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!

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