Teach For Australia

This short article published on the April 22nd, in The Australian, documents new initiatives announced byt eh Australian governemnt to lift the standards of under privilages schools in the country.

FEDERAL Education Minister Julia Gillard yesterday announced Victorian not-for-profit group Teach for Australia had won the tender for the Council of Australian Governments’ New Pathway into Teaching initiative, starting in 2010.

The group’s model involves high achievers, called associates, committing themselves to disadvantaged high schools for two years, after which they are awarded a qualification of diploma standard or higher.

The Government is in final negotiations over which university will provide the scheme’s teacher training component. Associates can opt to remain in teaching or receive preferential treatment from recruiters for corporate partners.

TFA chief executive Melodie Potts Rosevear told the HES: “At the moment many choose not to enter teaching partly because we need to make it attractive to them. One of the ways we do this is to make sure that the business partnerships we have provide job opportunities at the conclusion.”

Data from Teach for America shows more than half of those who tried the arrangement stayed into a third year.

Yep. That’s the entire article.

I think the lack of detail is a credit to lack of new direction or a desire for just straight out reporting. Also, the lack of refrencing or information into the study done in America does not give creedit tot his article. It owuld have been good for more detail to build public support for this program. You’r enot even told how long the program will last for or  how many people it will encompass or effect.

I would definitly go into more research, especially the nature of the study done in America, and any similiarities or differences this would have in the Australian education system. It’s a totally different deographic that we;re dealign with. The sociological and cultural implications are not mentioned, neither is the cost of the program. These are all questions that could be raised and researched further.

Re-learning Afghanistan

This article published on the 26th of April on the web-based publication University World News details plans announced by the  Afghan government to rebuild the  higher-education system. The UN backed program is aimed at  equipping and quilifiing individuals to meet the needs of the nation’s reconstruction and economic growth:

Halim [Nazar Mohammad Halim, of the faculty of science of Kabul University] said there were complex and almost overwhelming pressing needs for Afghanistan to rebuild its higher education sector. There were critical shortages of professionals such as engineers, technicians, administrators, accountants, agriculturists, and business leaders to meet the needs of reconstruction and economic growth, as well as an urgent requirement for well-educated and trained leadership in all sectors of the economy.

The article builds the plans of reforms and progress in the Afghan educatrion system as a great thing, using active and emotive words such as “dramatic progress”. This fits in with the goals of the publiucation; who aim to keep scholars and the public updated with advancements in the higher education field.

Nineteen higher education institutions have reopened their doors and enrolment has jumped from 4,000 students in 2001 to 37,000 in the autumn of 2007.

The government, for the first time, has encouraged the establishment of good-quality private higher education institutions with proper incentives and quality control mechanisms.The American University of Afghanistan established in 2006 and located in the Karte Se area of Kabul, is the nation’s first private higher education institution. It offers three undergraduate degrees, as well as intensive English-language preparation courses and professional development training.

The article brings hope to readers when you consider the extent of how war-torn this nation is.

Quality quotes enforce this notion:

“These universities are good steps towards increasing capacity building and encouraging the return of Afghan scientists who migrated to Europe, the United States, and Pakistan during over decades of war,” Halim said. “As well as assisting Afghanistan to re-emerge from decades of war and civil strife.” 

Indian Education Fair

(From left) A K Srivastava, Principal, Birla Public School; Anju Banerjee, Chairperson and Managing Director, EdCIL India Limited; Arathi Obroi, an official of BPS; and Dr Mohan Thomas, President of the Management Committee of BPS, at a news conference yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT. Picture from: The Penisula Online

 

The article from the 23rd of April in the online Indian news publication The Peninsula On-line is a classic news story, taking the standard who, what, where, when, why and how form.

Interestingly, the Education Fair (which the article is about) is aimed at prospecgtive international students, looking for a university.

The Indian government has authorised EdCIL for the placement of international students seeking admission in institutions in India. This is first Indian education road show being organised by EdCIL in Qatar.

“India, with its hundreds of top-ranking universities and higher education institutions, offers good opportunities for students worldwide. A wide spectrum of internationally recongnised courses and study programmes are available in the county at a very reasonable cost. This education fair is our first initiative to raise awareness among Indian and foreign students here about the higher education scenario in India,” Anju Banerjee, chairperson and managing director, EdCIL said in a press conference yesterday.

 

I think it would be interesting to see what the government offers for local students; like what opportunities are on offer for INdian students, especially when:

EdCIL will act as the local guardian for the students being recruited through it to various Indian institutions. “All the student’s fees will be paid through EdCIL and the institutions will not be able to levy any additional fees other than those agreed upon during the placement interviews,”

(EdCIL = Educational Consultants India Limited ) .

When religion and education meet

Published on the 23rd of April, this story from the SMH  continues the on-going saga about the Muslim school propposed for Camden.

This story is a hybrid of education and religion, documenting the public out cry when education and religion of a non-western background come against a town with country values.

The article focus more on the conflict between residence and the proppsed school, with the opening paragraph made of an awesome quote form one of the more outspoken residence:

AN Islamic school in Camden would be “a breeding ground for terrorists”, says a resident who gave evidence in support of Camden Council at an appeal against its decision to block the school.

Judith Bond said the school would teach war and how to kill.

“Values of violence will be emphasised. It will be a breeding ground for terrorists … There will be a surge of gang rapes, looting and attacking infidels,” Ms Bond said.

I think this could come into the ‘conflict of what should be taught in schools’ catagory, espcially as education is a tool in shaping the values of individuals.

The remaining bit of article focuses more on the religous side of the debate, with responces from the CDP and other Christian residence.