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Graphophonemic (GP) knowledge of a language represents the foundation of a good learning start point. In the English as a foreign language (EFL) context, many learners lack adequate GP knowledge of English, resulting in difficulty to master the language skills even at the tertiary level. Thus, this study investigated first-year university, commonly known as Preparatory Year (PY), students’ GP knowledge of English. To do this, the study made use of two instruments – a survey of students' answer scripts and an English GP Knowledge Survey (EGPKS). The first instrument included the survey of the Diagnostic Test answer scripts of PY students’ Listening and Speaking and Writing subjects. In addition, the English GP knowledge survey was developed and administered to 252 PY students at Najran University. The results were analyzed with the crosscheck method of both instruments to validate the data and results. The results of both instruments showed that approximately 50% of the participants did not have adequate GP knowledge, which included English phonological and morphological bases. The phonological bases included graph/digraph to consonant or vowel phonemes and graph/digraph to zero phonemes, and the morphological bases included syllable division structure and adding suffixes. The study gave a close picture of the PY students’ GP knowledge that would be a useful teaching resource in similar EFL contexts.

Country policies, responses and challenges to reach the United Nations Millennium Development Goals 2, ‘Achieve Universal Primary Education’. Analysis comparison between Bangladesh and Peru Education is society’s main instrument for reproducing itself and a compelling ingredient for lasting meaningful socioeconomic change. Therefore at the beginning of new millennium when the United Nations Member States was trying to reach a global consensus for global sustainability and development, issues related to universal primary education was a rational choice for them. This paper compares the status quoof this issue between Bangladesh and Peru, where ‘development’ takes place in reality. Mostly based on secondary research, this paper highlights the macro level comparative scenarios and challenges that how these two countries are putting their efforts and facing challenges in achieving universal primary education enrolment targets as part of their United Nations Millennium Development Goals commitments by 2015.

La presente investigación fue realizada con el objetivo de determinar los factores propios del medio que favorecen la aparición de los trastornos neuróticos infantiles, y explorar algunas de las particularidades que distinguen las relaciones familiares en los pacientes estudiados. La muestra quedó conformada por 30 niños de 8 a 10 años de edad, subdivididos en dos grupos: el de estudio, integrado por 15 escolares con trastornos neuróticos, y el de control, con igual cantidad de niños psíquicamente sanos. Ambos grupos de niños no debían tener deficiencia intelectual asociada. Se utilizó un muestreo pareado donde cada niño del grupo estudio tenía su homólogo en edad, sexo y nivel de escolaridad. El procesamiento de los datos se realizó apoyándonos en el paquete estadístico SPSS, y se conjugó con un análisis cualitativo de la información obtenida del método diagnóstico aplicado: historia vital, dibujo libre, entrevista al niño, y la técnica “Viajando con mi familia”. Los resultados permiten afirmar que las familias de niños con trastornos neuróticos se caracterizaron por una disfuncionabilidad familiar, lo que genera en los menores una carencia de afecto fuertemente vivenciada.