Reports
IMPACT-se researches school textbooks, teachers’ guides, and curricula to assess whether young people are being educated to accept Others—be it their neighbors, minorities…
IMPACT World Focus
Afghanistan -- Afghanistan Times (via MENAFN) _March 2, 2021 -- Taliban Ban Girls From Education in Northeastern Takhar Province UK -- Independent -- March 2, 2021 -- Primary Pupils Shouldn’t Be Made to Wear Masks in School, Says No 10 USA -- Tes -- March 1, 2021 -- Will Pupils Struggle to Get Back Into a School Routine? Japan -- The Japan Times -- February 28, 2021 -- Opinion: Global Education Has Permanently Changed Pakistan -- Daily Industry -- February 28, 2021 -- Pakistan Facing Language Crisis in Education System Cambodia -- ScandAsia -- February 28, 2021 -- Sweden and UNICEF help Cambodia to Protect Children’s Education During COVID-19 Ireland -- Irish Times -- February 27, 2021 -- Opinion: Two-Tier Education System Philippines -- The Manila Times -- February 27, 2021 -- Philippines the Only Southeast Asian Country With Declining Literacy World -- Theirworld -- February 26, 2021 -- This Week in Global Education Lebanon -- The Telegraph -- February 26, 2021 -- ‘I Might Not Go Back to School’: Childhood Dreams Fade as Poverty Forces Lebanon’s Young Into Work USA -- Boston Herald -- February 26, 2021 -- Ways Parents Can Become More Involved in Their Child’s Education Iran -- Center for Human Rights in Iran -- February 26, 2021 -- Non-Persian Mother Languages Treated as “National Security Threat” in Iran Nigeria -- Ghana MMA -- February 26, 2021 -- Education Is Under Attack In Northern Nigeria: Amnesty International Bahrain -- The Daily Tribune -- February 25, 2021 -- Preparing Students to Face Labor Market Challenges Sweden -- Reuters (via IDNPos) --February 25, 2021 -- Swedish Report Reveals Seething Antisemitism Inside Schools Syria -- Al-Monitor -- February 25, 2021 -- Authorities in Northeast Syria Struggle to Impose Kurdish Curriculum Canada -- The Jerusalem Post -- February 25, 2021 -- Canada Deepens Probe Into UNRWA’s Anti-Israel School Textbook Materials UK -- Yahoo News -- February 24, 2021 -- Education Secretary Announces Schools Will Reopen in England as Planned on March 8 Morocco -- Morocco World News -- February 24, 2021 --Housework Prevents Girls From Education Pakistan -- DunyaNews -- February 24, 2021 -- Education System Must Focus on Developing Character, Creative Thinking: President USA -- WWLP22 News -- February 24, 2021 -- Report: Men Still Hold Bulk of Top-Paying Higher Education Job World -- The National (MENA) -- -- February 23, 2021 Covid’s Impact on Global Education Inequality Revealed in UNESCO Research Egypt -- Middle East Eye -- February 23, 2021 -- Egypt’s Sisi Faces Backlash Against Removal of the Quran From School Textbooks Ireland -- Irish Times -- February 23, 2021 -- School Closures Highlight Our Deeply Fragmented Education System Kenya -- LaPrensaLatina -- February 23, 2021 -- The Kenyan School Where Mothers Bring Their Babies to Class Morocco -- Anadolu Agency -- February 22, 2021 -- Moroccan Union Rejects Educational Ties With Israel Ethiopia -- IOM -- February 22, 2021 -- Rehabilitated School Brings Together Conflict-affected Communities in Ethiopia UK -- The Guardian -- February 21, 2021 -- Editorial: Education is Not Enough to Help Children Recover Egypt -- IQNA -- February 21, 2021 -- Egypt Gov’t Denies Removal of Quran Verses from School Books Cyprus -- In-Cyprus -- February 20, 2021 -- Cyprus Operation of Schools During Pandemic Smoother Than EU Average France -- The Times of Israel -- February 20, 2021 -- French Minister Warns Against ‘Islamo-Leftism’ in Universities Syria -- SciDevNet -- February 19, 2021 -- ‘Intranet’ Rescues Education in Syrian Refugee Camps World -- Their World -- February 19, 2021 -- This Week in Global Education Iraq -- ACTED -- February 18, 2021 -- Four Years Later, the Children of Mosul Are Heading Back to School Afghanistan -- The Telegraph -- February 18, 2021 -- Like It or Not, Governments Must Negotiate With the Taliban to Ensure Girls’ Access to Education Egypt -- AhramOnline -- February 17, 2021 -- Egypt’s Ministry of Education Should Work to