WORLD CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher Education in the Twenty-first Century
Vision and Action

UNESCO, Paris, 5 – 9 October 1998
VOLUME V – PLENARY
Norway

Note1: To meet UNESCO publishing standards, some editing of
papers has been required.
Note2: Authors are responsible for the choice and the
presentation of the facts contained in signed articles and
for the opinions expressed therein, which are not
necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the
Organization.

ED-99/HEP/WCHE/Vol.V-MS-131
Norway
Speech of Mr Jon Lilletun
Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs of Norway

The UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education takes, as one of its starting-points, the
principle of equity of access to higher education. The importance of this principle is shown by the fact that it is included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It applies in a global as well as a regional and national perspective. In Norway and the other Nordic countries, it lies at the core of our thinking about education in general and higher education in particular.
Norway has proposed several amendments to the documents to be adopted by this conference which underline and reinforce the principle of equity of access. One aspect which we have stressed is the participation of women, another the crucial importance of avoiding exclusion due to insufficient financial means. Not least, we have stressed the importance of partnership between institutions of higher education in the developing and the developed world as a means of reducing inequality on a global scale. We believe that such efforts should take place in the context of national priorities in the developing countries, and thus aim at maximum national ownership of the projects in question.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my satisfaction with the thorough process of
consultation leading up to the World Conference, which ensures that the stakeholders in higher
education in all parts of the world have been able to contribute their views. This is the best possible guarantee of an outcome, which can fulfil the ambitious goal of drawing up a new agenda for higher education in the 21st century.
One aspect of education, which is now very much in focus, is life-long learning. Everyone
seems to agree that life-long learning becomes increasingly necessary as the world is changing ever more rapidly. In this context it is essential that everyone receives a basic education which prepares them for further learning later. Life-long learning also contains an element of equal access, as it means opening the education institutions to a new group, that of adult learners. This will have profound implications everywhere. To accommodate adults, higher education must become more diversified and flexible, while preserving its core values of academic excellence, critical rigour, independent thinking and high ethical standards.
At the same time, one must not lose sight of the basic conditions of education. For a long time,
elimination of illiteracy has been one of UNESCO’s main priorities. In the developed world, functional illiteracy is a serious problem in spite of statistically high literacy rates. Large numbers of people are excluded from participation in education, working life and society in general because they are functionally unable to understand a written text. Illiteracy substantially reduces quality of life for the individual, and constitutes a problem for any nation in a world where the ability to compete in a globalized market depends to an increasing degree on a highly educated workforce.
In Norway this year, a National Adult Learning Week was arranged as part of the follow-up to
the CONFINTEA V International Conference on Adult Education. The opening of the week coincided in time with International Literacy Day, (September 8th, 1998). This may serve to underline the connection between adult learning and literacy, and the importance of taking seriously the challenge of providing every individual with a basis for self-realization and participation.
Those who are to teach people, whether children or adults, to read and write, are themselves
educated in the higher education institutions. This illustrates the importance, and the responsibility, of higher education for the quality of the education system as a whole, and in a wider sense for a well functioning society. In our discussions of what higher education should be in the 21st century, we must not focus narrowly on academic or technical knowledge, but keep this broader social perspective in mind.
Plenary - EuropeStudents must be enabled and encouraged not only to gain knowledge in their respectivefields, but to develop the values, interests and skills required to participate in cultural and political life and in civic society in general. In short, they must be trained to become citizens. It is my belief that participation by students in the various decision-making bodies of higher education institutions constitutes excellent training in democracy. Besides, student involvement is essential for improving quality. On the one hand, active students help create a good learning environment, and on the other, if we want to make higher education better, it is essential to ask the opinion of those who benefit directly from it.
The World Conference on Higher Education is a unique forum where stakeholders in higher
education from all over the world have the opportunity to listen and to learn from each other. The documents adopted by the conference will be studied everywhere. This entails an obligation for all of us to ensure that the conference will realize its potential as a guiding light for higher education in the 21st century. The immediate aim, an ambitious one in itself, is to lay the foundations for a reform of higher education on a global scale. The ultimate aim, however, must be to use education as a tool for making the world a better place to live. Our debates must always be informed by this perspective, and thus by the values at the heart of UNESCO’s work in the field of education: equality, citizenship, participation and democracy together with a global culture of peace.

source :unesdoc.unesco.org

Technology Thoughts for Teachers

One of the most compelling videos I have watched that emphasizes the importance of integrating technology into the classroom is the “Did You Know 2.0” video. This video was originally created by a school to start a discussion about 21^st Century Skills and technology integration. Not long after the release of the video, educators all over the world began to watch the video and create different versions of it.

