Blog 13: Most Schools “Have Reduced Careers Advice”

Most Schools “Have Reduced Careers Advice”

After much research done in the past year, eight of ten schools in England now have reduced careers advice available to students.  A survey of over 1,500 secondary schools revealed dramatic reductions from the 2011-2012 to the 2012-2013 school years.  Schools are now taking responsibility for administering career guidance to their students due to the Education Act 2011.  The survey revealed that the level of career advice was maintained in only 16.5% of the 1,568 schools participating. The Chairman of the Careers England board, Steve Stewart expressed that “Schools have been let down by the Department for Education, poorly prepared for the transition to their new role.  And to expect more and better careers guidance for students, when schools have not a penny more for the new duty is not delegation of the duty to schools - it is abdication of by the Department for Education. This survey tells us bluntly that too much has been left to chance.”  Stewart’s remarks explain England’s struggle with careers advice well.  He brings attention to the fact that students need guidance and without the proper resources, individuals will be less informed to make good decisions when it comes to careers choices.  Karen Buck, a shadow education minister confirmed issues by stating that "Many are struggling to maintain a quality offer of careers advice and guidance because of the changes brought in by this government, with reduced financial support from September.  Students and employers will be the losers as young people face being left with reduced ability to choose the best options for qualifications, training and work." It is clear that budget is an issue for education throughout the world and currently, for England, students will suffer in the career department, which will have a profound effect on the rest of their lives.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20452398

Final Blog:An 80yr old Graduate w/an Online Marketing Degree Kept His Promise

Robert Titus is an eighty year old that recently earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management online. He graduated from W.G.U Texas, which is an online nonprofit that was created in 2011. He recognizes that he will probably not obtain a job even with his degree. However, all of that is fine because he did not attend school in order to obtain a job. His motivation was the promise he made to his mother several years ago. Robert stated “I promise my mother many, many years ago that I would get my degree.” It is apparent that Robert is a man of his word. This was not his first attempt of pursuing a college degree. He enrolled in college after he graduated from high school, but then enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Korean War. Once his arrival back home he started a long career in sales, occasionally enrolling in a nearby college, but he could never remain focus. Unfortunately, Robert was not able to attend the graduation in Austin, Texas this month. However, this did not affect his positive attitude because he proudly displays his diploma above his fireplace.

This story is very motivating because it shows that age is just a number.  Robert Titus honored his promise he made to his mother several years ago. He did not allow his age or pass attempts at earning a degree determine his decision for trying again. This whole article is about keeping your word, overcoming obstacle, and never giving up. What he did was extremely commendable and courageous at the age of eight years old. He is an example not only senior citizens, but to anyone that desires to pursue their goal.   This article is inspiring because attending college is difficult for a young person. Remaining focused, having good time management, and remaining motivated are all challenges in college. In addition, the fact he went to college with knowing he would not get a job in his field is wise. Its shows his real purpose was to simply keep his promise to his mother. Robert Titus is a role model for me because his story is extremely inspiring and shows that it is never too late to fulfill your aspirations.

Posted at- 2:45AM
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/us/80-year-old-graduate-of-wgu-texas-kept-his-promise.html?ref=education

Blog 12- Arts Must Be Secure In Curriculum, Argues Leading Head

                Bernice McCabe, Co-Director of the Prince’s Teaching Institute (PTI) at North London Collegiate School, shows much concern for the arts subject being eliminated from the English baccalaureate for 16-year-olds.  McCabe states to an audience at PTI: "I am convinced that education in art and music is a crucial element in the curricular entitlement of every child."  As she continues to speak McCabe goes on to say that it is crucial for everyone to give their opinions on the matter at hand, for their opinions may be influential to keeping the arts in the curriculum for the benefit of students.  Important individuals involved in the arts have concern that Britain’s creative economy will suffer greatly within only one generation’s time if this subject matter is not involved in the new curriculum plans.  Bernice voices that "We teachers have a prime role as champions of this country's cultural heritage and I see it as our moral duty to pass this on to younger generations."  She sees that culture is very much so a part of the arts and is determined to keep the arts in curricula by “spending £15m over the next three years to ensure that every child has access to the arts."

