Download - GLOBALIZATION, DIVERSITY AND DEMOCRACY IN EDUCATION Ambassadors College, Ile-Ife Dr. Demola Odeyemi
GLOBALIZATION, DIVERSITY AND DEMOCRACY IN EDUCATIONAmbassadors College, Ile-IfeDr. Demola
Odeyemi
OutlineI. DefinitionsII. Globalization - Trends & Challenges to the
Education SystemIII. Global citizenshipIV. Implications for the Education System
i. Curriculumii. Teachersiii. Students
V. Implications for Ambassadors CollegeVI. Implications for governanceVII. Conclusion
Definitions
DefinitionsGlobalizationCollins Dictionary: Process enabling financial and investment markets to operate internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communications.BBC GCSE Bitesize: Process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange.
E.g: sportswear manufacturer to design its products in Europe, make them in south-east Asia and sell them in north America.
DefinitionsDiversityCollins Dictionary: State or quality of being different or varied Social context: Presence in one population of a wide variety of cultures, opinions, ethnic groups, etc.Business context: Strategy for improving employee retention and increasing consumer confidence
E.g: 371 tribes/ethnic groups in Nigeria
DefinitionsDemocracyGreek origin:Demos: peopleKratos: rule
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln:“Government of the people, by the people, for the people”
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be master. This expresses my idea of democracy”
Trends &
Challenges
Continuously evolving world What is relevant today, might
not be in a couple of years Knowledge doubles every 5
to 10 years Schools to remain current to
survive and to transmit up-to-date information and skills
Viber, BBM voice chat, Whatsapp voice note
Students have access to a large pool of academic institutions, both locally and abroad
Students pursue “best education” institutions
Brain-drain risk
Constant Change
Intense Competition
Who Moved My Cheese?Who Moved My Cheese?
Language softwares available
Multinationals require staff to be multilingual (additional language to their mother tongue and English)
Schools’ language curriculum
Some career paths might no longer be available by the time students graduate
Schools to be forward looking in their curriculum
Language SkillsCareer obsolescence
Globalization will define the world in which you live tomorrowGlobalization will define the world in which you live tomorrow
Education for Global
Citizenship
The Concept Methodology to help young people to
develop as active global citizens Who is a global citizen?A person who:
is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen
respects and values diversity has an understanding of how the world works
economically, politically, socially, culturally, technologically and environmentally
Oxfam definition
Key Elements
KnowledgeDiversitySocial justiceInterdependenceSustainable developmentPeace and conflict“Peace can only last where human rights are respected”. 14th Daila Lama
Key Elements
Skills required from studentsCritical thinkingRespect for othersRelational skills and ability to listen effectivelyCooperation/conflict resolution
Key ElementsDemonstrable Attitudes Self-esteemEmpathyValue & respect for diversityCommitment to equity and justice“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Cardinal Desmond Tutu
E.g: France’s intervention in Mali
Implication for the
Education System
CurriculumRequirementsCreative thinkingCultural interactionMulti-languages orientationRespect & ResponsibilityLearning assessment to include progress on skills acquisition not just written test marksExposure to new technologies
StudentsNew rolesUnderstand the global system/world as one integrated villageActive participation vs passive listeningOwnership of own learning vs ready made lessons Inquisitive mindset/generating own questions vs simply answering questionsAnalyzing various perspective/viewpointsWork with othersBe able to deal with complex issues not directly taught in textbooksForward looking mindset
TeachersNew skills to prepare students and help them construct a better worldKnowledge enabler vs knowledge transmitterHolistic approach to subjects vs subject focusHelp students to make connection between various subjects, the subject and their immediate environment and the world at large.Increase activities requiring group work
Implications for Ambassadors
College
Pupils The goal of the school should be to produce
pupils that are internationally compliant. Pupils should be able to compete on an
international scene The pupils’ selection method should be
such that the best are admitted at all times to ensure the school’s long-term objective is achieved.
Teachers There must be mandatory continuous
education and exposure for the teachers to ensure they are up to date.
Teachers must realize that children have a voice and the era of asking pupils to be quiet is gone. In fact children are more globally compliant than teachers and have a voice by virtue of their exposure.
Management Teaching methods and infrastructure to
facilitate teaching must consequently be up scaled to meet the required standards.
School administrators must realize that additional capital investment must be made into the business to facilitate the attainment of globalized educational experience for the pupils.
Parents & Community Parents must be prepared to accept the
realities of a changing world and consequently moderate their expectations (social & cultural) of their children.
The community at large needs to clearly accept that things have evolved across board and our readiness to accept the change will determine our capacity to adapt and grow in the evolving operating environment.
Implications for Governance
Politicians must realize that they now operate in a global environment where it is much easier to hear the voice of the masses. The approach to funding education adopted by our
politicians has negatively affected the quality of education available to Nigerians.
There is no Nigerian university in the top 400 universities in the world (2012-2013).
People who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable. E.g. Tunisia uprising
There is a direct correlation between the quality of the education system and the quality of its people and consequently its leaders. Today India gets around 25% of revenues from home remittances into the country (skilled workers abroad). This is more than double the total revenue accrued to Nigeria from the sale of crude oil.
Conclusion The school system needs to be constantly reviewed and
moderated to accommodate changes in the environment in order to prepare the future generation for the challenges ahead.
The proprietors of Ambassadors College have put in place a platform to facilitate the attainment of this objective.
The journey is a marathon which is just beginning. 20 years is so short and can also be so long. I believe to the
proprietors it is a short period showing that there is still a long way to go.
The school management have what it takes to produce global citizens that can effectively compete in the emerging world.
I pray we will all be here to celebrate many more anniversaries in the future.
Thank You
Happy Anniversary!
&