Sport as a site of transformative non-formal education: A South African action research project

One of the legacies of apartheid is a crisis in South African education. The existing formal structures of education cannot cope with the scale nor the nature of the educational needs of the vast majority of South Africa's population. This article explores the potential role that sports programmes can play in non-formal educational provision. Within an action research format, the research project utilized the apprenticeship model of social organization for the general development of 10-year old boys through the medium of the game of rugby. Results of the project show that the developmental benefits of participation in a well organized sports programme, generalize to the contexts of formal schooling, home, and broader community life.     

Decentralizing and deschooling job training: Implications of selected studies from the USA

Vocational education is assumed to equalize opportunities for low-achieving youngsters by providing them with necessary job training with the expectation it will enhance their employability, productivity, and hence, community and national economic development. Increasing evidence suggests that vocational education, when developed as part of a nation's formal school structure, tends instead to be an expenisve, ‘second-class’ educational track with limited educational and economic benefits. Increasingly, developing nations, pressed by slow-growing modern sector economies and burgeoning youth populations, are as a consequence investigating the potential of non-formal institutions to supply vocational job training.The paper seeks to improve educators' and planners' understanding of non-formal vocational programs by reporting on three recent studies from the United States. Further, the paper draws on organizational theory to explain how non-formal programs' characteristics that account for efficient job training appear to be shaped by market forces that are unimportant to formal programs.The paper suggests that educators and planners distinguish between job training and education, the ends and means of which are considerably different, and give serious attention to shifting job training more to non-formal institutions. Besides apparent efficiencies that appear to characterize non-formal job training, the paper suggests that by removing job training from formal schools and credentialling, greater social equity may result. Formal schools would be thus deprived of an important part of their social selection role. Being freed of the dual function of training and education, schools could be more easily focussed on more fundamental educational reform to provide a common educational experience for all students to improve their literacy and arithmetic abilities and guide their general development to adulthood.     

Models of transformative learning for social justice: comparative case studies of non-formal development education in Britain and Spain

This paper presents comparative case studies of non-formal development education by non-profit organisations in two European countries. The study aimed to explore the extent to which such activities provide opportunities for transformative learning. The research was qualitative and began with interviews with educators across 14 organisations in Britain and Spain. Case studies were then identified, purposefully selecting interesting non-formal activities. This paper presents four activities and analyses their potential for transformative learning, drawing together ideas from the literature and the cross-case analysis of the perspectives of development education practitioners. By using the framework of transformative learning pedagogies, this research can inform non-formal education with aims regarding social justice in a range of contexts. It is argued that while there are scarce opportunities for sustained non-formal development education, these cases contribute to knowledge by providing examples of how participative methodologies can generate critical thinking and thus offer learning opportunities that are transformational.     

Fostering educational participation in pastoral communities through non-formal education: the Ghanaian perspective

This paper is an investigation of the impact of the Shepherd School Program, a non-formal basic education program implemented in seven pastoral communities in northern Ghana. The paper argues that non-formal basic education programs can have an important impact on the educational development of a community. However, for this to be possible, the context of such programs must answer to communities’ social, cultural, economic and other immediate needs.     

The Mexican Telesecundaria: Diversification,internationalization, change,and update

The Telescundaria of Mexico has arguably been, since the late 1960s and 1970s, among the most successful providers of educational television-based middle school programs. It now has over 1,050,000 students following the formal middle school academic curriculum in Mexico, together with some 30,000 students in other Central American countries whose governments have adopted the system as a way of meeting middle school educational needs. It is also being adopted in countries of the Andean region. The Telesecundaria generally serves communities of under 2500 inhabitants that cannot support a conventional school. The instructional system, based on educational broadcasting by satellite, print, and tuition, is outlined, along with the changes that might arise from the development of online educational services. Evaluation shows that the results obtained by students are on a par with or better than the conventional schooling system in Mexico, and that these results are obtained at very little additional cost per student, compared with the conventional system. The Telesecundaria also plays an important role in non-formal education within the community.     

Promoting community socio-ecological sustainability through technology: A case study from Chile

The importance of community learning in effecting social change towards ecological sustainability has been recognised for some time. More recently, the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to promote socio-ecological sustainability has been shown to have potential in community education for sustainable development (ESD). The effective design and use of technology for community learning implies an understanding of a range of cross-dimensional factors including: socio-cultural characteristics and needs of the target audience; considerations of available and culturally responsive types of technology; and non-formal pedagogical ESD strategies for community empowerment. In addition, both technology itself and social communities are dynamically evolving and complex entities. This article presents a case study which evaluated the potential of ICT for promoting ecological literacy and action competence amongst community members in southern Chile. The case study addressed the ecological deterioration of a lake, which is having deep social, economic, recreational and cultural implications locally. The authors’ research involved developing a theoretical framework for the design, implementation and use of ICT for community learning for sustainability. The framework was based on key ideas from ESD, ICT and community education, and was underpinned by a systems thinking approach to account for the dynamism and complexity of such settings. Activity theory provided a frame to address overarching socio-cultural elements when using technology as a mediating tool for community learning. The authors’ findings suggest that the use of an ICT tool, such as a website, can enhance ecological literacy in relation to a local socio-ecological issue.     