Unfortunately, there are still places I visit today at home and around the country that have never heard of 21^st Century Learning skills. The busy lives educator’s lead often get in the way of staying on top of the latest methodology and technology in the classroom. However, the 21^st Century Skills are a vital part of the educational environment and vital for students to become a 21^st Century Learning. Although technology is a major part of 21st Century Learning, the focus is on a change of methodology and the way we teach. Technology of course can facilitate this process and at times make it much easier to do, but technology is not the focus. As always, the curriculum, teaching and learning is the focus. Certainly a classroom heavily engaged in 21st Century Learning will contain heavy use of technology to facilitate that process, but lets not confuse the fact that curriculum is the focus and the technology is a tool used to get to the meat of the curriculum as well as a way to engage students in the learning process.

Are there skills required today that were not required ten years ago? Of course! Think of all the new technology. Someone has to create, maintain, and improve upon the new technologies today if we are going to continue to lead the world in medical, technological, and scientific advancement. The video mentions the fact that today’s educators are preparing students for jobs that aren’t even available yet, for majors that haven’t been put in place yet, and for technologies that haven’t been invented yet. How do you prepare students for something that hasn’t yet been invented? By teaching the technology skills necessary to perform today’s jobs and functions. It is hard to look into the future, but learning the skills necessary to succeed in a technological world today, will help students prepare for the skills needed in the future—the skills we don’t even know we need yet! How many of us had to learn the skills to research on the internet in college? Yet today, the internet is a vital part of our lives and without those learned skills, many aspects of our lives would be much more difficult.

Information and technology is changing at such a rapid pace that it’s almost impossible to keep up. It is important that we as educators do not assume that the students will get the skills necessary somewhere else. Each teacher is responsible for teaching the skills appropriate for the grade level.

Of course, in order to produce 21^st Century Learners, you must be a 21^st Century Teacher. Where do you fall as a classroom teacher? Traditional or 21 Century? Take a moment to look at the chart below. Find the words or phrases that describe you most in each of the columns.

source :tcubed.wordpress.com

How Technology Is Affecting Our Lives

Today's world is full of pieces of technology that we take for granted, the microchip has truly revolutionised the way in which we live and do business. The world we see would not be recognisable to people of a few generations ago and nowhere is this truism greater than in the world of computing. Hence it is important to stay up to date with technology news; while many may think that this type of news is purely for geeks it is clear that all of us should have at least a passing interest in news of technological developments.

Technology pretty much touches all of our lives in some way and hence technology news is a vital resource that can keep us up to date with developments and ways in which the world will be changing. For instance, the onset of digital television is something that will affect most people; news stories that inform us of the dates for the switch over are vital so the average member of public can understand when their analogue signal will be turned off. In the same way, news of technologies that may make our cars safer and more efficient is important to all those who drive on our roads.

Anyone of a reasonable age will remember the BBC's 'Tomorrow's World; a technological news show that brought us stories of the latest developments and the ways life would be changed in the future. It was as sad day when this news show was cancelled; maybe it meant that people were no longer interested in new technology. If people are less interested they should not be; being up to date with what is coming around the corner is just as important as being informed on the politics of the nation and world affairs.

Any lack of interest has been sidestepped by the internet, which has seen the creation of a platform for thousands of writers who feel it necessary to publish regular news stories on technological developments. It is not just the bedroom 'bloggers' however that is publishing detailed news stories. Major reporting institutions are now likely to have a technology dedicated page in order to cope with the huge demand for this kind of news.

The fact of the matter is that technology now covers such a diverse range of subjects that it would be foolish for any reporting company not to write stories on the genre. Technology can apply to elements of the medical industry as well as the automotive industry. It is this diversity that makes technology news articles so interesting to read and why subscribers from all over the world regularly catch up theses stories.