                Arts Must Be Secure in Curriculum, Argues Leading Head relates to Ken Robinson’s Changing Education Paradigms in that McCabe and Robinson both express the need for education and creativity to be intertwined in any curriculum.  I can never say this enough; Students are the future of this planet and what adults do now to change the way their futures will develop is only making it harder for individuals to step up and exhibit the abilities and skills needed to fix global issues that we all encounter.  Why make education so difficult to achieve?  It does absolutely no good for this world that we must all reside in.  Creativity is the future.  My generation… we are the creators.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20356662

Blog 12 English

This week’s current event is about Indonesia to end teaching of English in their primary schools. It also touches on Mexican students clashing over the curriculum and Nigeria urges students to shun Ukraine education. In Indonesia next year they will stop teaching English in primary schools to try to reverse the following standards. The deputy of education wants to overhaul the curriculum, so that the standard will be higher. He also said that students more time to master their first language. “Elementary schools will have English lessons because students haven’t learned to understand the Indonesian language. Now even some kindergarten students take English courses, said the minister of education.” The ministry wants to focus more on teaching religion and Indonesian culture at the expense of science and social studies. They won’t began to learn English until junior high school. They believe that reason why students on doing good within their own culture, is because they spent too much time learning English.

Mexican students clash over the curriculum. Trainee teachers in the Mexican state hijacked buses and trucks in protest against English language and computer science courses last month, sparking clashes with police. Students protested at three training colleges which have mandatory English and computer skills within their curriculum. There were 1500 police deployed to arrest students to occupy colleges. Students and teachers in the following days protested in the streets to demand the release of students in custody.

A Nigerian diplomat has urged students from his country to stay away from university courses taught in English in Ukraine. The diplomat believes the standards in the language are not good enough. Nigerian ambassador said that English medium courses were popular choice because fees were low. The standards of Ukraine language courses were higher and students would be better of learning the local language.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/nov/13/elt-diary-november-indonesia-english

Blog 12: Swedish School's Big Lesson Begins with Dropping Personal Pronouns

Swedish schools are trying to dismiss stereotypes based on gender. The teachers avoid using pronouns such as him, her, boy or girl. They call the students "friends" or call them "hens" because it does not have an association with boy or girl. The children are encouraged to play with all toys and are treated fair. The teachers read traditional fairy tales, but also read books involving single parents, adoption, and same-sex couples. The schools have received criticism via mail, blogs, and letters. Some critics believe the school wants to turn boys into little girls and vice verse.

I think the schools are making the students diverse. It shows that a girl or boy can become anything he or she wants to. They do not limit the students to what toys he or she can play with. At an early age children are taught that certain things are for certain genders. Stereotypes are present everywhere in schools, media, and households. Girls and boys can cry and receive comfort from their teachers. The schools create freedom and diversity for each student. It shows equality for everyone no matter race, ethnicity, or gender. This article can relate back to the education discussion board. These schools can be considered in a "perfect" education system. The teachers read books that are not just involving "Cinderella" or "Snow White." These books are teaching girls that they have to be saved by a boy in order to find happiness. The critics automatically think the teachers are trying to make the boys to feminine and vice verse. In reality the teachers are making the students well-rounded and open minded. I believe the schools are teaching valuable lessons and morals.                                          
1:20PM
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/world/europe/swedish-school-de-emphasizes-gender-lines.html?ref=education

Blog 12: Finland's educational success story: Less testing, more trusting

In forty years Finland has reformed their whole education system. It used to be considered a homogeneous with mediocre schools now it has one of the best education systems in the whole world. In 2000, Finland surprised countries around the world when their 15-year-olds scored at the top of an important international exam called the PISA (the Program for International Student Assessment) and they have stayed near the top ever since then while the United States only scores around the middle. An official from Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture, Pasi Sahlberg, came to Seattle this week to talk about Finland’s success.  Pasi Sahlberg’s advice was stop testing so much, trust teachers more, give less homework and shorten the school day. Finland has improved their education so because they are doing things totally different from the United States. Although every country cannot be like Finland Spielberg believes that they could inspire other countries to consider new ways to achieve their educational goals. Finland relied on the cooperation among the teachers and schools instead of testing the schools and having them compete against each other. In Finland teachers come up with their own curriculum and design their own test there are no national tests expect one that is required at the end of high school. They really put faith and trust into their teachers and principals to do their job. Another major difference is that Finland students don’t start school until their 7 while we start at 5 in the U.S. Teaching a much respected job in Finland just as much as doctors and lawyers and their teachers don’t earn much more than U.S teachers but it still attracts the nation’s top graduates. Finland succeeded by taking ideas from the U.S and other countries so we should be able to learn from Finland too.