Rid Schools of Religious Extremism: MP Saudi Arabia -- Eurasia Review -- February 17, 2021 -- Saudi Arabia: Further Textbook Reforms Needed, Says HRW Morocco -- Morocco World News -- February 17, 2021 -- More Than Half of Morocco’s Employed Labor Force Has No Diploma USA -- The Wall Street Journal -- February 16, 2021 -- School Reopening Pits Parents Against Teachers: “Is There a Word Beyond ‘Frustrating’?” Iraq -- Middle East Online -- February 16, 2021 -- American University in Baghdad Seeks to Fill Needs of Iraq’s Growing Youth Libya -- Libyan Express -- February 16,2021 -- Thousands of Students Return to School Bangladesh -- The Daily Observer -- February 16, 2021 -- Survey: 40% of High School Students Don’t Get Required Education MENA -- Al-Monitor -- February 15, 2021 -- Egypt, Sudan Cooperate to Eliminate Extremism in School Curricula Algeria -- Kawa-News -- February 15, 2021 -- Algeria Records the Highest Rate of Women Engineers in the World, Says UNESCO Report Nigeria -- Quartz Africa -- February 15, 2021 -- The UK Education System Has Provided a Safe Haven for Corrupt Nigerian Politicians: Report USA -- Kuwait Times -- February 14, 2021 -- Homeschooling Taking off in US as Pandemic Shutters Schools Afghanistan -- The Telegraph -- February 14, 2021 -- Afghanistan Faces a Brain Drain as Young and Educated Flee a Wave of Violence Oman -- Times of Oman -- February 14, 2021 -- Expats Barred From Certain Positions in Oman’s Education Sector Cyprus -- In-Cyprus -- February 13, 2021 -- New Educational Programs for Migrant Children Sudan -- Dabanga -- February 13, 2021 -- Women and Girls Lauded for Role in Science in Sudan Pakistan -- Modern Diplomacy -- February 13, 2021 -- Linguistic Racism in Pakistan Saudi Arabia -- Arab News -- February 13, 2021 -- Pandemic Puts Spotlight on Special Needs Education in Saudi Arabia New Zealand -- Stuff -- February 13, 2021 -- Music Education in New Zealand Needs a Reset, Experts Say Pakistan -- Dawn -- February 13, 2021 -- Opinion: Making Arabic Compulsory World -- Theirworld -- February 12, 2021 -- This Week in Global Education Africa -- Forbes -- February 12, 2021 -- While Schools Are Closed, Radio Lessons Keep Students Learning Ehiopia -- The Conversation -- February 12, 2021 -- COVID-19 Has Dealt a Blow to Ethiopia’s Private Higher Education Institutions MENA -- Naharnet -- February 11, 2021 -- Policy Makers Across MENA Discuss Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools UK -- Jewish News -- February 11, 2021 -- How UK Gives Annual Nod to Hate-Filled Palestinian Education Iran -- The Algemeiner -- February 11, 2021 -- Iranian School Textbooks ‘Brimming’ With Antisemitism and Glorification of Violence: ADL Report Pakistan -- Geo News -- February 10, 2021 -- Terrorism Spread in Pakistan Due to a Weak Education System: Education Minister Kenya -- Taarifa -- February 10, 2021 -- Kenya Drops Colonial Education System, Switches to Competence Based Curriculum Morocco/Israel -- The Jerusalem Post -- February 10, 2021 -- Israeli and Moroccan Students Will Learn About Moroccan Jewish Heritage USA -- The Orange County Register -- February 10, 2021 -- Braille Institute Uses Technology to Help With Real World Learning Israel -- i24 -- February 9, 2021 -- Coronavirus Cabinet Authorizes Partial Restart of Education System Egypt -- Egypt Online (via allAfrica) -- February 9, 2021 -- Egyptian Space Agency---Egypt Is Building 35 Education Satellites UAE -- Jewish Cleveland News -- February 9, 2021 -- Pointing to COVID-Related Economy, UAE Says It Will Not Fund UNRWA in 2021 Jordan -- UNRWA -- February 8, 2021 -- UNRWA Schools Open for the Second Semester in Jordan South Sudan -- Devex -- February 8, 2021 -- In South Sudan, Mobile Classes Improve Education Access Turkey -- Arab News -- February 8, 2021 -- Turkey to Open Schools in War-Torn Syria Pakistan -- Daily Times -- February 7, 2021 -- Opinion: Pakistan’s Single National Curriculum---Moving Education Forward Israel -- The Times of Israel -- February 7, 2021 -- Online Classes Cause Surge in School Dropouts, Increase Socioeconomic Gap Saudi Arabia -- Arab News -- February 7, 2021 -- Almost Half of Students in Shifted to