It can be argued that will now live in the 'computer age', whether this is true or not is a matter of conjecture but what can be assured is that we live a period where computers are becoming increasingly important to our way of life. Ultimately we are becoming evermore reliant on our computers and without them we would be lost; there are even news stories of some now being addicted to their computers and handhelds. This is the extent that technology has encroached upon our lives that people now do not feel the need to 'unplug'.

The phenomena is only set to continue, as computers become more powerful and have greater and greater applications it will not be long that we will plan our lives around the computer. This is not an attempt to act as a harbinger of doom, it is just theorising on ways in which technology will impact upon the human race. This is why keeping up to date with news stories about technology is so important, technology is about forward momentum and understanding what is at the crest of the wave is only half of the battle.


source: www.streetdirectory.com

Blogging all over the world

Digital Planet
Alka Marwaha
BBC World Service

In a special edition, World Service programme Digital Planet looked at the role of blogging, censorship and citizen journalism. In particular it considered bloggers in Vietnam, Cuba and China.

Arabic blogosphere map, Berkman Center

Arabic blogging begins to bloom
Blogging in Vietnam and Cuba

"There are about 18 to 20 million web users registered in Vietnam, of which two to three million are blogging everyday," said Giang Nguyen, head of the BBC's Vietnamese service.

"Vietnam has an army of bloggers that exchange information and views, and they discuss all sorts of topics online from mundane stuff to politics," he added.

The Vietnamese are well connected and the government is keen on the web.

"The government's contribution to the internet's development is huge," said Mr Nguyen.

"Broadband internet is popular in Vietnam and internet cafes provide very cheap internet access".

Americo Martins, Americas editor for the BBC's World Service, said blogs were becoming important in Cuba despite the poor communications infrastructure.

"You really have a hard time getting a decent connection and very few people have access to computers.

"I went to Cuba last year and had a really hard time trying to connect to the internet.

The poor technical infrastructure has made Cubans masters in creating workarounds for their problems.
A portrait of the US President Obama displayed in a Vietnamese shop
'ChangeWeNeed' is inspired by Barack Obama's famous election slogan

"Students sell their internet access to their neighbours and they also do the same in public offices," said Mr Martins.

"A good number of Cubans have access to the internet, usually using illegal tricks and it is becoming more popular," he added.

Blogging is also booming in China, which now has the biggest net using population in the world.

"Just over one quarter of the population goes online in one form or another and about 150 million blog or follow blogs," said Shirong Chen, editor of the BBC's Chinese service.

"People are not only blogging for their personal journeys but they blog on political, sensitive stuff as well.

"You can discover all sorts of topics and tips in the Chinese blogosphere," he said.

Block and censor

Despite the popularity of blogging, many net users face restrictions on what they can do and say online.

China has plans to put filters on new PCs made that will limit access to pornographic or violent content.

Many suspect that this is another way to keep people away from sensitive or dissenting political material.

"The Chinese authorities have become more sophisticated in their blocking of internet activities," said Mr Chen.
A candlelight vigil to mark the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square
Twitter and Flickr were blocked in China on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square

"The Chinese have teams of people to ensure that the sensitive stuff does not get published and they are now asking PC makers to install software to block access to certain sites that could very well include some blogs.

"The software will probably be able to block specific web addresses and phrases as they will be written into the source code.

"They do not just block stuff or ask the internet service providers to take stuff offline, which they have done during the week of the Tiananmen Square anniversary, the Chinese started to block Twitter, Flickr and some blogs," said Mr Chen.

"In fact one blogger noticed that his blog was blocked by his friends texting him and asking why they couldn't read it.

"Bloggers are themselves becoming more sophisticated and are trying to avoid the censors and the technical filters by using dot or a hyphen in-between the phrases," he added.

"In China and Vietnam you have a system that tries to control politically what is mentioned there but people have access to technology," said Mr Martins.
A woman reading a blog at home in Havana
Cuba has a poor internet connection and therefore very few bloggers

"In Cuba it is a completely different story, you have very few people blogging to start with, this gives the security people an advantage of knowing more or less who they are, so they go for physical intimidation sometimes.

"Some of them are arrested or they try to discredit the bloggers by saying they receive money from the US.

"In theory you could blog about anything and lots of people do until the government really starts putting pressure on some of these people," he said.