I think the U.S should look at other countries education systems and take some ideas from them. Our education is far from perfect so we could always use some extra help to further improve our education because this will be beneficial to the whole country. We can’t expect our country to continue running smoothly if our citizens aren’t on the same educational level as other countries around the world. Finland really stood out because they did the opposite of what most countries are doing and they were successful. Most countries would rather do what the others are doing than to be different and try out something new. They don’t want to be considered failures if the new ideas don’t work so they just go with the traditional systems which could be preventing them from doing better.

 http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019676789_finland14m.html

Blog 12: Uprooted in Storm, Students Endure Trek to Class.

Jenny Anderson wrote this article yesterday. Since the hurricane hit New York city, students have been walking past piles of debris, overturned cars and boats, and vans full of supplies for the city dwellers on there way to school everyday. A lot of students are living in bad situations where there is not electricity and rotting buildings from all of the rain and flooding. “Life for the students of Rockaway Park — among the 33 schools that remain severely damaged as a result of Hurricane Sandy— has been upended. Many have been scattered across New York City, with relatives or in shelters. “We’re concerned,” said Jennifer Izzo, the guidance counselor. “We still can’t find some of them.” The city’s Education Department has reassigned 15,000 displaced students to other schools; the students and teachers of Rockaway Park are being sent to the Maspeth High School campus in Queens. Parents were upset, since their new school, like their old neighborhood, is not easily reached by public transportation. So the city agreed to send coach buses to Rockaway Park to take the students to and from their temporary school. Supplies were short, despite the fact that some workers had defied orders not to enter Rockaway Park High School, sneaking in to smuggle out science and math textbooks, which were there when the students arrived at Maspeth.” (Anderson, “Uprooted”). A lot of the students now have nothing and Rockaway school used to require uniforms, since the storm, they postponed that rule and now its hard for students to find something appropriate for school. It’s going to be a long time for things in New York city.

            This article has to deal with education because students in New York city are having a hard time succeeding in school from missing books, having a hard time with the transportation of even getting there, and the fact that they don’t even have electricity to get on with their daily lives. What I don’t understand is why aren’t we getting more involved in helping them? It isn’t like they are across the seven seas or whatever; they are in the same country, just a few hours away. Those students need our help!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/education/displaced-by-storm-students-face-long-trek-to-temporary-school-in-queens.html?_r=0

Blog 11: London Metropolitan University: Student Numbers Fall

Losing the right to recruit students from outside of the European Union, London Metropolitan University is deemed the first school in the United Kingdom to undergo such “punishment.”  The UK Board Agency claims to have revoked these rights from the university because rules for keeping the license allowing overseas students to attend were not followed correctly.  “London Met” educates less than half the amount of new students that attended the university this past year with a fallen number from 11,000 to 6,000 EU recruits.  The number of overseas students present has gone from 2,000 to about 300, who will be forced to transfer when this academic year comes to an end.  The vice chancellor, Professor Malcolm Gillies states that the university is losing students not only because of the license loss but due to previous budget cuts, over-enrollment, and current application evaluations.  He also states that the university reached 84% of the target recruitment goal and has been one of the schools that have not been given the funding to raise their student intake for the year.  Gillies ends his commentary on London Metropolitans issue by defending his university in saying that the license will be earned back and that there will be a rise in demand for a London Met cap, gown, and diploma in the coming future. 