Government Schools Amid Pandemic Cyprus -- Cyprus Mail -- February 7, 2021 -- Coronavirus: Schools Gearing up to Reopen for Primary and Final Year Students UNRWA/EU -- The Jerusalem Post -- February 7, 2021 -- European Parliament Raises Issue With UNRWA Textbooks Promoting Hate Jordan -- Kuwait Times -- February 7, 2021 -- Jordan Students Back to School After Almost a Year UAE -- BESA -- February 7, 2021 -- The UAE’s School of Government Can Help the Arab World Live Up to Its Potential USA -- The Times of Israel -- February 6, 2021 -- Jews as US Minority: The Controversy Over California’s Ethnic Studies Curriculum Pakistan -- The International News -- February 6, 2021 -- Opinion: Reforming Education? USA -- Phys.org -- February 6, 2021 -- Study Examines Why College Education Leads to Healthier and Longer Lives Indonesia -- RepublicWorld.com -- February 5, 2021 -- Indonesian Government Bans Mandatory Religious Attire In Public Schools Turkey -- MEF -- February 5, 2021 -- Islamism Is Stunting Turkish Academic Achievement World -- Theirworld -- February 5, 2021 -- This Week in Global Education Somalia -- RadioErgo -- February 5, 2021 -- First School Opens in Mogadishu for Somali Children With Autism Turkey -- WKZO -- February 5, 2021 -- Student Protests Highlight Erdogan’s Struggle to Win Over Turkey’s Gen Z Wales (UK) -- BBC News -- February 4, 2021 -- COVID: ‘I Don’t Want a Holiday, I Want to Go to School’ Greece -- Theirworld -- February 4, 2021 -- Arts and Crafts Packs Help Young Refugee Children Deal With Stress Myanmar -- Education International -- February 4, 2021 -- Myanmar: Teachers’ Union Condemns Military Coup UK -- The Guardian -- February 4, 2021 -- Opinion: Geography, Not Race, Explains the Disparity in England’s Educational Outcomes Kenya -- Theirworld -- February 3, 2021 -- Why Investing in Early Education Is Crucial for Kenya’s Children World -- OECD -- February 2, 2021 -- Report: COVID-19 Pandemic Has Demonstrated That on-Line Learning Is No Substitute for Teachers World -- Tes -- February 2, 2021 -- How Have International Schools Adapted to Provide Remote Assessment During the Pandemic? Pakistan -- The Times of India -- February 1, 2021 -- All Education Institutes Reopened in Pakistan Afghanistan -- Dawn -- February 1, 2021 -- Saga of a Refugee Girl’s Quest for Education Canada -- CBC -- January 31, 2021 -- Disrupted Schooling, Learning Loss Will Have Effects Long After Pandemic, Say Education Experts Canada -- The MediaLine -- January 31, 2021 -- Canada Investigating UNRWA for Alleged Incitement to Hatred USA -- The Washington Post -- January 30, 2021 -- Why Did Education Leaders Trash a School Full of Music, Dance and Art? UNSC -- VietnamPlus -- January 30, 2021 -- Vietnamese Diplomat: Peace Education Important for Children in Conflict Zones Saudi Arabia -- The Washington Post -- January 30, 2021 -- Saudi Arabia Has Been Scrubbing Its Textbooks of Anti-Semitic and Misogynistic Passage East Africa -- African Arguments (via allAfrica) -- January 29, 2021 -- Developing a Knowledge Society for Peace in the Horn of Africa India -- The Times of India -- January 29, 2021 -- Sharing India’s New Education Policy With the World Ghana -- Ghana MMA -- January 29, 2021 -- Education Sector Missing ‘Basic Principles and Values,’ Says Parliament Speaker USA -- IdeaStream -- January 29, 2021 -- Investing In Our Global Future: Why The Education Of Girls Matters Norway -- Sputnik -- January 28, 2021 -- In Crackdown, Norway Raises Awareness of Antisemitism, Conspiracy Theories Among Schoolchildren World -- CGD -- January 28, 2021 -- Is the Global Partnership for Education Redundant? UK -- BBC News -- January 28, 2021 -- Digital Divide Locking Children Out of Education Canada -- The Cord -- January 27, 2021 -- Opinion: Students Are the Real Investors of Higher Education Philippines -- Manila Bulletin -- January 27, 2021 -- Education Group: Gov’t Should Act Swifltly to Avoid Education Crisis USA -- The Daily Campus -- January 27, 2021 -- Music and the Brain: Why Schools Should Really Fund Music Education More