The best known blogger in Cuba is a woman called Yoani Sanchez who blogs about her daily life on a website called "Generation Y".

"Sanchez doesn't have access to a blog herself but has to e-mail the text to friends abroad and it's them who publish the blog for her in Spanish and translate it into several different languages," said Mr Martins.

"This aspect of a personal account is very powerful in a place like Cuba, she became a personality because she blogs about her daily life and that's what annoys the government.

They assume that technology and the internet is part of the economy, so they overlooked the whole control of the internet
Giang Nguyen

"The daily routine of Cubans is exposed to the press of the world, their lack of choice and lack of things to buy, she became a celebrity by exposing this and showing how difficult life is in Cuba."

Ms Sanchez was chosen in 2008 by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in the world, despite the fact that she is influential abroad and is only well known to the police, the State and the forces that control the internet in Cuba.

"The Vietnamese government have learnt a lot from the Chinese Communist Party in how to control the media," said Mr Nguyen.

"The government has overlooked the past 10 years because the premise of the Vietnamese reform, is that we have just opened up the economy.

"They assume that technology and the internet is part of the economy, so they overlooked the whole control of the internet," he said.

Blogging from the State

Many popular political bloggers in Vietnam, such as "ChangeWeNeed" and "Osin", are thought to have high-level sources inside government who leak political scandals.

Who or how many people are behind the "ChangeWeNeed" blog remains a secret but they claim to have met with Vietnamese military leaders.

The other well known blog is called "Green River" which has identified all the politicians and government officials who drive expensive cars.

"That blogger has named everybody and the government has not made any move to deny it," explained Mr Nguyen.

"It seems they are very well placed in the Communist system in Vietnam and have access to info.

Many bloggers are using their blogs as a political weapon to fight for their own freedom and rights
Shirong Chen

"Many bloggers work for the State and access the internet through the government's own computers," he said.

In China, people are encouraged to write blogs sympathetic to the government.

"These blogs partly come from those who do believe in the government line but there are also reports of people whose job it is to plant blogs in the blogosphere, to push the government lines," said Mr Chen.

"Some of the blogs are subtle, but some give the straightforward party line.

"Many bloggers are using their blogs as a political weapon to fight for their own freedom and rights," he said.

Double life

In Vietnam, journalists have woken up to the potential of blogs.

"During daylight, some of the bloggers may work on government newspapers, they produce the same articles praising the government for doing very good things but at night they write their blogs which is totally different," said Mr Nguyen.

Said Mr Martins: "Bloggers are becoming more influential and you have a lot of blog journalists from the traditional media that just decided to either give up everything or lead double lives."

"They are becoming more influential because they offer a different point of view and information that the traditional media doesn't provide," he said.

Digital Planet is broadcast on BBC World Service on Tuesday at 1232 GMT and repeated at 1632 GMT, 2032 GMT and on Wednesday at 0032 GMT.


source :news.bbc.co.uk

Education Foundation

The RYTHEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION is a dynamic, independent, not for profit organisation. Our work focuses on funding and supporting partnerships and initiatives that positively contribute to the development of young people, their education and communities. RYTHEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION, consolidating an impressive scope of expertise and knowledge of the youth and education sectors.

RYTHEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION’s proven 25 years history in the development and delivery of innovative and ambitious education programs that support the public education system, community engagement, as well as a strong research and policy advocacy capability.

Information Technology has become the fastest growing Industry in today's scenario which is providing thousands of job to well trained professionals. India has achieved a terrific growth in this field and is being considered as a Super Power in the world. Information Technology is providing the upcoming future that will change every face of Human existence. In order to produce Information Technology Professionals, IT education requires a good infrastructure and high quality competence.

The interference of the computer enter in our life. Computer education is beneficial when any course of computer is done by the recognized institution or university. Indian Government also gives the slogan "Information Technology for all". For Development and extension of this programmer 20 Lac Information Technology Experts requires within six years. Other then I.T. field Ancillary Units and Industries requires demand of more then 10 Lac employee, but it come in force in India before few years. Now by the help of internet whole world is in our computer screen. Due to which we can take any of information within few seconds through computer. It is learning institute and is always willing to invent, innovate and renovate itself with the changing times. In continuation of it & education service to the nation, the Bharat Mission has become a pioneer in providing the best IT education & training in collaboration with state and Govt. of India. Our the prime goal of providing quality IT education to its Students and the meeting the need for skilled IT Professionals in the country.