                London Metropolitan University’s battle to gain students has become an issue due to the loss of its license that allows the attendance of overseas students.  Given that the school suffers as result of lack to follow specific rules, there is much more to this problem than what has been written above. International students are losing opportunities.  Granted the difference that one school can make may seem like very little but with how important education is in today’s time, a few hundred opportunities can make a huge difference.  London Met is being given the chance to realize that their decision to neglect rules has lessened a number of individuals chances to learn and create; a chance that they may never get again.  Education is vital to individuals in many ways today and should never be taken away.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20256192

Blog 11: Concordia University students want probe of foreign-student recruiters

         This article tells about how students from Concordia University have begun to ask Canada’s international education industry to stop using recruitment agents because foreign students there have been complaining about poor conditions in their home-stay arrangements. Some students from China said they planned their accommodations in Canada through a man named Peter Low, who is supposed to be a director of the Concordia China Student Recruitment Partner program, and said they were promised furnished rooms and meals but this is not what they received.  This week at a protest Nadine Atallah the vice-president of Concordia’s Undergraduate Students’ Association, said “Some of them don’t get enough food. Their access to hot water and use of kitchen are restricted, and they can’t have visitors.” “In one incident, a student was accused of stealing forks, knives and cups, and had to pay the landlord $150.  After she paid, the landlord said more went missing and asked her for $1,240 or to get out.”  It is said that these issues came to light after three Chinese students went the university’s housing and job bank for help. An article was then released in the school paper telling how the Chinese students were being taken advantage of. The Chinese student  told the school paper how he paid $900 a month to share a crowded house with 12 other people and for breakfast, lunch, and dinner they only received two pieces of bread with margarine or a hot dog. Another student named Lydia Li from Shanghai told the Star she paid $900 a month to stay in a house with a family of three and two other students. Li said “There’s only a bed in the room, no chair or desk. We didn't even have a lock on our doors. All we had were sandwiches with jam. We don’t know where to complain. No one is taking responsibility and we feel betrayed by Concordia.” A member of the university’s Graduate Students’ Association thinks that these problems are growing as Canadian universities began to use more recruitment agencies to help them compete in the international education market. However Christine Mota a spokeswoman for Concordia said no international students had complained to the administration about these issues. Mota said the administration plans to create virtual and on-site orientation sessions, in Mandarin, Arabic, Farsi and other languages, that will include information on housing and their rights as tenants. It will also make available a Mandarin version of the pre-departure guide for foreign students. Christine Mota also emphasized that Low was not a Concordia employee; he is a contractor who represents the school at international education fairs and marketing seminars but Li and other Chinese foreign students believe that Low is a Concordia employee because of his Concordia email address and they did not have to pay him an administrative fee for arranging the home-stay.

          I have noticed it is becoming a more common problem for international students to be mistreated and taken advantage of when they go to another country to study. More and more students are beginning to come out talk about the terrible living conditions and being starved. There should be some type of laws put in place to prevent this from happening or they should have random check-ups where someone randomly stops by the place the international students are living to see how the living arrangements are.  Peter Low also needs to be investigated and possibly removed from his job if he is actually an employee or Concordia instead of just a recruitment person for them.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1284993--concordia-university-students-want-probe-of-foreign-student-recruiters

Blog 11 Brazil education

This week’s current event is about Brazil’s national high school exam, which is like the American SAT for a levels in the UK. The end of high school exam has seen major improvements but has come under some scrutiny due to attendance levels, disruptions and leaked questions. In Brazil, 5.8 million people registered for the exam, but 28% failed to attend nationally. The Ministry of education was all universities to used exam as a standard entrance qualification test. Universities have not taken this option up, but federal universities use the ENEM exam scores. Brazil’s biggest promise for education, they have the six largest economy in the world. Brazil the struggling with the room shortage of skilled professionals, the federal government estimates that Brazil’s oil fills will need 250,000 new professionals through 2016. The reason why Brazil believes that the students are not taking the exam’s because they are having second thoughts about attending a university. The space universities are limited, said by the education minister. It has been limited further for many white middle-class students after 50% quota was introduced earlier in 2012 to increase the number University students from poor backgrounds. This is stirred a great debate nationwide because it limits the local people from furthering their education. Education Minister hailed Brazil’s handling of the exam – the second-biggest exam of this type in the world at the China. They have recently reported that 20% of 18 to 25-year-olds in Brazil are officially classified as neither studying, nor working or looking for work, or doing so outside the official system. 65 candidates were expelled from the exam hall over the two days for uploading messages and images of exam onto social networks. Brazil’s government said they are monitoring systems that would improve and that the exam is not yet perfect. This year’s exam was more difficult than previous years, after a number of complaints. The test was simply for University purposes. The ENEM tests candidate’s range of disciplines, including science, math and language. They are expected this year’s results, December 28.

