Week Five: Why do governments fund education?

Reflect on:

·what are your initial reactions to this week's question?

 Because citizen have given their votes to the elected government to manage the whole country and future generations are included in this rubric too.

·Why do you think governments consider educaton to be such a high priority?

Because the progress of a country depends on how much the government invests on kids + citizens + education = wealth.

Videos: all done

Read

Policy Paper

Education, justice and democracy:

The struggle over ignorance and opportunity

Prof Stephen J Ball

September 2013

https://d396qusza40orc.cloudfront.net/futureeducation/EDJ.pdf

Exploring the Complex

Interaction Between

Governance and Knowledge in Education

Mihály Fazekas, Tracey Burns

http://www.oecd.org/edu/ceri/49835315.pdf

Discussion Forum

Got to know about education in Canada & some more info about a private language school in Peru.

Reflective blog

In an ideal world, how do you think education should be organized?

The ideal world I am about to describe should be placed in my homeland – Peru. To begin with, I would give a brief description of this three region country: the coast facing the Pacific Ocean; the Highlands with its Andean Mountain Range, and the Amazon area and its huge rainforest.  The coast is a multi-race place where mixed customs have been giving shape to new generations.  Here everyone goes to school, university, and learns at least a foreign language to graduate from university.  The Highlands has a slightly different reality.  Although attending school is obligatory, rural children do not always attend classes – schools are too far away, the cold weather doesn´t help much when there is an hour walk, or these children have to look after their parents’ farms or younger siblings. The Amazon area enjoys hot weather, delicious tropical fruits and locals have different interests not being school a number one priority.   All three regions are meant to be part of the same Ministry of Education. Unfortunately, there seems to be a huge problem with State schools: National Unions rule.  As a consequence, students coming from State schools are not prepared as the ones coming from Private schools. 

As a consequence of this terrible problem a number of private and affordable schools are emerging in the capital, offering crash courses to level up slow learners, extending school hours, preparing for entry exams, and a place at a local university.  The government offer, offer and offer many things but the core problem exists. 

Having described the Education system in my country, I feel the need to re-invent a new one - a more professional, effective and productive at the same time.  Therefore, my ideal school should be organized as follows: the Ministry of Education at the top, a board of experienced teachers representing the needs of each region, a board of psychologists, sociologists, linguists, and retired teachers (working on voluntary basis) with lots of experience to see what would be the best solution to today´s problems and local sponsors.  Teachers would have to carry out research as part of their professional development.  As a consequence today´s curriculum could be adapted to the present needs.  On the other hand, taxes should be duly paid and not avoided as it happens today.  Learning centres should provide learners books, laptops, stationary, laboratories, toilets, showers and up-to date teachers.  Inspections should be done on regular basis to improve teaching and learning quality and not to be used as a sacking tool.   

What priorities do you think it should reflect? 

I would concentrate just in three: better teaching quality at schools, academies and universities to forget poor academic results, teachers and educators should never stop professional development and illiteracy must be abolished.  All of these is to aim a better economic growth.  I would like to quote Professor Stephen Ball´s mantra: “the more educated your population is, then the more prosperous your country is likely to be.” 

Who should be responsible for ensuring that it is of a good quality?

The new Ministry of Education and the local boards should be responsible for applying Doctor´s Deming 14 Points on Total Quality Management.

Is there anything from the padlet wall that has informed your position?

I love the Abu Dhabi project by Jeff Evans.  I wish my country would be in the same position to carry out a long term project to prepare our population to face new challenges in a more productive and knowledgeable way.