Our Institution has been decided to provide the Computer Education by the help of State & Indian Government planning & Programmes announces time to time in nominal charge for every person of our lower and middle class of society. I wish and try to success the dream of computer education in all India.

RYTHEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION is an autonomous institution. The main objective behind the establishment of this institution is to spread the computer literacy to all over the country. By this computer literacy program, we ensure that student may learn more and more and can become self motivated. Our beefy infrastructure and dedicated officers urge students to move forward to get greater Professional Competence. They have also been exposed to the training and real world projects. I am sure that our student can get enough knowledge to face any demand and challenges that an employer may have on them. I wish for their great success and bright future and hope frothier better tomorrow.


source : images.google.com.pk

Australian Information and Communications Technology in Education Committee (AICTEC)

The Australian Information and Communications Technology in Education Committee (AICTEC) is a national, cross-sectoral committee responsible for providing advice to all Australian Ministers of Education and Training on the economic and effective utilisation of information and communications technologies in Australian education and training and on implementation of the Digital Education Revolution

AICTEC has representation from the schools, vocational education and training and higher education sectors, and includes both public and private education and training sector interests. Through its broad membership, the Committee represents the information and communication technology interests of each State and Territory school and vocational, education and training (VET) system, the non-government school sector, higher education, and the Australian Government.

AICTEC's revised Terms of Reference, endorsed by MCEETYA on 17 April 2008, extend AICTEC's role to include providing strategic policy advice on implementation of the Digital Education Revolution. In making this decision, MCEETYA noted that AICTEC would provide cross-jurisdictional and cross-sectoral policy advice to MCEETYA, COAG's Productivity Agenda Working Group and relevant sub-groups, and the Australian Government regarding implementation of the Digital Education Revolution and related ICT issues and, in this context, facilitate national consultation, collaboration and coordination as appropriate.

The AICTEC Secretariat is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the Framework for Open Learning Program (FOLP).

source :www.aictec.edu.au

About Information Technology Security Task Force

The Virginia Tech Information Technology Security Task Force was formed in December, 2003, to review the security of the university's information technology environment.

The goals of the task force are to:

• identify current methods of securing VT computing and network resources;
• identify ways to improve security; and
• propose specific solutions and initiatives to enhance the security of the Virginia Tech information technology environment.
  

source :www.it.vt.edu/spotlight

UET reserved seats admission in session 2009-10

Private institutions step up drive for admission
Lahore, Sep 02: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) has extended the last date till September 5 (Saturday) for admission in session 2009-10 against reserved seats in the varsity for other provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on reciprocal basis.

Other professional institutions have also extended admission date ranging from Sept 5, 7 and 12. The AJK immigrants can also apply for admission to Pakistani varsities against their reserved seats.

Admission forms for medical and dental colleges could be submitted by October 7, engineering and other courses by Sept 12, and for Agriculture University Faisalabad by Sept 7 to the Additional Secretary Education (Colleges) Muzaffarabad.

Meanwhile, following display of last merit lists on August 31 in government colleges for graduate and postgraduate studies, and near the completion of admission process in Intermediate second shifts, the private colleges and varsities have accelerated their admission campaign for those who could not get admission. Most of these institutions either do not have any charter from the government or are affiliated with the institutions other than the Punjab University, Lahore Board and Board of Technical Education. Legally no other varsity can grant affiliation to any institution operating in its jurisdiction. The Punjab University has also drawn a list of the institutions, de-affiliated by it for not fulfilling the basis requirement. But these institutions are still admitting the students. Similarly, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has also drawn a list of universities and colleges not recognised by it or which do not have any charter to act as varsity. However, these institutions as well whose quality of education and credibility of degree is questionable, are continuing to allure the unwary students due to lack of any administrative machinery to disband them. The nation

source :www.interface.edu.pk

Educational Changes in the Field of Information Technology

As the information technology industry has grown, so have the related educational opportunities. Educational curriculum isn’t always the best gauge of industry changes within a particular field, although the rules which make that fact a plainly evident reality for most industries rarely apply in the modern world of information technology. In fact, unlike disciplines such as medicine, the very nature of the current IT industry promotes the idea that advancements in technology are only truly valid and successful when they are recognized and widely accepted by all. For this reason, IT curriculum is often on the heels of the latest developments, with competition among educational providers also helping to spur the cutting edge component of the coursework.