Non-formal vocational education in Uganda: Practical empowerment through a workable alternative

This article reflects on the potential of non-formal vocational education in Uganda to improve the quality of life of those excluded from formal education. Based on an exploration of humanizing development theorists Sen, Freire and Nyerere, together with two case studies, practical empowerment is described as a desirable outcome of education for development. Practical empowerment includes acquiring marketable skills as well as capabilities to critically give direction to one's life. Although education leading to this outcome is desirable for all, non-formal vocational education can reach those currently excluded from formal education, thus enhancing their empowerment by equipping them with useful skills and knowledge.     

The State and Catholic Schooling in England and Wales: Politics,ideology and mission integrity

Changing relations between the English State and the Roman Catholic Church in the sphere of education policy are examined in two historical periods. Between the 1870s and the 1970s, despite initial anti-Catholic prejudice, the Catholic hierarchy was able to negotiate a favourable educational settlement in which substantial public funding was obtained without serious loss of autonomy and mission integrity for the Catholic schooling system. The existence of a liberal State, a voluntarist tradition in schooling and the relative social and political unity of the Catholic community all contributed towards this settlement. The inauguration of an ideologically 'Strong State' in the 1980s and 1990s, pursuing an interventionist strategy in education driven by New Right market doctrines, threatened the whole basis of this settlement. The Catholic hierarchy had to develop new strategies to respond to this situation, complicated by the fact that the Catholic community was now more socially differentiated and more divided on key education policy questions.     

The contributions of community learning centres (CLCs) to personal and community development in Myanmar

Community learning centres (CLCs) have been widely established in the Asia-Pacific region as locally managed institutions that offer non-formal educational opportunities and community development activities. Myanmar officially has more than 3,000 centres, which is one of the highest numbers in the region. This article examines the operation of CLCs and their contributions to personal and community development in Padaung, Myanmar. The author’s research is based on six weeks of fieldwork in Myanmar for data collection including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and informal conversations. Her findings suggest that CLCs can contribute to the improvement of both individuals’ quality of life and communities’ social capital, which facilitates mutually beneficial collective action. The findings also support the conclusion that CLCs can provide additional educational opportunities beyond the formal system, especially for adults and members of rural communities, e.g. farmers. However, due to constraints in terms of budget, implementing capacity and socio-economic factors, the outreach of CLC activities is still somewhat limited and has yet to reach its full potential.     

Secondary Vocational Education and Earnings in Latin America[1]

ABSTRACT

Household survey data for II Latin American countries are used to assess earnings differentials by type of secondary education during the late 1980s. Introduction of the cost of the curriculum allows for the estimation of private and social rates of return to investment in education by type of secondary school curriculum. The paper documents mixed results. In some countries the private returns to vocational schooling are higher than the returns to general secondary schooling. Introducing differential cost of curriculum and estimating social returns to schooling results in much lower returns to vocational schooling.

     

发展社区职业教育促进社会再就业

文化素质低下、转岗能力匮乏是导致企业职工下岗及再就业困难的主要原因。充分利用社会资源，成立社区职业技术教育学院，开展社区职业培训及各种学历教育，有利于提高职工的职业技能和知识文化水平，增强其自身文化素质。这应成为现阶段我国发展社区教育的重点之一，同时也是促进社会再就业的有效途径。     

‘Flexibility’, Community and Making Parents Responsible

This article draws on Foucault's concept of governmentality to explore how recent political moves to legalise ‘flexibility’ mobilises education authorities to make ‘community’ a technical means of achieving the political objective of schooling the child. I argue that ‘flexibility’ in this sense is a neo‐liberal strategy that shifts relations between the governed and the State. In this way, it transforms the idea of schooling from a State run institution for the purpose of ‘community building’ to a community run institution for the purpose of making parents governable by both instrumentalising and institutionalising individualism through the force of community membership. Rather than a form of liberation from bureaucratic rule, the paper exposes how ‘flexibility’ acts as a normalising strategy that works with difference to entangle parents as community members in the process of schooling the child through the moral obligation of the contract.     

An evaluation of early years education and training in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in India

This paper explores some of the findings of a World Food Programme mission to review and appraise the Integrated Child Development Services in India. The paper focuses on the work of the UNESCO consultant who was responsible for evaluating the non-formal pre-school component of ICDS, which is received by over 12 million children under the age of six in India's poorer communities. It is argued that children need supplementary nutrition to survive and that ICDS is a sound vehicle for this task but that the psycho social development of the child is equally important and deserves further investment. The paper calls for upgrading of initial and on the job training, and the upgrading of the centres which provide an education and community service.     