http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/front-page/enem-exam-highlights-education-in-brazil/#

Blog #11 -U.A.E. Moves Toward Paperless Classrooms

This article is about several Islamic Universities giving first year students tablets to assist them in their schooling. This is a tactic to attract men to pursue higher education because there are only 30% men in these universities. They also hope that the tablets will assist in raising the test scores, encourage the students to study more diverse areas of study, and to learn practical skills as well as skills that apply to the workplace. The Islamic universities have seen how tablets and technology has helped students in the United States in both middle and high school so they decided to mimic it to see if it is as beneficial for them as it is in the United States. It has also been shown in other countries such as Switzerland that tablets help students that are in graduate programs which will eventually rely solely on it for distant education. Another reason for the tablets is to minimize the amount of heavy books that the student has to carry around campus as well as saving students more money. Although the Islamic Universities don’t have to pay for tuition or books they are required to get a computer and if the school hands out tablets to these students they won’t have to spend their money on expensive laptops or the software that is required for a laptop. At first the teachers weren’t so sure about the IPads because they didn’t know if they would be able to operate them but once they received them they realized that it wasn’t hard at all. The Islamic Universities are working with Apple to create e-books and other apps specific to their curriculum.

I think this is a good idea because it more convenient for the student to be able to carry the tablet around with all the information needed instead of carrying around a lot of heavy books. It is also a good idea because it helps the teachers and students become familiar with modern technology which will in turn help them become more prepared to deal with technology in the workplace. I wish this was implemented on my Early College high school because it would have saved me a lot of money and relieved my back pain from carrying all those college books around.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/world/middleeast/29iht-educlede29.html?ref=internationaleducation

Blog 11: In S. Korea, the best education means a sacrifice for parents

In South Korea families have to separate in order for their children to receive the best education. Choi Seo-yoon and her husband, Kim Ho will live in different towns and homes for the next eleven or twelve years. Their six year old daughter got accepted into a elite international school that is faraway from their current home. Choi Seo-yoon and her daughter will buy a house close to the international school, while Kim Ho stays in Seoul. While the child and mother move closer to the school, the husband remains at home and work. A lot of the schools in the Korean school system are crowded and the students school day is not over until 8 or 9pm. The parents understand that sending their child to a international helps them in the future. Majority of the families that separate to provide their children a better education, say they are happier living a part. The parents have freedom from one another and take time for their self. Kim Ho, said its not a sacrifice because he does get to spend much time with his daughter anyway.

I believe that what the parents are doing for their children is wonderful. The parents are altering their lifestyle for their children. The mother plays a major role in this situation because she actually moves with the child. I can understand how the parents enjoy their time a part from one another, but not for that long period of time.. It seems like spending approximately eleven or twelve years apart could hurt a marriage. The child does not really have quality or bonding time with his or her father. The situation has a lot of positive aspects, but negative ones as well. Children that attend international schools have an advantage to the children that attend regular Korean schools. It seems that the family will have financial issues because they will have more bills. The sacrifice is not only seen in the parents, but in the children as well.

6:20PM
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-s-korea-the-best-education-means-a-sacrifice-for-parents/2012/11/05/6adb0564-256f-11e2-9313-3c7f59038d93_story.html

Blog # 11 Note-Taking’s Past, Deciphered Today

-->

Jennifer Schuessler wrote this article. Most college students in lecture halls take notes on laptops or in binders, but the students at Harvard are taking notes on an 18^th centaury old notebook. “The far-flung things that go on in scholars’ heads when they think about notes became clear at the daylong gathering. Presentations touched on talking points scribbled on Sarah Palin’s hand during a speech, fliers stapled to telephone poles and Twitter posts about the conference itself that were read from the stage all day. The conference was more than a celebration of quirky marginalia and academic navel-gazing. The study of notes — whether pasted into commonplace books, inscribed on index cards or scribbled in textbooks — is part of a broader scholarly investigation into the history of reading, a field that has gained ground as the rise of digital technology has made the encounter between book and reader seem more fragile and ghostly than ever.” (Schuessler “Notes”). A lot of professors now days admit to sending out students out of class when they are taking notes when they are supposed to be listening to the lecture. Also there is a lot of debate about using modern technology while taking notes, because there has been studies done, that students learn better if they actually write it down, instead of typing it in. A lot of students argue that they don’t take notes do to the fact that they can’t even read their own handwriting.

