scholarly journals The Politics of Education in Developing Countries

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
National Level ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
Successful Schools ◽  
Politics Of Education ◽  
Localized Solutions ◽  
Policymaking And Implementation ◽  
Political Settlement

This book examines the politics of the learning crisis in the global South, where learning outcomes have stagnated or worsened, despite progress towards Universal Primary Education since the 1990s. Comparative analysis of education reform in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda highlights systemic failure on the frontline of education service delivery, driven by deeper crises of policymaking and implementation: few governments try to raise educational standards with any conviction, and education bureaucracies are unable to deliver even those learning reforms that get through the policy process. Introductory chapters develop a theoretical framework within which to examine the critical features of the politics of education. Case study chapters demonstrate that political settlements, or the balance of power between contending social groups, shape the extent to which elites commit to adopting and implementing reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes, and the nature this influence takes. Informal politics and power relations can generate incentives that undermine rather than support elite commitment to development, politicizing the provision of education. Tracing reform processes from their policy origins down to the frontline, it seems that successful schools emerged as localized solutions to specific solutions, often against the grain of dysfunctional sectoral arrangements and the national-level political settlement, but with local political backing. The book concludes with discussion of the need for more politically attuned approaches that focus on building coalitions for change and supporting ‘best-fit’ types of problem-solving fixes, rather than calling for systemic change.

Identifying the Political Drivers of Quality Education

2019 ◽  
pp. 172-196
Author(s):  
Sam Hickey ◽  
Naomi Hossain ◽  
David Jackman
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
The Political ◽  
Educational Challenges ◽  
Political Dominance ◽  
Vested Interests ◽  
Short Termism ◽  
Political Settlement

This chapter consolidates findings from the country cases to offer insight into the politics of education reform. It argues that the education sector presents different resources and incentives to political elites, and as such, the political settlement has a direct bearing on the potential for, and delivery of, reforms. At a national level, political dominance can enable elites to overcome vested interests, but may prevent the emergence of coalitions for learning reforms. More competitive polities are more vulnerable to short-termism and vested interests. At the local level, an absence of political dominance combined with decentralisation can lead to innovative solutions to educational challenges. The strategic implications of the analysis presented include that learning reforms should be closely aligned to the dynamics of the political settlement, and underscore the importance of coalition building. Analysis should be sensitive to the sub-national political dynamics, and recognize the value of ‘best-fit’ local solutions.

Modernisation of Higher Education – Willful Action or Wishful Thinking? The Case of Bulgaria

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
Elena Blagoeva
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

The impact of the last global economic crisis (2008) on the European economy put a strain on higher education (HE), yet it also pushed the sector towards intensive reforms and improvements. This paper focuses on the “Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in the Republic of Bulgaria 2014-2020”. With a case study methodology, we explore the strategic endeavours of the Bulgarian government to comply with the European directions and to secure sustainable growth for the HE sector. Our research question is ‘How capable is the Bulgarian HE Strategy to overcome the economic and systemic restraints of Bulgarian higher education?’. Because the development of strategies for HE within the EU is highly contextual, a single qualitative case study was chosen as the research approach. HE institutions are not ivory towers, but subjects to a variety of external and internal forces. Within the EU, this is obviated by the fact that Universities obtain their funds from institutions such as governments, students and their families, donors, as well as EU-level programmes. Therefore, to explore how these pressures interact to affect strategic action on national level, the case method is well suited as it enabled us to study the phenomena thoroughly and deeply. The paper suggests the actions proposed within the Strategy have the potential to overcome the delay, the regional isolation and the negative impact of the economic crisis on the country. Nevertheless, the key elements on which the success or failure of this Strategy hinges are the control mechanisms and the approach to implementation. Shortcomings in these two aspects of strategic actions in HE seem to mark the difference between gaining long-term benefits and merely saving face in front of international institutions.

scholarly journals Mass Petitioning, Education Reform, and the Development of Political Culture in Madras, 1839–1842

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Scott Travanion Connors
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Political Culture ◽  
Political Activism ◽  
East India Company ◽  
Colonial State ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
The Creation

Abstract This article explores the emergence of reformist sentiment and political culture in Madras in the mid-nineteenth century. Moreover, it contributes to, and expands upon, the growing body of literature on colonial petitioning through a case-study of a mass petition demanding education reform. Signed in 1839 by 70,000 subjects from across the Madras presidency, the petition demanded the creation of a university that would qualify western-educated Indians to gain employment in the high public offices of the East India Company. Through an analysis of the lifecycle of this education petition, from its creation to its reception and the subsequent adoption of its demands by the Company government at Fort St George, this article charts the process by which an emergent, politicized public engaged with, and critiqued, the colonial state. Finally, it examines the transformative effect that the practice of mass petitioning had on established modes of political activism and communication between an authoritarian colonial state and the society it governed.

