ESOL / Languages, Granville TAFESemester 2, 2010

Let’s talk about education

(building the topic field / contextualization)

Lily

Education

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

-- Nelson Mandela, 1999

EducationEducation is a painful, continual and difficult

work to be done in kindness, by watching, by warning, by praise, but above all by example.

-- John Ruskin

Education is the learning of knowledge, information and skills during the course of life.

-- Unknown

In Iran education is considered a top priority in the development plans of the country.

-- Iran Chamber Society, April 2010

Education• “Education is a lifetime inheritance. It is a

lifetime insurance. Education is the key to success, a bus to a brighter future for all our people. Without education, there is little that a person can do – actually there is nothing a person can do without an education. A person is never too old for knowledge; as my people, the Xhosa, always say, “Imfundo ayigugelwa” (Every day is an education; you learn something new). We must be knowledge seekers and we must strive for a better life through education.”

ZUKISWA, AGE 16 (Ubuntu Education Fund) Kwa Nagxaju Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Education• By many, education is understood to be a

means of overcoming handicaps, achieving greater equality and acquiring wealth and status for all (Sargent 1994). Learners may be motivated by aspirations for progress and betterment. Education is perceived as a place where children can develop according to their unique needs and potentialities. The purpose of education can be to develop every individual to their full potential.

About economic implications of education

• It has been argued that high rates of education are essential for countries to be able to achieve high levels of economic growth. In theory poor countries should grow faster than rich countries because they can adopt cutting edge technologies already tried and tested by rich countries. But economists argue that if the gap in education between a rich and a poor nation is too large, as is the case between the poorest and the richest nations in the world, the transfer of these technologies that drive economic growth becomes difficult, thus the economies of the world's poorest nations stagnate.

• The Neo-Capitalist doctrine holds that orientating the entire economy around the education system will greatly increase sustained economic growth through reduced job training costs, increased creativity and improved morale.

-- From Economics of education

Individual & society• Both individuals and countries benefit from

education. For individuals, the potential benefits lie in general quality of life and in the economic returns of sustained, satisfying employment. For countries, the potential benefits lie in economic growth and the development of shared values that underpin social cohesion.

Education visionA world where children grow up to beproductive, and caring citizens of our global

society.

Human rights• Education is part of human rights.

Everyone has the right to get educated; that is to learn to read and write.

Education for all• What does "Education for All" mean and

why does it matter?• Education is a basic human right and has

been recognized as such since the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.  Since then, numerous human rights treaties have reaffirmed this right and have supported entitlement to free, compulsory primary education for all children. 

Éducation for All• In 1990, the Education for All (EFA)

commitment was launched to ensure that by 2015 all children, particularly girls, those in difficult circumstances and those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to and complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality.  There is much work to do before the goal of Education for All is achieved.

Rights-based approach• 75 million children are not in school

according to UNESCO and by 2005-2006, as many as 90 million children were without access to education.

• A 2007 UNESCO and UNICEF report addressed the issue of education from a rights-based approach. 

Right to Education• The right of access to education -

education must be available for, accessible to and inclusive of all children.

• The right to quality education - education needs to be child-centred, relevant and embrace a broad curriculum, and be appropriately resourced and monitored.

The learning environment• The right to respect within the

learning environment - education must be provided in a way that is consistent with human rights, equal respect for culture, religion and language and free from all forms of violence.

Compulsory education years • In most countries, it is compulsory for

children to receive primary education, though in many jurisdictions it is permissible for parents to provide it. The transition to secondary school or high school is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age.

Length of compulsory education• Education is compulsory in Australia

between the ages of five and fifteen to seventeen, depending on the state or territory, and date of birth. In recent years, over three quarters of students stay at school until they are seventeen. Government schools educate about two thirds of Australian students, with the other third in Catholic and Independent schools. A small portion of students are legally home-schooled.

Levels of school• Preschool • Primary school • Secondary/high school/secondary colleges • Career and vocational training • University or other tertiary institutions

Primary education• Primary education is the first stage of

compulsory education. It is preceded by pre-school or nursery education and is followed by secondary education. In Australia this stage of education is usually known as primary education and elementary education in some other countries and it is generally followed by high school/middle school.

Primary education in Australia• Typically, primary education is provided in

schools, where children/pupils will stay in steadily advancing classes until they complete it and move on to high school/secondary school. Children are usually placed in classes with one teacher who is primarily responsible for their education and welfare for that year. This teacher may be assisted to varying degrees by specialist teachers in certain subject areas, often music or physical education. The continuity with a single teacher and the opportunity to build up a close relationship with the class is a notable feature of the primary education system.

Primary school in Australia I. School schedules

• Australian school years are different from state to state• There are four school terms and school holidays fall in between

II. Types of financial sources

• State and territory governments are responsible for primary education• Public primary education if free in Australia, though parents may have to

purchase such items as books, uniforms, and to pay a general contribution fee as well

• Private and independent schools have their own fee structures and they receive subsidy from both the Federal and the State governments.

III. School structureOne teacher for one classOne teacher responsible for the students’ schooling in the entire school year

IV. ApproachesStudents are encouraged to participate and develop skills as well as acquire

knowledge and confidence.

Major subjects• The major goals of primary education are

achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in languages, science, geography, history, math, and other social sciences.

• Why is English so important to your ATAR?

•  • ·         English is the only compulsory subject• ·         Your best two units of English are the foundations of your

ATAR score • ·         English is seen as a measure of your skills of expression,

vital in all university courses 

Features • Provision of school lunch in the two

countries is different. For instance, List some interesting facts about education.

• Pre-school (also known as Kindergarten in some states and territories) in Australia is relatively unregulated, and is not compulsory

Corporal punishment• Traditionally, various forms of corporal

punishment have been an integral part of early education. Recently this practice has come under attack, and in many cases been outlawed, especially in Western countries.

School fees• Government schools generally charge

small fees incurring minor administrative costs, while Catholic and Independent schools charge larger fees. Regardless of whether a school is part of the Government, Catholic or Independent systems, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks of their state or territory. Most school students wear uniforms, although there are varying expectations and some Australian schools do not require uniforms.

Features of secondary education in Australia I. School schedules

• Australian school years are different from state to state• There are four school terms and school holidays fall in between

II. Types of financial sources

• State and territory governments are responsible for primary education• Public secondary education from year 7 to year 12 is free in Australia, though

parents may have to purchase such items as books, uniforms, and to pay a general contribution fee as well

• Private and independent schools have their own fee structures and they receive subsidy from both the Federal and the State governments.

III. School structureOne teacher for one subjectStudents are responsible for their schooling after year 10

IV. ApproachesStudents are encouraged to participate and develop skills as well as acquire

knowledge and confidence.

Adult education• Adult education has become common in

many countries. It takes on many forms, ranging from formal class-based learning to self-directed learning. Adult education has become common in many countries. It takes on many forms, ranging from formal class-based learning to self-directed learning.

Begin to think about writing an essay on education

• An education by definition is "the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life." This essay will impart upon my readers my opinion of what education means to me. I will extend the value of an education not only within that gained by a "formal education" but also the value of an "informal education" and explain how life in itself if a vehicle for education.

Overview• State the significance of education• Tell what education means to you• Give a brief overview of what you’ll cover

in your presentation

Consider• How we learn in educational settings• The effectiveness of educational

interventions• The psychology of teaching• How social institutions and forces affect

educational processes and outcomes, and vice versa.

Conclusion• Provide a brief summary of your

presentation

Resources• List the resources you used for your

research