            This article had to do with education because it’s about how long scholars have been taking notes to help them with their studies. My question is how did Harvard manage to get their hands on an 18^th centaury notebook? I believe that students should take notes in the best ay for them. I personally don’t use a laptop when I take notes because I find it easier for me to remember if I write it down. I found this article to be really fascinating.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/books/note-taking-seminars-at-radcliffe-institute-for-advanced-study.html?pagewanted=all

Mary Roberts Blog #10: Technology Changing How Students Learn

Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say

This article is about how technology might be changing the teaching style as well as the skills children are learning in school for the bad. They think technology in the classroom is a good thing for children but they have observed that it causes children to have shorter attention spans. It has also been shown that technology might cause a decline in writing skills. According to the teachers it seems that the students pay more attention to the lesson when there is technology involved but the children might be over stimulating their brains. Another thing some teachers see as a problem with using technology constantly is the fact that it is starting to hinder children from being able to talk to other students as well as teachers and etc. face to face. The teachers also think that technology isn't challenging the students enough because they are becoming use to getting answers immediately that they fail to question what they are reading to make sure it actually makes sense.

I agree that technology is a good and bad thing when it comes to using it in the school system. Using advanced technology in the schools can really help the children learn by helping them do research and gain skills that might help them in the real world, such as typing. Another good thing about using technology in the classroom is that it helps children become more interested in certain things which might help them better complete the tasks teachers provide. The bad part of using technology is that it can be very distracting, for example if students are allowed to use computers during class they might be on social networks and etc. instead of doing the work the teacher has assigned. I believe that as long as the technology is monitored and isn't the only thing used in class then it shouldn't be a problem because ultimately the world is slowly but surely becoming more and more based on the newest technological advances.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html?pagewanted=2

Blog 10 - Black Country College Loses UK Border Agency Licence

 

                Bilston Community College has been stripped of its “Tier 4 Visa” license by the UK Border Agency for “not fulfilling duties” in qualifying for what the Agency calls a “Highly Trusted Status.” This required “status” is needed for international students to be allowed admittance and attendance rights to colleges in the UK.  An appeal has been submitted to regain the school’s visa license and will be reviewed on December 20^th of 2012.  In the mean time, the 200 students have been informed of this predicament and must be active participants in gaining the schools “highly-trusted” status back.  The college-goers are responsible for regular and consistent classroom attendance, while the teaching staff must be sure to disperse quality education during the scheduled lecture times.  These are only two of the many factors that a college must perform to attain such a status with the UK Border Agency.  The schools website attracts prospective students through its expression of having a “healthy mix of international visa ones and local-based students” and states that more than 60% of the student population deem “home” as somewhere overseas.  Phil Page, a director of Bilston Community College, is now making the protection of students his “primary concern,” and with following the Border Agency’s requirements for obtaining a new Tier 4  Visa, I am sure Bilston’s international students will see their graduation day, as intended.  It is very important that this particular community college update its status because as a college, students should achieve the best educational experience possible. The UK Border Agency’s standards for being deemed a “highly-trusted” educational facility are along the lines of what any college should offer.  With higher education being as costly and crucial as it is, students should be subject to the most professionally developed environment possible. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20178483

Blog 10: "Overseas students 'starved'"