Capturing Transformative Moments in a Participatory Values-Based Event

2021 ◽  
pp. 154134462199624
Author(s):  
Felix Okechukwu Dike ◽  
JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Fresh Perspective ◽  
The Stability

The theory of transformative learning (TL) has been criticized secondhand for its lack of clarity in capturing and explaining in detail the processes undergone by learners who are going through TL experiences and their link to learning outcomes. Using a case study design, and carefully synthesized TL processes (TLPs) from Mezirow’s TL theory, we present—moment by moment—the TLPs linked to outcomes identified among a group of teachers who participated in a values-based workshop. Participants were followed through interviews for over 72 weeks to trace the stability of their TL outcome. TL processes identified were compared to Mezirow’s 10 processes. The article discusses ontological transformations gained and offers fresh perspective to identifying TLPs that can be linked to outcomes.

Reform at the Intersection of Loose Coupling and Pedagogic Modalities: The Case of Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
pp. 001312452110019
Author(s):  
Trevor Tsz-lok Lee
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Global City ◽  
Coupling Agents ◽  
Loose Coupling ◽  
Secondary Curriculum ◽  
Reform Policy ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Senior Secondary

This paper contributes to our understanding of the micro-policy experience of an implemented curriculum from the perspective of students, in addition to teachers, as the key coupling agents in the schools of a Chinese global city. Although the phenomenon of decoupling in educational policy is widely recognized, much less attention has been paid to the micro-dynamics involved in implementing education reform policy from the perspective of students and teachers. It is argued that these local actors’ experiences are best captured by the bi-dimensional framework of loose coupling and pedagogic modalities. This argument is illustrated through a case study of the implementation of the Liberal Studies reform under Senior Secondary Curriculum in Hong Kong since 2009. The study demonstrates how students and teachers interpret and make sense of policy, strategic, and practical needs manifested in the microprocesses of policy coupling and decoupling.

scholarly journals Replicating Elite Dominance in Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding: The Role of Local Government–Scholar Networks in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Maags ◽  
Heike Holbig
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
National Level ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Intangible Cultural Heritage ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Heritage Discourse

Abstract:Since “intangible cultural heritage” (ICH) became the new focal point in the global heritage discourse, governments and scholars in many countries have begun to promote this new form of “immaterial” culture. The People’s Republic of China has been one of the most active state parties implementing the new scheme and adapting it to domestic discourses and practices. Policies formulated at the national level have become increasingly malleable to the interests of local government-scholar networks. By conducting a comparative case study of two provinces, this article aims to identify the role of local elite networks in the domestic implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, focusing on the incentives of scholars and officials to participate in ICH policy networks. It finds that the implementation of the Convention has not removed the power asymmetry between elite and popular actors but, instead, has fostered an elite-driven policy approach shaped by symbiotic, mutually legitimizing government–scholar networks.

Exploring trainers’ engaging instructional practices: a collective case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Arghode ◽  
Jia Wang
Keyword(s):  
Learning Styles ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Training Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collective Case Study ◽  
Study Approach

Purpose – This study aims to explore the phenomenon of training engagement from the trainers’ perspective. Specifically, two questions guided this inquiry. First, how do trainers define engagement in the training context? and What strategies do trainers use to engage trainees? Design/methodology/approach – The collective case study approach was adopted for this qualitative study. Seven cases were selected for in-depth analyses. Data were collected through individual, face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the constant comparative analysis method. Findings – Major findings suggest that engaging training practices take various forms. They include being trainee-centered, maximizing learning through entertaining and interesting instruction, accommodating different learning styles, eliciting trainee participation by creating an encouraging learning environment and connecting with trainees by building rapport early in a training session. Research limitations/implications – The small sample limits the generalizability of the findings. However, this study expands training literature by focusing on an under-explored research area, the role of engaging trainees in maximizing learning outcomes. Practical implications – For trainers, this study offered some specific strategies they can use to engage learners in the training context to achieve desired learning outcomes. In addition, the seven cases selected for this study may be used as a benchmark against which both experienced and novice trainers compared their own practices. Originality/value – This is one of very few qualitative studies with a focus on emotional aspects involved in training. The rich data from this study shed light on areas for future improvement, particularly regarding how to effectively engage trainees to maximize learning outcomes.

Participants’ self-identified learning outcomes in an online preceptor education program for health professionals and students

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1a) ◽  
pp. 79-97
Author(s):  
Ann Bossers ◽  
Shanon Phelan ◽  
Elizabeth Anne Kinsella ◽  
Karen Jenkins ◽  
Karen Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Field Experience ◽  
Reflective Learning ◽  
Academic Programs ◽  
Online Program ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
New Learning ◽  
E Learning

This case study analysis reports the reflective learning of students and preceptors involved in field experience who accessed an online, free, self-directed educational program (www.preceptor.ca). Six learning outcomes were identified which include: becoming self-aware, fostering communication, valuing relationships, developing new insights, applying new learning to practice, optimizing practice education and experiencing affirmation. Users of the online program tell a story of transformation and that preparation of both student and preceptor for field experience is enhanced. The Preceptor Education program provides an important e-learning option for academic programs and field educators/preceptors in the organisations who collaborate in the preparation of students as future professionals.

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