de l’objectif de la SPU, fait le point de l’état des connaissances sur le redoublement et la réussite scolaire et montre le défi que représente la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU notamment dans les pays francophones d’Afrique sub-Saharienne. Exploitant les données existantes de l’enquête longitudinale de suivi de cohorte du PASEC au Sénégal entre 1995 et 2000, cette recherche examine le parcours scolaire des élèves en vue de la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU. L’examen effectué combine des approches d’analyse transversale et longitudinale du redoublement et des apprentissages par rapport aux caractéristiques personnelles, familiales et scolaires de l’élève. Les résultats d’analyse montrent des variabilités, notamment par rapport aux caractéristiques personnelles de l’élève et à celles de sa classe et de son milieu de scolarisation. L’analyse longitudinale du redoublement s’est appuyée sur le diagramme de flux scolaire et a permis de produire un ensemble d’indicateurs d’efficacité interne du système éducatif du Sénégal. Pour la cohorte étudiée, du fait de l’importance des redoublements et des abandons scolaires, il faut en moyenne 9,4 années de scolarité pour que l’élève progresse du deuxième au sixième (dernier) grade du primaire. Seulement 39% de l’effectif de la cohorte survivent au dernier grade ce qui suggère que si cette tendance se maintenait, le Sénégal serait à risque de ne pas réaliser l’objectif de la SPU. Une évaluation de la situation courante à partir de données plus récentes serait requise. Le diagramme de flux scolaire constitue un outil de planification de l’éducation et représente de ce fait un important levier aux mains des autorités politiques pour agir sur les paramètres du système éducatif (paramètres liés à la qualité de l’éducation, à l’efficacité interne, etc.) afin de répondre à des objectifs spécifiques ou d’étapes pouvant conduire, par exemple, à la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU. / The Education for All is mobilizing the international community and national governments since 1990. This global commitment which was renewed in 2000 under the auspices of UNESCO and the United-Nations has set a basic goal: the universalization of a complete primary education for all school-age children by 2015. Several studies on the achievement of this goal show that developing countries are most at risk and that progress in many of these countries could have been higher if the practice of grade repetition was better regulated and controlled. This measure would contribute to the improvement of academic achievement and increase retention within the education systems. Indeed, grade repetition practice is a tradition in several education systems. It is particularly overwhelming in some groups of countries or regions, especially in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. In these countries, the PASEC – «Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Educatifs de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Éducation National des pays ayant le français en partage)» - works to improve access to quality education for all, by for example, informing policies on the national situation of grade repetition. This research on grade repetition, school success and the Universal Primary Education (UPE) goal favors the pedagogical dimension, the empirical analysis and studies the case of Senegal. It presents and discusses the international indicators for UPE goal monitoring, takes stock of current knowledge on grade repetition and academic achievement and shows the challenge that represents the realisation of UPE goal especially in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa countries. By using the existing 1995-2000 PASEC longitudinal survey data in Senegal, this research examines pupils’ school careers toward the realisation of UPE goal. Transversal and longitudinal analyses of grade repetition and learning achievement based on the pupil’s personal, family and school characteristics have been used. Results from these analyses show variabilities related especially to individual, classroom and school location factors. The longitudinal analysis of grade repetition is based on the school flowchart which allows the calculation of a set of indicators about the internal efficiency of Senegal education system. For the cohort studied, due to the high grades repetition and dropout rates, pupils are required, on average, 9.4 years of schooling to progress from the second to the sixth (final) grade of primary. Only 39% of the initial cohort survives to the last grade, which suggests that if this trend remains unchanged, Senegal would be at risk of not achieving the UPE goal. An assessment of the current situation based on more recent data would be required. The school flowchart is an educational planning tool. Thus, it represents an important lever for political authorities to act on education system parameters (parameters related to education quality, internal efficiency, etc.) in order to effectively attain specific objectives or milestones resulting, for example, to the achievement of the UPE goal.

The investigation of the relationship between the learning culture and academic achievement is the focal point of this research. Owing to the poor scholastic performance of particularly black matric pupils in the erstwhile Department of Education and Training, an investigation was launched into the Department with a view to identify the possible causes of poor matric performance. As a point of departure an in-depth study was made into aspects of the Department of Education and Training, including those which did not fall within the ambit of the Department, which would shed light on the possible causes of poor matric results. The study revealed many signs and incidents which are symptomatic of an eroded culture of learning in a considerable number of schools. Subsequently, a comprehensive study of the establishment of a learning culture was made. According to this study the establishment of a learning culture should transcend the boundaries of the school because pupils do not only learn and study at school, but at home and in the community as well. After concluding this study it immediately became evident that a considerable number of black schools fall far short of the requirements of a learning culture. The responsibilities of the principal as the manager and instructional leader of his school, together with the selection of the principal and teachers for employment, were the next to be studied. Proper performance of the aforementioned functions as well as proper selection of either the principal or teachers for employment can contribute enormously towards establishing a positive school climate. In the empirical research data was gleaned by means of questionnaires. Thereafter the Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between variables and the t-test and chi-square test were used to test the null hypothesis. From the empirical investigation it emerged that there is a relationship between a learning culture and academic achievement. The ultimate conclusion reached is that the establishment of a learning culture is a prerequisite for academic achievement. Arising from this research certain conclusions were drawn, recommendations were made and areas for possible future research were suggested. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)