According to the article “Overseas students 'starved'” the demand for International higher education is predicted to increase to 3.7 million students in 2025 from 2.2 million students in 2005 but there has been a steady decline in international student enrollment in Australian schools since 2010.  The International Education and Research Industry Action Plan found out NSW is in danger of losing its appeal as a destination for overseas students. It reported abusive host families, unsafe rental accommodation, expensive public transport, and the claim that students are being underfed by host families and students were living in overcrowded rental accommodations, illegal boarding houses and significant distances from their campuses due to shortage of accommodation in Sydney. Also it was reported students are being put at risk of assault walking home from their campuses to save on transport costs, as they are not eligible for concession cards. A member of the task force, David Bycroft, stated that NSW would be more attractive to international students if the recommendations were met. Bycroft said "What students are looking for is not just education but a lifestyle experience and a big part of that is accommodation and transport," "The number of international students has declined and we need to address that. Clearly there is responsibility on the government to improve transport and accommodation issues. “At the moment they are factors that would be contributing to less students coming to Australia because other countries are improving on those areas. We have to keep up with the rest of the world." The state government is supposed to provide a response to the recommendations in November.

If Australia takes the recommendations into consideration and make some changes I think the international student enrollment will began to increase again. I also agree with what David Bycroft said most students go study overseas for the experience they don’t go just for the education because they can get that from a school in their own country but they shouldn't have to put themselves at risk to abuse to learn about different lifestyles. There should be some type of repercussions for the host families that were mistreating the students because they shouldn't have signed up for the program to be host families if they didn't want the students to be there. As far as the overcrowded unsafe rental accommodations there should be some type of laws or regulations against this so the places could be fined or completely shut down.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/overseas-students-starved-20121029-28dvx.html

Blog 10 Africa Education

This week’s current event about international education is about Africa’s growth sparks controversial rise of private secondary schools. The Gems education company that is expanding in Africa to meet demands, but concerns about high fees exacerbates inequality.  Due to the lack of state funding a market has been created for private school and all across Africa. The private school company operates in 10 countries, but is doing a major expansion in Africa supported by strong economic growth. The first secondary school was opened in September in Kenya, Africa. More schools are being planned to be built in Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa. The Gems school company is meeting the demand for private education in developing countries because of government underinvestment.  “According to an education for all global monitoring report published by Unesco in October, 71 million adolescents of lower secondary school age were out of school in 2010, with three out of four living in the South and West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.  The last of these regions has doubled the number of students enrolling over the, yet has the world’s lowest total secondary enrollment, at 40% in 2010.”  One of the biggest problems in Africa with the expanding of private schools is inequality. Inequality has climbed greatly with the development agenda. The fees disproportionally FA young people with poor families, which prevents them from enrolling in continuing with secondary education. With the starting fees being that $1700 a term, it will be hard for many families to afford tuition to attend the schools.  “Rwanda introduced a nine year basic education cycle and eliminate fees for lower secondary school, was boosted the number of lower secondary funds by 25% within a year. Kenya has also abolished fees for secondary schools, increase in roller from 1.2 million in 2002 1.4 million in 2008.”  According to Kevin Watkins, a senior fellow at the Centre of Universal Education, did not really believe in the private school system in Africa. He also thinks that Africa can afford decent quality basic education. The biggest problem of the school company is the money constraints.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/oct/30/africa-controversial-private-secondary-schools

Blog #10 U.A.E. Moves Toward Paperless Classrooms

-->

Sara Hamdan wrote this article on October 28. In Dubai, a student talks about how he’s now using his ipad now for classes, instead of just games. He also uses it for his art class, instead of using paper. “Last year, the United Arab Emirates decided to turn a product that was already popular with students into an academic tool. So when school began in September, 14,000 tablets were handed out to all first-year students in the country’s three major higher-education institutions: United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology.” (Hamdan, “Paperless”). The school system thought that since that it was such a popular product among students that why not use them for school. The main goal of using it is to have more students succeed in all their classes, while keeping a green environment. “Education experts hope that the tablets will help raise low test scores; bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical workplace skills; and promote more diverse fields of study in a region where students are often pushed into subjects like business.” (Handam, “Paperless”). Not only is it benefitting the older students, but also younger students are using them too for their studies. “At $750 an iPad, it is a less-expensive alternative to laptops that cost an average of $1,200. Local U.A.E. students attending public universities generally do not pay for tuition or textbooks, though they are required to buy their own laptops. The introduction of iPads will reduce that cost by nearly half, though in the U.A.E., which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, few schools reported problems with families that could not afford the technology. Teachers were “panicky” before they realized how easy it would be to use the device educators were now working directly with Apple to develop their own apps and create their own reading material as e-books on iBook’s Author. By reducing paper use and waste, the iPads also promote environmentally friendly values. “ (Hamdan, “Paperless”).

