Why madrassah education reforms don’t work in Pakistan

Despite global pressure and national security concerns, the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to reform the madrassah system have proven to be futile. Extant literature on madrassah reform challenges relies overwhelmingly on information provided by governments and experts situated outside of these institutions. While these studies and reports present important findings and viable analysis on madrassah systems; most of the research fails to give voice to the major stakeholders of this system itself, such as the administration staff, teachers, students and parents. Our study fills this crucial gap by conducting semi-structured interviews and field observations inside Pakistani madaris (plural for madrassah) and their professional associations. We find that these madaris have been reluctant to participate in policy interventions offered by the government due to a major trust deficit brought on by differences over financial and curriculum regulation, degree recognition and the government’s role in shaping popular perceptions about madaris. This reluctance has turned down attempts for madrassah reformation and has in turn made them vulnerable to radicalisation. We conclude with policy recommendations for more effective government reforms and a stronger relationship between madrassah representatives and the Government of Pakistan.     

Democratization through education? Theory and practice of the Czech post-revolution education system and its reforms

The transformation process from an authoritarian/totalitarian system entails many institutional changes, however, the individual citizen is often being overlooked in this chaotic, fast-paced process and his or her “transformation” into a democrat is taken for granted. The changing socio-political system and its exigencies may lead to nostalgia and social frustrations, which in turn cause democratic backsliding. In order to cultivate a democratic society and avoid future backsliding, the post-communist states quickly set out to reform their educational systems, both in form and substance. By reviewing the reform process of the Czech educational system and discussing the prevailing legacies left by the communist regime, the article will show that through the “destruction” of the former system and its de-monopolization, decentralization and de-ideologization, the state deliberately lost significant means and power to transform Czechs from “homo sovieticus” to “homo democraticus” and is now left with a dependence on the highly autonomous schools and their propensity to foster democratic generations that will uphold the democratic state in the future. This paradox is reminiscent of the so-called Böckenförde dilemma, claiming that the liberal democratic state “lives by prerequisites which it cannot guarantee itself”.     

Accountability mechanisms in community-driven reconstruction in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

A lack of accountability is often considered a root cause of conflict. Many post-conflict reconstruction efforts therefore aim to enhance accountability between authorities and the population through community-driven reconstruction programmes. This article examines the accountability mechanisms in the Tushiriki community-driven reconstruction programme in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The ethnographic research found little impact of formal programme accountability. Rather, accountability was shaped differently and had its own context-specific meaning. To make accountability more sustainable, stronger embeddedness in local institutions and more appropriate translations of abstract concepts into the local context are needed.     

Meeting development goals: evidence from the Civil Society Education Fund

In recent years, the Civil Society Education Fund has supported national education civil society coalitions (NECs) in low-income countries so that they put pressure on governments and donors to implement the Education for All agenda and the Millennium Development Goal on education. This article draws on literature on global governance as well as on an extensive evaluation of the CSEF to explore the actual contribution of this initiative to the activity of NECs. The article highlights the achievements and shortcomings of the CSEF and includes a set of practical recommendations on the role of global civil society in international development processes.     

越南华文教育发展现状与思考

越南华文教育近年来出现较明显复苏,华文从华人的民族文化载体逐渐发展为越南社会加强与中国经济文化联系、寻求更多发展机遇的有力工具。这些新现象为传承越南华族文化、增进中越交往与合作创造了积极条件。针对当前越南华文教育的资金、师资、教材等问题,中国可在越南政策法规允许的范围内适当加以补充与协助,为中越关系的深化发展增添动力。     

在职民警教育训练几个问题的思考

近年来公安在职民警教育训练得到了长足的发展,但由于教育训练规模、培训质量和效益、培训教材、教官、教育训练方式方法、民警和领导的思想意识、教育训练基地建设等问题,对在职民警教育训练正规化、规范化建设形成很大制约,成为创新发展在职民警教育训练必须解决好的一些问题之一,分析探讨解决这些问题,才能促进在职民警教育训练达到规模、质量、效益的协调发展。     

公安院校在职教育与学历教育双向互动探析

当前,公安院校实行普通学历教育与在职教育并重发展的模式,以学历教育为依托提高在职民警培训的层次和质量,以在职民警培训为导向促进学历教育进一步贴近实战,在双向互动、资源共享中实现双赢,为公安院校办学重心逐步向在职培训转移奠定基础。本文仅从在职教育与学历教育双向互动的现实意义和运作方式两个方面做些探讨。     

关于工会成为职工"教育之家"的思考

20世纪80年代的建设职工之家活动风靡一时,工会成为职工“教育之家”是对职工之家的深化和升华,启动职工素质工程,全面提高职工素质,是世界及中国社会发展的需要,也是工会履行职能的一项要务,工会有其自身的优势条件和经验,能够把工会办成职工的“教育之家”。     

Commonwealth Small States,Education and Environmental Uncertainty: Learning from the Sharp End

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the Commonwealth’s inclusive role in engaging with the distinctive challenges of education provision in small states, an agenda that is often neglected elsewhere. We examine the origins of Commonwealth work on education in small states, the nature of its comparative advantage, its role in facilitating small states’ engagement with international education dialogue and regional co-operation, and the demand and potential for ongoing Commonwealth support for education. Particular attention is given to experience within the Caribbean region and to the potential for the Commonwealth and the wider international community to learn from small states in the light of their distinctive educational challenges, achievements and priorities – and, most notably, their experience at the ‘sharp end’ of environmental uncertainty and climate change.     

网络德育工作论略

网络时代向高等学校的德育工作提出了前所未有的挑战。加强德育网站的建设是重要的应对之策。要从更新和充实内容、改进形式入手,使德育工作网站成为吸引学生、影响学生的“校中之校”。同时,要把网络教育与实践培养有机结合起来。