Lately, another trend is beginning to emerge, with more universities offering specializations in the field of IT. While IT and computer science related programs with specializations are becoming more commonplace than ever, the marriage of IT and education was not always such a happy, fruitful union. Not long ago, computer science curriculum could be summed up in two phrases: network administration and programming. Large scale hardware and software IT implementations were performed by technicians certified by Cisco or Microsoft. These were the certifications one sought after they graduated from college but before attempting to find employment. Now, with the implementation and operation of server based intranet systems having long ago been de-mystified, most IT professionals are going from cap and gown to business casual with few if any stops along the way. The reason this is possible has a lot to do with changes in the educational system’s view of information technology.

Most institutions are moving toward a diverse curriculum that incorporates IT fundamentals with an emphasis on a particular area of specialization. Educational institutions are reacting to the needs of employers in the job market. From the implementation of infrastructures to systems security, an area of study that once might have had a course or two devoted to it now comprises an entire degree program.

The result of these changes in the educational landscape regarding IT is indeed a direct reflection of changes in the workplace. As alterations to the structure of IT management have occurred, so have evolutions in the way IT personnel are educated and trained.

source : www.goingtouni.gov.au

Information Technology

Information Technology is the study of the processing, transmitting and storage of information by computers.

The main purpose of this broad field of education is to develop an understanding of and ability to create information systems, programming languages, information management and artificial intelligence.

The theoretical content of Broad Field 02 Information Technology includes:

• computation theory
• computer programming
• data format and coding
• management, storage and retrieval of information in a computer environment
• robotics programming and artificial intelligence
• systems analysis

source :www.goingtouni.gov.au

Engineering and Related Technologies

Engineering and Related Technologies is the study of the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and functioning of machines, systems and structures; and the composition and processing of metals, ceramics, foodstuffs and other materials. It includes the measurement and mapping of the earth's surface and its natural and constructed features.

The main purpose of this broad field of education is to develop an understanding of the conversion of materials and energy, and the measurement and representation of objects.

The theoretical content of Broad Field 03 Engineering and Related Technologies includes:

• aeronautics
• engineering and manufacturing technology
• food technology
• land information technology and remote sensing
• materials science
• principles of design, drafting, planning and commissioning

source : www.goingtouni.gov.au

Technology photos

Browse through the collection of free stock photos that feature technology. Find everything from computer photos to humanoid images, supercomputer pictures, tech graphics and more. Technology moves so fast these days you'll want to make sure you have photos of it before it quickly moves on. Locate the picture you need whether it's of the latest gadgets, new parts, cool gizmos, crazy inventions or fast computers.

Download any of the technology based stock photos, pictures, digital images or graphics. They are all royalty free and in the public domain so use them as you please.

computer chip	computers	early supercomputer	random robot	humanoid robot	robotic soccer
source : www.easystockphotos.com

iPhoto ( EDTEC 640 )

Life is one big photo opportunity. After you've snapped all those great pictures, what can you do with them? With Apple's iPhoto, you can store, organize, and display all your images. Or send an album of favorite photos to the family and have it change automatically on their computers when you update yours. Give a beautiful printed book of special photos to a friend. Put your kid's face on a custom party invitation. Create a personalized calendar to give as a gift. In this hands-on class, you'll also learn iPhoto's floating Effects palette with the most popular effects. Apply a sepia tint to your photo. Transform it to striking black-and-white. Boost or fade color. Vignette it or blur the edges. With iPhoto, you can take your digital images to the next level with ease. This class is part of Continuing Education's HomeTech series. For more information and to see a complete list of HomeTech classes, go to www.continue.utah.edu/hometech.

source : continue.utah.edu

Education

When we think about education, we often view school in a traditional, formal sense. Many people believe that true learning can only take place in a formal classroom setting. Others feel education occurs in many different forms and environments. There may not be a definitive answer to the question of, ‘What is Education?’ However, we can start thinking about the purpose of education. Is it to educate youth to be responsible citizens? Is it to develop individuals, as well as society, in order to ensure a society’s economic success? Or is the purpose of education to simply focus on developing individual talents and intelligence? Perhaps it is the balance of all three that defines education? While our answers may differ, we can perhaps agree that education is a basic human right. When that right is granted growth and development, the society as a whole is more likely to improve in areas such as health, nutrition, general income and living standards and population fertility rates.