Marshall—Making Wittgenstein Smile

In the 1980s and 1990s the discipline of philosophy of education had an impact on schooling and the public service in New Zealand because of the contracted work of James Marshall and Michael Peters. This personal reflection by Robert Shaw is a tribute to James Marshall and provides insight into the relationship between Ministry officials, the community, and educational researchers.     

Learning and schooling of Basarwa (Bushmen) children in Botswana

Conclusion This article highlights the inadequacy of the current model of schooling delivered to Basarwa children in Botswana, and contends that their education should be reevaluated from a cultural viewpoint. Children and teachers are enmeshed in a dynamic, cultural, social and political web, and there are serious language and cultural barriers to learning. These barriers underscore the need for a bilingual, multicultural model of education to affirm and strengthen the culture of the child. The high mobility of the Basarwa demands a flexible, less formal model of schooling and training of teachers from within the Basarwa culture. An innovative curriculum is needed, building on traditional Basarwa pedagogy and world view to develop skills needed to gain greater equity. The approach to health education known as Child-to-Child has considerable potential for curriculum development. Until a more relevant educational model is available Basarwa children will continue to be disadvantaged. A lecturer in education and development at the University of London Institute of Education, where she is responsible for advanced diploma and masters courses in health education and promotion. She is a qualified school-teacher and nutritionist, with more than ten years' experience in higher education and in community development for health in West and East Africa. She is conducting research in health through schooling, and will complete her Ph.D. thesis on ‘Children as health educators’ in 1995. She has a special interest in participatory research methods and gender issues, and is married with four children.     

台湾人口少子化背景下小型学校整并策略及启示

台湾地区人口少子化背景下,学校生源锐减,乡村及偏远地区学校规模日益缩小,台湾教育当局和地方政府因地制宜、循序渐进、积极稳妥推进小型学校整并,在有效提高教育资源使用效益的同时确保学生就学权益及社区发展。借鉴台湾地区经验,大陆农村撤点并校应着眼学生就学需求,统筹规划,合理布局,完善配套,强化功能,促进农村教育与经济社会的协调发展。     

The Main Modes of Alternative Education in Mainland China and Their Impact on Traditional Education

<正>Even though the Chinese education system has been reformed constantly,the change seems to be ineffective and disappointing.An increasing number of dissatisfied parents want their children to experience a different mode of education instead of traditional formal schooling.Two forms of non-formal education(Farrell,2008),namely extracurricular classes and home     

Social policy reforms and daughters’ schooling in Vietnam

Vietnam’s social policy reforms in the transition to a market economy included the introduction of fees for primary and secondary school in the late 1980s. Using data from the Viet Nam Living Standards Surveys, this paper examines how the increasing costs of education to households have impacted on school enrolment between 1993 and 1998, giving special attention to daughters’ schooling. Data shows that, despite rising costs for education, enrolment rates have increased. A multivariate analysis indicates that, compared to sons, daughters’ school enrolment at ages 11–18 yr is much more responsive to household characteristics. Among poor families, daughters’ schooling is particularly vulnerable.     

A case study of women instructors and their education in the reign of Abdulhamid II

Abstract

This study demonstrates how the cultural role of Ottoman women began to change during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as well as considering emerging conflicts due to their altering roles in society as they were educated in the Darulmuallimat (teachers’ college for women) and acquired social positions as woman instructors. The first phase of the study is about schooling for women in the late Ottoman Empire and how women became teachers. The work mentions an interesting historical document which shows the relationship between a female instructor and a director of education (maarif müdürü) in Trabzon. This document also points to the disturbances aroused by these changes in women’s social status which needed to be reconstructed. It indicates how the government took measures to preserve the existing norms as women became more visible in the community and reminded them that their first responsibility was always about preserving their chastity and esteem. The first woman teachers to commence participating in the public sphere were effective at shaping and structuring culture in the Ottoman Empire; thus they should be investigated in terms of their social roles and their effects on cultural transformation as well. The case of Macide Han?m is considered in the cultural, economic, and political contexts of late Ottoman history with an emphasis on women’s education and modifying social roles. The study was carried out by scrutinising historical documents in the Prime Ministry Ottoman Archives, especially documents in the maarif mektubi kalemi section.     

日本各种学校的主要特点

各种学校是日本实施类似于正规学校教育的各种非正规职业技术学校的总称。日本的各种学校具有异于正规学校,也异于社会教育;及时进行调整,适应经济发展;学校种类繁多,满足不同需要;私人办学为主,布局偏重城市等主要特点。