Quality and Qualities: Tensions in Education Reforms

Quality and Qualities: Tensions in Education Reforms
Author: Clementina Acedo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2012-09-07
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9460919510

Quality and Qualities: Tensions in Education Reforms is a provocative call for understanding and further exploring the elusive concept of quality in education. Although education quality has acquired high priority in the past few decades, the multiplicity of conceptualizations of quality also reflects the concerns and foci of multiple stakeholders. Coming to an understanding of quality education involves careful analysis of the context from which any particular reform or program emerges and of the continuing struggle to define and achieve it. Two main questions persist: who benefits from particular policies focused on quality? And what are the potential tradeoffs between a focus on quality, equitable distribution of education, and inclusion of various traditional expectations? This book explores notions of quality as understood within various systems of national, formal, and nonformal education. Also it considers the tensions that arise with the introduction of new standardized notions of quality in relation to international measures and educational reforms in developing countries. In all cases, specific national issues and concerns compete with global agendas.Challenges to quality that are given particular attention in the book chapters include changing definitions of quality, high expectations for education and issues with implementation, and the introduction of English as a means to achieve quality in a globalizing world. Special attention is also given to possible actions that support a more equitable education without ignoring the requisite of quality. The final chapter suggests three models/choices for seeking higher quality and guiding the educational future of nations.

The Education Systems of Africa

The Education Systems of Africa
Author: Kolawole Samuel Adeyemo
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 984
Release: 2021-02-24
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9783030442187

This research handbook provides meaningful coverage on current trends in the dynamic education systems of Africa. It presents the main findings on current issues in the education systems from different African countries. Specifically, it examines education policies and what can be done differently by African nations to strengthen these policies. The objective is to highlight African nations’ capacity to address issues of social justice to generate ideas that can help translate the increasing strengths of the continent into achieving sustainable development.

An Introductory History of Education

An Introductory History of Education
Author: D. N. Sifuna
Publisher: University of Nairobi Press
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2006
Genre: Education
ISBN:

This book makes a survey of the development of educational theory and practice in the western world up to the twentieth century. A number of educational systems are selected for discussion. There is reference to prehistoric, ancient Egyptian, Indian, Chinese and Hebraic education, all of which have had an important impact on Greek education, Hellenistic education ideals in the Roman Empire, medieval education and the rise of universities. The book gives due consideration to African indigenous education; developments in education in Africa within the colonial context; and post independence educational activities in Africa. The historical context of educational events in Kenya is duly highlighted, leading to the era of the 8-4-4 system of education. A chapter in Islamic Education in Africa is also included with a discussion on the Integration of Islamic and Western Education.

Development of Education in Africa

Development of Education in Africa
Author: D. N. Sifuna
Publisher:
Total Pages: 220
Release: 1990
Genre: Education
ISBN:

This book is a broad survey of the development of education in Africa, with a special focus on Kenya. The main purpose of the book is to investigate the development of education as influenced by the English and French colonial powers; thus it focuses on francophone West and Central Africa and anglophone West, Eastern and Southern Africa. The chapters follow major historical events such as colonisation, the two World Wars, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, and the achievement of independence which are important landmarks in the history of education.

Higher Education in Korea

Higher Education in Korea
Author: John C. Weidman
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2000
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9780815319573

First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Implementing Deeper Learning and 21st Century Education Reforms

Implementing Deeper Learning and 21st Century Education Reforms
Author: Fernando M. Reimers
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2020-11-04
Genre: Education
ISBN: 3030570398

This open access book is a comparative analysis of recent large scale education reforms that broadened curriculum goals to better prepare students for the 21st century. The book examines what governments actually do when they broaden curriculum goals, with attention to the details of implementation. To this end, the book examines system level reforms in six countries at various levels of development. The study includes system level reforms in jurisdictions where students achieve high levels in international assessments of basic literacies, such as Singapore and Ontario, Canada, as well as in nations where students achieve much lower levels, such as Kenya, Mexico, Punjab-Pakistan and Zimbabwe. The chapters examine system-level reforms that focus on strengthening the capacity to teach the basics, as in Ontario and Pakistan, as well as reforms that aim at building the capacity to teach a much broader set of competencies and skills, such as Kenya, Mexico, Singapore and Zimbabwe. The volume includes systems at very different levels of spending per student and reforms at various points in the cycle of policy implementation, some just starting, some struggling to survive a governmental transition, and others that have been in place for an extended period of time. From the comparative study of these reforms, we aim to provide an understanding of how to build the capacity of education systems to teach 21st century skills at scale in diverse settings.

Abolishing School Fees in Africa

Abolishing School Fees in Africa
Author:
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2009
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0821375415

Progress in literacy and learning, especially through universal primary education, has done more to advance human conditions than perhaps any other policy. Our generation has the possibility of becoming the first generation ever to offer all children access to good quality basic education. But it will only happen if we have the political commitment -- at the country as well as at the international level -- to give priority to achieve this first in human history. And it will only happen if also those who cannot afford to pay school fees can benefit from a complete cycle of good quality primary education. Investment in good quality fee-free primary education should be a cornerstone in any government's poverty reduction strategy.

The Status of Student Involvement in University Governance in Kenya

The Status of Student Involvement in University Governance in Kenya
Author: Mulinge, Munyae M.
Publisher: CODESRIA
Total Pages: 253
Release: 2017-05-05
Genre: Education
ISBN: 2869787146

This book examines the concept of the democratization of governance in universities in Kenya with particular emphasis on students involvement in governance processes and decision making. Data were collected from members of the student community utilizing a structured self-administered questionnaire and from purposively selected key informants and focus group discussants drawn from Kenyatta University (representing the public sector) and the United States International University (representing the private sector). The guiding argument for the study was that shared governance, one of the principles of good governance, is critical in enabling the universities to deliver their visions and the missions effectively. The results revealed that while in principle, Kenyan universities have embraced democratic governance in which all stakeholders, including students, have a role to play, in practice they continue to violate the core principles of good governance, particularly shared governance. Specifically, students, who are major stakeholders in university education, are largely excluded from significant structures of governance thereby limiting their influence and participation. Although their representation is mainly provided via student self-governance organs (unions, associations and/or councils), their effectiveness is undermined considerably by the lack of trust and confidence of the student body and the unending manipulation by top university administrators and external political actors. Student active involvement in decision making is mainly confined to lower levels such as the school/faculty and departmental/programme. The authors call for a paradigm shift in the involvement of students in the governance of universities in ways that discourage the current culture of tokenism and political correctness that characterizes public and private universities in Kenya.

Kenya After 50

Kenya After 50
Author: Mickie Mwanzia Koster
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2016-04-08
Genre: History
ISBN: 1137574631

This book explores the key milestones in education, gender, and policy that Kenya has achieved since independence, the challenges of this experience, and the future prospects. This edited collection of chapters also aims to illuminate the lessons learned from the experiences of the postcolonial period as well as postulate on the way forward. Through this exploration of the Kenyan experience since independence, the authors present an optimistic view that despite the many obstacles and challenges, the country still has promising prospects as a nation.