The information in this section will prompt you to think about some very important issues surrounding the topic of education. As global citizens of the world it is our responsibility to critically think about these issues and attempt to come up with solutions to the problems plaguing education. In 1990 UNESCO launched EFA, the movement to provide quality education for all children, youth, and adults by the year 2015. Seventeen years later much progress still needs to be made if we are to achieve the goal for 2015. The unfortunate reality is that for many countries, larger issues precede improving the quality of education. How can we achieve the goals of EFA when numerous countries around the world are faced with challenges that seem far too impossible to overcome?

The answer lies in attempting to bridge some of the gaps that prevent developing nations to compete with developed nations. One example is that of providing greater access to technology and narrowing the ever widening digital divide. In many ways the most basic access to technology can serve as a valuable educational tool. Individuals who are not afforded this access are at a disadvantage when trying to grasp opportunities to make life better for themselves, their families, and their community.

Another issue that poses a barrier to widespread development is that of literacy. There still remains a rather larger percentage of illiterate youth and adults in many nations around the world. Economic difficulty and lack of education get in the way of decreasing illiteracy rates. As you will learn in the following sections, literacy is no longer simply limited to reading and writing.

There are many different capacities in which an individual living in the twenty-first century can be literate. Helping to strengthen skills in other areas, can still help to make progress on sustaining the development of a nation, as well as achieve gender equality. The gender gap in education points to the fact that females are still not afforded the same opportunities as males. In many parts of the world cultures see no value in educating females. Two of the eight Millennium Development Goals, achieving universal primary education and promoting gender equality, seek to close the gaps that exist in the education around the world. If we can make some advancement on achieving these goals, we can further the progress on the remaining six. Education is the foundation for the success of any given society. Numerous studies have shown the correlation between education and lower birth rates, lower infant mortality rates and fewer maternal deaths. Furthermore, a more educated population will also result in higher personal incomes as we all expand access to financial opportunities.

In summary therefore, education does not only encourage personal development but also provides a place for people to interact, socialize, and unify their societies


source: issues.tigweb.org

Lead & Get Others Involved

Educational technology has made the attainment of education possible for diverse groups including those in remote areas of developing countries. The obvious question that comes to mind is: how is it possible to spread this form of education in remote areas without electricity and telephone lines? The vision to provide educational technology in such areas might seem an impossible task. However, the following story demonstrates the will of a “changemaker”, who achieved the impossible by introducing educational technology in a country where government-run schools are inadequately funded and in the remote Nepalese villages, which are isolated from urban cities and other villages due to rough terrain.

Mahabir Pun, a Nepalese teacher, due to absence of high-school education, was forced to leave mountainous village (Nangi) in western Nepal. After high school, he attended the University of Nebraska in United States. When he returned to his village, he realized his village’s need to sustainable educational institutions. From his experiences in United States, he had seen the significant contribution that information technology could make to the improving education system. This single idea motivated him to improve the quality of education in Nepal’s remote mountainous regions.

Mahabir began to work on his vision i.e. using technology to overcome the remoteness of these mountainous villages, by educating himself about computer through computer classes.

His plan is to link teachers by computers and Internet, thereby preventing teacher burnout and improving the quality of instruction. His vision allows teacher hours-walking distance away to communicate with each other, share resources, and ideas. Moreover, since qualified teachers are rare in these mountainous districts, distance-learning classes allow three or more villages to share skilled teachers.

Mahabir first steps in making his vision a possibility included connecting Nangi School with villages eight-hours-walking distance away with the help of a small handmade dish antennae. He collected computer parts from the U.S. and assembled them in wooden boxes, thereby building 14 computer for his village. In 2008, Mahabir’s dream became a full-fledged reality with wireless technology connecting 42 remote villages in Nepal.

Mahabir’s solution to geographic isolation and derisory education is compelling, but it is also applicable to numerous countries with similar geographic character and equally to those in pursuit of a sustainable education system.

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source: issues.tigweb.org