THE ERDOGAN REVOLUTION IN THE TURKISH CURRICULUM TEXTBOOKS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made significant changes to Turkey’s state-approved school textbooks since taking power in 2003. This report is the fourth undertaken by IMPACT-se into the Turkish curriculum. We have identified a marked deterioration in Turkish textbooks since our last review in 2016, in regards to meeting UNESCO defined standards of peace and tolerance. On the contrary, textbooks have been weaponized in Erdogan’s attempts to Islamize Turkish society and to hark back to a nostalgic age of Turkish domination.
REVIEW OF UNRWA-PRODUCED STUDY MATERIALS IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
PA school textbooks have consistently shown a systematic insertion of violence, martyrdom and jihad across all grades and subjects. Yet, it is this material that is taught in UNRWA-run schools throughout the Palestinian Territories of the Gaza Strip and West Bank as well as Jerusalem. Our research shows that UNRWA, as a UN organization, knowingly produces and teaches material in its Gaza Strip and West Bank schools that are rife with problematic content that contradicts stated UN values. UNRWA’s lack of transparency to address such problematic issues make it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of any efforts it claims to have made. Updated Research of post-November material shows hate remains.
REVIEW OF SAUDI TEXTBOOKS 2020–21
This follow-up report of Saudi 2020-21 textbooks by IMPACT-se shows that while many problematic examples have been removed from the curriculum, some still remain. The removal of the problematic content however, should certainly be seen as a significant improvement and an encouraging development, representing a step toward moderation. Our sense is that the Saudi kingdom, along with some other countries in the region, is gradually moving in a direction that could bring it in line with UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance—contingent on whether the remaining issues are addressed.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—Moral Education Textbooks
This preliminary IMPACT-se report focuses on the United Arab Emirates’ “Moral Education” curriculum, taught in all Emirates public and private schools, from grades 1-12. The research covered the textbooks and teacher guides that make up the “Character and Morality” section of the UAE curriculum, measured against IMPACT’s UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance. While the current research covers only this limited spectrum of the UAE curriculum, it is noteworthy that the content goes a long way to incorporate the values of peace and tolerance into a traditional education system. This stand-alone course is unique in the region and may reflect UAE’s emerging leadership in the reform of textbooks.
UNDERSTANDING QATARI AMBITION—The Curriculum 2016–20
IMPACT-se’s interim review of 238 textbooks of the Qatari curriculum for the calendar years 2016-20, used international standards for peace and tolerance. The curriculum appears to be in in a change-mode, moving in a direction from jihadi radicalism toward open engagement with the world. While somewhat less radical than previous versions, the process of moderation is in its infancy. Some particularly offensive material has been removed after decades of radical propaganda in Qatari schools, but while heavily influenced by Western educators, serious issues remain regarding peace and tolerance. Interim Report Exec Sum Centrality of Antisemitism in the Qatari Curriculum Problematic Content in the Qatari Curriculum_Selected Examples
THE WINDING ROAD TO A NEW IDENTITY Saudi Arabian Curriculum 2016-19
The Saudi curriculum, at this stage, should be viewed as a reflection of the efforts being made to transform an exclusively traditionalist Islamic society into one that incorporates more Western economic values and its pre-Islamic heritage. However while the curriculum tries to evolve with such inherent contradictory elements, the radical orthodoxy of the Wahhabis remains dominant. The narrowing of the gap between the kingdom’s modernization goals and their practical application—both within the curriculum and throughout Saudi society—is in the beginning stages of a work in progress.
PALESTINIAN CURRICULUM PUT TO THE TEST The General Certificate of High School Examination in Palestine (Tawjihi)
This report studies the twenty-six tests comprising the Palestinian 2019 Tajihi Matriculation Exam which tests grade 12 material from the Palestinian curriculum. The exam was analyzed according to IMPACT-se’s UNESCO-derived standards for peace and tolerance in school education. IMPACT-se’s finding is that many of the final exams are so designed that students must study problematic content that does not meet international standards for peace and tolerance.
THE 2019–20 PALESTINIAN SCHOOL CURRICULUM: Grades 1–12
This updated report includes selected examples from research by IMPACT-se on the new Palestinian school curriculum for the 2019–20 academic year. The curriculum has been released over the past four school years, beginning with grades 1–4 (2016–17) and the twelfth grade books finally available for the 2018–19 term. Additionally, the report includes examples from new chapters added to the 2019–20 academic year textbooks.
PEACE AND CONFLICT IN ISRAEL STATE-APPROVED TEXTBOOKS: 2000–2018
The article describes the peace and conflict educational approaches found in the Jewish-Israeli curricula between the years 2000–17, and extracts the dominant themes and messages towards Muslim, Arab and Palestinian “others.” Study findings indicate that current Israeli textbooks do not contain any overt racism or incitement against Palestinians. However, ethnocentric perceptions and victim mentality are two themes that still dominate curricular discourse and are counterproductive to peace education goals.
THE REJECTION OF PEACE: References to Peace Agreements, Israel, and Jews, Now Removed from PA Curriculum
A report on selected positive content about peace, relations with Israel, and Jewish historical presence previously in the Palestinian curriculum between 2000 and 2016, now removed from the 2016–19 curriculum. Although some of the positive examples were removed even before 2016, the “new” PA curriculum represents a quantum leap backward toward radicalizing the textbooks—and unfortunately— Palestinian children.
THE NEW PALESTINIAN CURRICULUM: BY THE NUMBERS Quantitative Analysis of the Current Palestinian Ministry of Education Curriculum
A quantitative analysis of textbooks from the current Palestinian Ministry of Education curriculum, applying UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance. Additionally, in this report, we define Problematic Content as: violent connotations, incitement to violence, hatred of the Other, and radical, inappropriate or disturbing content. The accompanying graph from the report displays by grade, the number of violent references included in each textbook.
JORDAN’S NEW CURRICULUM: The Challenge of Radicalism
IMPACT-se evaluates a range of topics: moderating the education of Islam for students (with emphasis on diversity and openness); layers of national identity; the idea of good citizenship, which includes gender, economic and environmental responsibility; Jordan’s approach toward the West Bank and the Palestinians; unresolved internal conflict toward its peace with Israel and compassion toward the disadvantaged.
TWO LANGUAGES ONE COUNTRY: Turkey’s Elective Kurdish Curriculum
The Kurdish textbooks appear at first glance to be simple and straightforward, no more than very little elective training in a minority population’s mother tongue . . . a conversation about this curriculum is worthwhile because the question of Kurdish education in Turkey remains unanswered.
WASATIA EDUCATION: Exploring the Palestinian Curriculum
This booklet suggests Wasatia Education for the Palestinian educational system using the methodologies of both IMPACT-se and the WASATIA Academic Institute. It explores the present Palestinian school textbooks and identifies areas where the curriculum incites, demonizes and delegitimizes the Other while proposing concepts and values to allow for a future of coexistence, tolerance and prosperity.
THE NEW PALESTINIAN CURRICULUM: 2018-19 Update–Grades 1-12
IMPACT-se’s latest research portrays a Palestinian curriculum that accommodates the full spectrum of extreme nationalist and Islamist ideologies in both Gaza and the West Bank, including anti-Semitic motifs amid themes of continuous struggle. heroism and martyrdom.
SYRIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY: Reformulating School Textbooks during the Civil War
For seven consecutive years a brutal civil war has been raging in Syria. This study of the Syrian curriculum examines the updated 2017–18 education contents in the areas controlled by the Assad regime while the civil war con-tinues to rage. It offers a unique look at a people in the midst of a mortal crisis.
REFORM or RADICALIZATION: PA 2017 Curriculum [A Preliminary Review]
With the first full reform of the Palestinian curriculum since 2000, IMPACT-se, in its second of three reports, covers sixty-six textbooks from the new PA curriculum of 2017–18 for Grades 5–11. Further research will provide a full assessment of the new curriculum covering Grades 1–12. Selected Examples (Updated)
HAREDI EDUCATION IN ISRAEL: REINFORCING THE BARRICADES
IMPACT-se researches textbooks used in the Haredi curricula to promote a unique and separate cultural identity while keeping contact with Israeli culture to a minimum. Though it fails to meet all of the UNESCO standards, Haredi education nevertheless offers some unique characteristics and advantages worth examining.
PALESTINIAN ELEMENATARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM 2016–17: RADICALIZATION AND REVIVAL OF THE PLO PROGRAM
This IMPACT-se report examines the 2016–17 Palestinian Authority school curriculum, focusing on elementary school grades 1-4. To a greater extent than the 2014–15 textbooks, the curriculum teaches students to be expendable martyrs, rejects negotiations, demonizes and denies the existence of Israel and focuses on a “return” to an exclusively Palestinian homeland.
NEIGHBORS AND RIVALS: CHINA IN TURKEY’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
In July 2015, protesters throughout Turkey burned China’s flag, along with effigies of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. On the same day, a group of Turkish Ultra-nationalists and Islamists gathered in central Istanbul to protest the alleged restrictions on Uyghur religious freedom in China.
TURKEY’S CURICULUM UNDER ERDOGAN: THE EVOLUTION OF TURKISH IDENTITY
This well-timed report monitors Turkish school textbooks published since the AKP’s (Justice and Development Party) rise to power from 2002–15, with special emphasis on recent years (2013–15). The report examined 117 school textbooks covering subjects in the humanities, science, religious instruction and civics.
PALESTINIANS IN ISRAELI TEXTBOOKS: 2016 UPDATE
This timely report updates Impact’s analysis of the Israeli School Children current Israeli educational curriculum, particularly as it relates to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian educational process. It is based on the review of 123 state and state-religious textbooks, which were approved and recommended by the Israeli Ministry of Education through the 2017 school year.
IRANIAN EDUCATION: THE CONTINUOUS REVOLUTION
Between 2012-16 IMPACT-se revisited Iranian school textbooks, and prepared this latest report reflecting new developments in Iranian education. The Iranian education curriculum includes a long list of troubling, sometimes paradoxical features, offering insight into a nation preparing its population–starting with its children–for an imminent apocalyptic battle with the world’s “oppressors.”
The PA EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM: IN THE SHADOW OF THE TERROR WAVE
This Impact-se report revisits the Palestinian Authority school curriculum, which is perhaps the chief expression of Palestinian cultural independence. The report covers the main findings of our 2011 report as well as some current observations up to and including, the 2015–16 “Knife Intifada.” Major findings include some positives but troubling from the perspective of Israeli- Palestinian peace is what can aptly be called a “Guerrilla Curriculum.”
BETWEEN SHARIA AND DEMOCRACY: ISLAMIC EDUCATION IN NORTH AMERICA
The report surveys Islamic Studies curricula studied in The United States and Canada. With some exceptions, our main conclusion overall is that Muslim education in North America includes many positive elements, is flexible and generally tolerant. The curricula contain a clear “us versus them” paradigm that rejects materialism, secular or liberal Islam. The materials demonstrate a respect for Christians and Jews but show hostility to Israel and distort the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…
EGYPT ENHANCES IT’S PEACE EDUCATION, ONE STEP AT A TIME
Ofir Winter’s IMPACT-commissioned response to the February 17, 2016 Times of Israel article titled “In a First, New Egyptian Schoolbook Teaches Peace Deal with Israel.”
IMPACT-se Brief Report
Rehabilitated School Brings Together Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Rahel Negussie/Alemayehu Seifeselassie -- International Organization for MigrationFor Ethiopians like Ahmed, an eighth grader at Bilisuma Primary School, pursuing education in East Hararghe has been agonizing. An outbreak of violent conflict in 2016 led to the disruption of education and schools were damaged. “I have a very keen interest in finishing my studies. However, I was forced to stop for some time […]
Teaching Hate: Iran Textbooks Push Antisemitism
/in Blog, Frontpage /by TOI Staff -- Times of IsraelIranian schoolkids are studying antisemitism, hatred and conspiratorial material in their textbooks, including a theory that Western media hyped up the COVID-19 pandemic to thwart large-scale attendance at last year’s celebration of the Iranian revolution, according to a comprehensive study published by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Thursday. The ADL said its report, “Incitement: Antisemitism and […]
Turkey Detains Dozens More Over University Protests
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Voice of AmericaAuthorities in Turkey made dozens of new arrests in cities across the country Thursday, after downplaying international criticism—including U.S. condemnation—of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s crackdown on university student rallies. According to police, about 600 people have been detained since January 4 as protests spread in the capital, Ankara, and in Istanbul. Erdogan has accused student […]
On International Day of Education 3.7 Million Afghan Children Remain Out of School
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Afghanistan TimesJanuary 24 is considered the ‘International Day of Education; Afghanistan also celebrates this day, as in the last 20 years, one of the greatest accomplishments has been increasing access to education for all Afghans. Despite the tremendous achievements, 3.7 million Afghan children are still deprived of education. This country opened its first modern school around […]
Education Day: A Schoolgirl in Bangladesh Reads Her Way to Success
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Brook Dubois -- WFPIlluminated by the winter sun streaming through her bedroom window, 13-year-old Fatema reads through the half-dozen books spread across her desk. In Bangladesh, Fatema is one of the 42 million children who have been out of school for almost 12 months. Spurred by the pandemic, inequality between students threatens to grow deeper and wider in […]
The Virus That Shut Down the World: Education in Crisis
/in Blog, Frontpage /by UNOCHAChildren all over the world have had their education severely disrupted this year, as schools struggle to cope with repeated closures and re-openings, and the transition, if it’s even an option, to online schooling. Disadvantaged children, however, have been worst-hit by the emergency measures. In this part of our look back at the effect that […]
An Opportunity to Change the Cycle of Hate
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Marcus Sheff -- TOI (The Blogs)Every day, around 60 million children in the Middle East and North Africa region and between 200-300 million children in the Muslim world turn up to school. Over the last decades, these schools have taught a regular and unchanging diet of hatred towards Jews. The intensity has varied from country to country, but the central […]
‘Lost Year’ for Education: Global Lessons on How Students Can Rebound
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Ann Scott Tyson -- Christian Science MonitorSocieties that rebuilt their education systems after war and natural disasters may offer lessons on how to close the learning gap opened by the pandemic. “A catastrophe, a pandemic is likely to have a negative impact on outcomes,” says Emma García, an education expert at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute in Washington. Nonetheless, she says […]
World-Leading Education Now ‘Decidedly Average’
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Muriel Newman -- Northland AgeSchools around New Zealand are paying tens of thousands of dollars to private consultants to help them improve the way they teach reading. They are introducing the so-called “structured literacy” approach, more commonly known as phonics. While backed by 30 years of educational research, it is not funded by the Ministry of Education. Developed by […]
The Need for a Value-Based Curriculum in Higher Education
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Yasir Ashraf -- Rising Kashmir NewsWithout imparting values and morals in education, human development is incomplete. Values are the guiding principles of life that contribute to all round development of an individual. Values add a good quality to life and it should also contribute to the welfare of family, the community and the nation. Philosophers, spiritual leaders and educationists of […]
Teach Us About the Slave Trade, Not the Tudors
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Sian Griffiths -- The Sunday TimesAll children should learn about Britain’s role in the slave trade and the sometimes bloody history of its empire, as well as braided hair and the Windrush generation, according to young [student] campaigners whose petitions have attracted nearly 400,000 signatures. Four campaigners still at school and university are trying to have such topics made compulsory. […]
Girls Have Greater Access to Education Than Ever
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Ginanne Brownwell -- Foreign PolicyWhen Adelaide Tsogo Masenya was six, she switched primary schools. Her local school, Dr Knak Primary School, in the poor Johannesburg township of Alexandra, only taught in her native language of Sepedi. Her new school, Marlboro Gardens Secondary School, had an English-only curriculum. Years later when she asked her mother, a cashier who only had […]
