A new book edited by Professor Ronald G. Sultana has been published by the New York publishers, Peter Lang Inc. The volume, Teacher Education in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, considers teacher education in a number of Mediterranean countries and territories. Although each state in the region has its own particular challenges, this book identifies and discusses the common concerns that result from the process of transition and change that each country is presently experiencing. Key issues and challenges are outlined, and strategies are developed and proposed with a view to ensuring quality provision. In particular, the necessity of reforming the training of tomorrowís teachers in order to facilitate a transformation in primary- and secondary-level schooling is highlighted.

In reviewing the book, Professor Len Barton, from Londonís Institute of Education noted that "This is a very timely and important bookÖIt provides a powerful stimulus for readers from other parts of the world to critically re-examine their own values, assumptions and practices in relation to the sorts of courses that will meet the challenges of, for example, rapid socio-political change, the impact of marketisation, the globalisation of culture and multiculturalism." Professor  Andrew Pollard, from the University of Cambridge, noted that the book "offers a unique record and analysis of teacher education provision in the Euro-Mediterranean region. It reflects wide-ranging international collaboration and is consistently grounded in evidence. Whilst concerned with the need to prepare teachers for effective classroom practice, the book never fails to locate the specific case of teacher education in each country to structural circumstances and global issues. Ronald Sultana and his colleagues may not offer straightforward solutions, but they provide an excellent analysis of the key issues. In so doing, the Comparative Education Programme at the University of Malta, once more, demonstrates its value to the region and beyond."

This is the third volume published in the series of seminars on education in the Mediterranean organised by Professor Sultana. A fourth volume, focusing on education and power, will be published later on this year. The Comparative Education Programme, which has recently become the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research, is also responsible for the editing of the Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies, now in its eight year of publication.