The future of education?
By Robin Lamb
@troyburns (1405)
New Zealand
December 1, 2015 2:35am CST
I'm a great believer in the power of universal education as a remedy - though not a panacea - for many of the world's problems. After all, how can there be any hope of progress or equality when so many can't read or write? How can there be global harmony when half the people alive today have little idea of any culture but their own?
But like all big ideas, there is a massive step from conception to actualization. To get an idea of the complexities in providing education to the Third World masses, try this little thought experiment:
Given a sizable but limited budget, would you rather spend the money on building schools in impoverished countries or on courses for rich, literate and intelligent First World students who may be motivated to look beyond their own fences?
I don't think there is an easy or right answer, but I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
8 people like this
6 responses
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
I belong to a service group called Altrusa and our fund raising is directed toward deserving literacy projects in both our own community and in less fortunate places. For example, we've just donated money for a home reading project in one school locally, and also money to help towards a teachers salary in a village school overseas.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
6 Dec 15
@valmnz - Both are important for possibly different reasons. Do you think much progress can be made in poorer nations without a big injection of money and ideas from the First World?
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
6 Dec 15
"on courses for rich, literate and intelligent First World students " 
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
11 Dec 15
We, the rich, literate and intelligent have to go to the impoverished and bring them up to our level--well at least yours!
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
10 Dec 15
@GreatMartin - Like us,you mean? Ah well, two out of three ain't bad!
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
1 Dec 15
education should ideally be equally accessible to all and geared up realistically to the real world situations the students / pupils will face in life
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
11 Dec 15
@arthurchappell - Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was possible? Getting education right in troubled nations is a tricky balancing act. On the one hand, you want to prepare students for life's challenges, but on the other hand, you want education to bring about major cultural changes which will completely alter the nature of those challenges.
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
1 Dec 15
I'd choose to build schools for impoverished countries. If we look at the UNESCO statistics, it's clear that many countries that have low literacy rates are also countries that have been engaged in conflicts. Afghanistan and South Sudan are two good examples.
Of course there would always be students from the developed nations who are willing to reach out to the people in those impoverished countries, but I believe that the genuine solution should be established within those countries themselves.
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
10 Dec 15
@cahaya1983 - More schools for impoverished countries is a must, but I don't see how this can be possible without considerable input from developed nations. Even though First World contributions are crucial, I'm not really talking about financial support. In some of these places (Afghanistan is a good example) there are immense social and cultural problems to be addressed before universal schooling is even remotely possible. How do you educate girls in places where such a thing is taboo?
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Dec 15
I do not think it is an either or proposition. We can and must do both. World peace is not possible while some are educated and others are not.
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
10 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace - I think this is why I posed the question. There is a big push toward education in third world countries - especially for girls - but it is very important to ensure that new types of learning occur everywhere. The content of education matters as much as its simple existence, and - for better or worse - the West will need to play its part too.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
11 Dec 15
@troyburns Very true. Educated people are happier and healthier, which helps a great deal in the pursuit of peace.
@dorianna (509)
• United States
1 Dec 15
In my opinion the world would benefit if everyone knew how to read and write. Not to mention the kindness it would extend Outside of that, much more is to be learned from living life than higher education. At least the way education is structured in the US.
Too often students graduate college who cannot even carry on a decent conversation or write with correct spelling or grammar, yet carry a pompous attitude. And higher education does not mean learning application of what has been taught (wisdom) or using common sense. Most of your great entrepreneurs did not have higher education.
Too much education tends to be steeped in false history and propaganda. It stifles creativity and independent thinking. It is designed to create zombies for the system.
In essence what I am saying is in the real world it would be beneficial if everyone could get the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic. But higher education does not necessarily produce better quality individuals or even those who are better equipped to face life.
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
11 Dec 15
@dorianna - Great comment. It's difficult to know what the right education might be. Not everyone is suited to the same kind of learning. Creativity and independent learning are super important skills for any country looking to move forward though. It's true that the three R's are just the basics - real learning depends on what you do with them.