            This article has to do with education because it talks about how students are using ipads to help them succeed better in their classrooms, and to have more students attend schools. It’s a great idea because its so much cheaper than having to go out and buy all of these textbooks, paper, binders, and writing utensils. For I pads you can just download the textbook for the fraction of the cost, and save paper. All schools need to do this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/world/middleeast/29iht-educlede29.html

Blog 10: Chilliwack parent asks education minister to boot Bibles out of schools

On Monday, October 29 Richard Ajabu asked Education Minister Don McRae to stop the distribution of Bibles in the Chilliwack schools. Free Bibles from Gideons International are being handed out to children in the fifth grade. Richard Ajabu is a parent and believes that the passing out of the Bibles are a violation. He believes it violates the B.C School Act that states public school is secular. He thinks it violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A columnist thinks Richard is making a big deal out of something so small. The columnist Jon Ferry does not understand why Richard wants to stop the distribution of the free Bibles. A similar situation occurring in Ontario and is commonly reported in the newspaper. Rene and Anna Chouinard have been fighting to distribute a book about atheism to fifth grade students. They believe that passing out free Bibles is not fair because they cannot pass out their books.

I can understand the perspective of Richard Ajabu. Handing out Bibles to fifth grade students should not be allowed. Most of the students are probably not going to use the Bibles or really focusing on religion yet. Gideons International are wrong because public schools are not suppose to teach or discuss religion. Rene and Anna Chouinard argument is stupid to me because why would someone want to promote not believing in God. They have been fighting the district for two years and still has not reached their goal. Elementary students should not be focusing on religion, but their school work instead. The Education Minister should stop the distribution of the Bibles because its going to create more problems. The free Bibles should be passed out in schools that teach religion or to college students. Richard Ajabu has a valid argument and facts to prove his argument.

Source: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/10/29/chilliwack-parent-asks-education-minister-to-boot-bibles-out-of-schools/
3:40PM

Blog 9: Malala is face of global attacks on schools

Blog 9: Malala is face of global attacks on schools

                One young 15 year-old girl has become the face for “ensuring that children, no matter where they live, can enjoy an education in safety and security.”  Malala Yousufzai, an education and women’s rights activist, was shot on October 9, 2012 in the back of her neck as result of an attempted assassination.  This shot was administered by a Taliban gunman and though Malala is suffering for her beliefs, she has made history that will never be forgotten.

            The former British Prime Minister and now United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, has begun to petition with intended results of having all children around the world in schools by the end of 2015. Malala will forever hold the honor of being the cause of this worldwide petition and this is represented by Gordon’s slogan “I am Malala”, used to promote the issue at hand. 

            Bede Sheppard writes of war zones that are highly endangering students, teachers, and school buildings ranging from Afghanistan to Yemen.  During a visit to Thailand he encountered a school still undergoing smolder days after an arson attack by Separatist insurgents who do not agree with what is being taught to students.  Since the 2004 begin to these violent acts of destruction, 152 teachers have been assassinated and schools within 25 countries, during the past 5 years, have been overtaken or attacked.  Sheppard speaks of the updated curriculum taught by the new al Qaeda-linked extremist teachers that include learning how to use various weapons. 

            Interviewed children comment on their schools being military bases and speak of how badly each institution is damaged due to the militia occupying each building.  The schools are targets, not safe learning environments for children to develop, as they should be.  Taking away a child’s right to education is a mistake that any country will regret in its future.  Not only is a child’s right to knowledge important but their safety should be a priority and not doing so reflects unethical behavior that has to be stopped immediately.  Gordon Brown is doing an undoubtedly amazing thing by starting his “I am Malala” petition and I, as I am sure many do, hope that he has success in his wishes to globalize education as mandatory to all children, as well as concern for safety within schooling systems.

           

           

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/25/opinion/sheppard-malala-schools/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai