There’s no denying that we have seen a massive shift in the education system since globalization has entered into the sector. Technological, social, environmental, demographic, economic, and political shifts have redefined what our educational structure should be.
But the picture isn’t all rosy, and many educators have pointed the massive loopholes in the education system in the globalized era. The education systems in many of the developed nations are witnessing challenges that require immediate attention.
Table of Contents
So, what are these challenges? Let’s find out more.
a). Technology in education
The impact of the amalgamation of technology and education has been revolutionary. Today’s students have grown up amid the trappings of technology and expect it to be part of their learning experience. But how much should technology contribute to the process of learning?
Experts believe that educational technology offers opportunities for students to learn more actively, as seen in the flipped classroom system. It fosters group collaboration and offers instant access to up-to-date resources.
But there are setbacks to the use of technology as well. For instance, the use of technology can be a distraction to students when not monitored. Some students may tune out of the lessons and focus more on social media.
More alarmingly, technology can pose a real threat to the privacy and security of the students. “Hackers with malicious intent may get hold of sensitive student information which may lead to serious issues”, said Hannah Joseph, teacher and nursing assignment help expert from EssayAssignmenthelp.com.au, an online academic portal.
b). Standardized testing system
For many educators, educational reform means bringing changes to the systems to ensure that students from a country are measured with the same set of standards. The idea behind standardized tests is that they offer an objective understanding of a student’s performance. These tests may also allow you to ensure that all students become proficient in the course materials taught to them.
Standardized testing was implemented to hold schools accountable if they failed to offer proper instructions to students. Without such measures, low-income and minority students would fall behind and not receive the same quality education as their more affluent counterparts.
But several critics opine that frequent standardized testing is one of the most pressing issues in the realm of education. These experts believe that the pressure to achieve high test scores has shifted the focus to achieve good grades as opposed to learning meaningful lessons. In fact, other non-tested subjects (such as physical education, art, and music) have been completely ignored to devote more time to test preparation.
And these critics also believe that policymakers have overemphasized the meaning of standardized test results, which don’t present a complete picture of the overall learning of the students.
c). Teacher tenure
Having tenure indicates that a teacher can’t be terminated unless his/her school district shows a valid reason for it. And the issue has long been shrouded in controversy. Tenure prevents teachers from being dismissed for political or personal reasons, like teaching contentious subjects such as evolution or disagreeing with administrators.
However, some critics opine that tenure makes it hard to dismiss ineffective teachers because going through the legal process is expensive and time-consuming. Tenure can encourage complacency since teachers’ jobs are secured whether they exceed expectations or just do the bare minimum.
Plus, some administrators admit to being unwilling to offer low ratings because of the time and efforts required to record the performance of teachers.
d). Equity in education hasn’t been achieved
Equity in education has been ideal for long. This ideal has been celebrated in a variety of contexts as well. Sadly, though, the practice of equity in education has been anything but effective. Equity, in the end, is too lofty an ideal to maintain, and many strategies haven’t been worthy of implementing.
To maintain equity, school systems must adopt an approach for evaluating the findings of recommended changes in learning objectives and approaches. These approaches must be helpful for teachers and administrators to understand what they have to avoid as well as what they can do to achieve optimal equity moving ahead.
e). Parents aren’t involved enough
Of all the things that aren’t in control of teachers, this one is definitely on the most frustrating. The time devoted to the classroom isn’t enough for teachers to help every single student and teach them what they need to know.
There has to be some form of interaction outside school hours, believe the experts from prominent college essay writing services. Of course, students at a socio-economic disadvantage often have a difficult time at school, particularly if their parents don’t have higher levels of education. But students belonging to middle and upper-class families aren’t free from it either.
An over-dependence on schools and the demands of stable careers put students from affluent families at risk as well in the absence of parental involvement in academics.
f). Lack of adequate training for teachers
It’s reasonable that if the learning process is evolving, teachers must adapt too. This means it’s about time to modify the training process of teachers. That’s the only way to meet the demands of modern classrooms.
There are policy changes taking place all around the world, many of which are driven by teachers. These changes effectively address the cultural shifts in the classroom.
The teachers who are better trained to meet the needs of the student populations, understand the pivotal role of new approaches to learning. They are willing to speak up to facilitate much-needed classroom change. Without these teachers, implementing widespread reform to meet global standards isn’t possible.
Parting thoughts,
While some of these issues have been persistent, some have emerged only recently. The nature of these issues is of little consequence; what’s important is that the nations must adopt measures to overcome these setbacks to make the globalized era’s education system more robust.
Author bio: Kady Smith has completed her Ph.D. degree in Sociology from Murdoch University and is a visiting faculty for a reputed academic institution in the United Kingdom. She has written features and articles in several local newspapers. Smith is also a part of MyAssignmenthelp.co.uk and offers her assistance to students on request.