A new thematic probe looking at changes in the primary curriculum since 2005 in France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Slovenia and Tasmania has been added to the INCA website. The probe is available to download from the thematic probes page of this website.
Summaries of the education systems in each of the INCA countries are now available. Ideal for study visits, these concise (four-five page) descriptions can be accessed by selecting the country of your choice from the drop-down menu, then 'system summary' from "Select subject/chapter heading". A new system summary for Northern Ireland was uploaded to the site in June 2008.
A thematic probe examining coursework in national/state examinations in France, the Netherlands, Norway, Ontario (Canada) and Victoria (Australia) was uploaded to the INCA website in April 2008. Data was collected in November 2007. The probe is available to download from the thematic probes page of this website.
A thematic probe on compulsory assessment systems in the INCA countries was added to the website in August 2007. Based on data collected in May 2007, the probe is free to download from the thematic probes page of this website.
INCA Archives for South Africa will be added to the website in 2008. Although South Africa currently appears as an option in the drop-down menu, as this Archive is not yet live, an error message will occur if users try to access this section.
The INCA comparative tables were revised and updated in September 2007. Click on the 'comparative tables' link for access to a pdf document of all the tables and individual pdfs of each separate table.
Information on current educational reforms and debate is included in the 'Context, principles and reforms' sections of the INCA website. Select the country of your choice from the "Select country" drop-down menu and 'Context, principles and reforms' from "Select subject/chapter heading", then select 'Purposes of education' from the page you are linked to. Sub-heading 1.2.2 'Special programmes' provides information on aspects of current educational reform and debate which impact on the curriculum, assessment and initial teacher training frameworks.
Education in the News is a current awareness bulletin of international issues in education, which is currently published five to six times each year by Eurydice at NFER, the team which manages and updates the INCA website. The bulletin is available via the Eurydice at NFER website; a free online subscription is also available via this page.