Helping the Schools That Serve the World’s Neediest Children Survive COVID-19
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Irene Pritzker -- Next BillionsBefore the COVID-19 crisis, Lily Baah of Apaaso, Ghana, was busy running the Baah Memorial School, with more than 580 students in nursery school through junior high. Then, in March, the pandemic forced her to close. As a result, Baah could no longer collect tuition. She has sold children’s clothing and made-to-order pies to help […]
Partial and Reversible—Qatar Takes a Tiny Step Forward
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Dr. Eldad J. PardoThere is much to be concerned about in the Qatari curriculum. Most troubling is the realization that the leaders of this proud and unique country have allowed their children to be exposed for years to one of the most radical jihadi educations in the world. It is hard to conceive that there are still countries […]
Building a Better World Through Education
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Christopher J. Thomas -- BrookingsThe distinguished philosopher Martha Nussbaum argues that the purpose of education is to produce “decent world citizens who can understand the global problems … who have the practical competence and the motivational incentives to do something about those problems.” Indeed, education has helped to build a better world. Most people are generally more prosperous and […]
As Countries Reopen, Hundreds of Millions of Students Have Returned to School
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Adam Taylor -- Washington PostWell beyond a billion students were sent home from schools as the novel coronavirus spread around the world. In recent weeks, hundreds of millions were cleared to return, as countries began to reopen in fits and starts. By late March, less than two months after the confirmation of the first coronavirus cases outside China, more […]
Education is a Political and Ethical Matter
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Muki Moeng -- Mail&GuardianWith the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, ministerial announcements and public commentary, never before have Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Freire’s ideas about education been more relevant. In 1970 Freire argued that education is political and ethical, and cannot be detached from the current context of social and political realities. This is evident in the policies that […]
COVID-19: How to Ensure Continuity of Education in Africa?
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Mame Codou Dieng -- ANCEFAThe COVID-19 pandemic has drastically hit the world since its outbreak in late 2019 with a lot of infections and death. Africa is no exception. The affected countries are facing enormous difficulties and have put in place measures to contain its spread. Education has been one of the most impacted sectors affected by the COVID-19. […]
Back to School—With Face Masks, Hand Sanitizers, Smaller Classes and No Hugs
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Their News Team -- TheirworldClassrooms that had been closed by the Coronavirus crisis are slowly beginning to reopen around the world. Here are some of the measures to make learning safe. Picture a kindergarten or primary school classroom. What do you see? Children gathered around communal tables— swapping crayons, books and hugs with their friends? Not now. Not in […]
Education that Spurs Creativity in Children
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Syeda Sultana Razia -- Financial ExpressChildren are born to be creative, like eagles are born to soar, see the world, and find food, not scratch and fight for scraps in a coop. Instead of competing against each other on memorisation tests, when children utilise their creativity to its full potential, creativity can contribute to healthy lives and future careers. Creative […]
Why Is ‘Peace Studies’ Only A Graduate Program
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Sarah Namondo -- Organization for World PeaceThe word “peace” has been defined in several contexts such that it’s complex to pinpoint or generalize a single meaning. The study of peace remains pertinent in this world full of unpreventable and unresolved conflicts. Learning about what is national peace and how it can be managed has been relegated as a graduate or postgraduate […]
Our Education System Is Losing Relevance. Here’s How to Unleash Its Potential
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Karthik Krishnan -- World Economic ForumEducation today is in crisis. Even before the coronavirus pandemic struck, in many parts of the world, children who should be in school aren’t; for those who are, their schools often lack the resources to provide adequate instruction. At a time when quality education is arguably more vital to one’s life chances than ever before, […]
From Ebola to Coronavirus: Education Must Not Be Forgotten in a Health Crisis
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Ewan Watt -- TheirworldThe challenge faced during the 2014 epidemic in West Africa of ensuring that children don’t fall between the cracks now confronts the whole world. The global coronavirus pandemic and the more concentrated Ebola virus epidemic – which killed more than 11,000 people – are very different situations. But there are similarities in the way in […]
Leading Our Classes Through Times of Crisis with Engagement and PEACE
/in Blog, Frontpage /by Donald A. Saucier & Tucker L. Jones -- Faculty FocusThe worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has caused a fast and radical shift across colleges and universities to remote and online teaching models. As such, our face-to-face courses have been taken out of the physical classroom and thrust into virtual domains. While many instructors are fluent and may prefer online teaching practices, others are struggling to rapidly […]