Primary Education In Crisis

In the past decade, the national preoccupation has been on the crisis in secondary schools. Lurking behind the intractable problem of low pass rates, the dysfunctional schools and the small number of higher grade mathematics and science graduates is the calamity in primary education. Drawing on the work of researchers in a range of fields including psychology, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, economics, the health sciences, and mathematics education, this book documents the depth and scope of the primary education crisis and provides a comprehensive and rigorous explanation of its causes. Primary education in crisis pulls together the wealth of research on health, poverty, resources, language and teaching as factors in academic achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. At the centre of the book is an analysis of the published studies that systematically document what teachers teach and fail to teach, and why it is that teaching is at the heart of the crisis in primary education. The author suggests that there are no quick fixes, but only hard choices and that, for reform to succeed, it must be evidence-based.

Around the world, 250 million children cannot read, write, or perform basic mathematics. They represent almost 40% of all primary school-aged children. This situation has come to be called the global learning crisis and it is one of the most critical challenges facing the world today. Work to address this situation depends on how it is understood. Typically, the global learning crisis and efforts to improve primary education are defined in relation to two terms: access and quality. This book is focused on the connection between them. Through a mixed-methods case study, it provides detailed, contextualized analysis of Ugandan primary education. As one of the first countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to enact dramatic and far-reaching primary education policy, Uganda serves as a compelling case study. With both quantitative and qualitative data from over 400 Ugandan schools and communities, the book analyzes grade repetition, private primary schools, and school fees, viewing each issue as an illustration of the connection between access to education and education quality. This analysis finds evidence of a positive association, challenging a key assumption that there is a trade-off or disconnect between efforts to improve access to education and efforts to improve education quality. Embracing the complexity of education systems, and focusing on dynamics where improvements in access and quality can be mutually reinforcing, can be a new approach for improving basic education in different contexts around the world.

First published in 1995, Crisis in the Primary Classroom redefines the crisis plaguing primary classrooms by challenging many of the educational and political orthodoxies of the nineties. The book is set during a particular period in the nineties when primary education was under attack from the Government and sections of the media, with accusations that reading standards had fallen, the National Curriculum was not being taught well and training colleges had failed to produce sufficient teachers of quality. In response to these concerns, the Government commissioned a report, which presented a series of solutions. Maurice Galton argues that the report failed to identify the root causes of the problems facing primary schools. He examines critically whether the National Curriculum was necessary, and whether teaching methods and classroom organization really needed to be changed radically. He also addresses the issue of quality among teachers, suggesting ways in which this might be developed. Crisis in the Primary Classroom deserves to be read by all concerned with the planning, administration and practice of primary education. Teachers will be encouraged by the message that methods found to be successful in the past must be accommodated in new patterns of organization and classroom practice.

This book is a response to the loss of learning experienced by children and young people during the Covid-19 crisis. It examines the measures which were taken to fix the disruption of education and their limitations particularly in reaching marginalised groups. Drawing on data and experiences from around the world, the book examines education systems as ecosystems with interdependencies between many different components which need to be considered when change is contemplated. Chapters explore the challenges involved ensuring continuity of education for all learners in times of crisis and disruption and set out practical solutions that are relevant when preparing for natural disasters and disasters caused by humans as well as for climate change challenges and future pandemics. The focus throughout is on building the sustainability of learners’ education into education systems to ensure educational continuity for all learners in times of disruption and crisis. Including tools for planning, prompts for reflection, and future possibilities to consider, Education for All in Times of Crisis will be valuable reading for school leaders, educators and policy makers.

When a student is in dire need of emotional support, caring adults in the school can make a difference. This essential resource helps practitioners prepare all school personnel to respond sensitively and effectively to children and adolescents in crisis. Packed with user-friendly features--including over 50 reproducible tools--the book provides crucial guidance for helping students cope with such stressful circumstances as bullying, abuse, parental divorce, chronic illness, depression, loss, and more. The emphasis is on giving teachers and staff basic crisis intervention skills: how to react, what to say, and what to do to create a safe and supportive environment. In a large-size format to facilitate photocopying, the volume's utility is enhanced by many specific training ideas and activities. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.

First published in 1995, Crisis in the Primary Classroom redefines the crisis plaguing primary classrooms by challenging many of the educational and political orthodoxies of the nineties. The book is set during a particular period in the nineties when primary education was under attack from the Government and sections of the media, with accusations that reading standards had fallen, the National Curriculum was not being taught well and training colleges had failed to produce sufficient teachers of quality. In response to these concerns, the Government commissioned a report, which presented a series of solutions. Maurice Galton argues that the report failed to identify the root causes of the problems facing primary schools. He examines critically whether the National Curriculum was necessary, and whether teaching methods and classroom organization really needed to be changed radically. He also addresses the issue of quality among teachers, suggesting ways in which this might be developed. Crisis in the Primary Classroom deserves to be read by all concerned with the planning, administration and practice of primary education. Teachers will be encouraged by the message that methods found to be successful in the past must be accommodated in new patterns of organization and classroom practice.

"The global disruption to education caused by the COVD-19 pandemic is without parallel and the effects on learning are severe. The crisis brought education systems across the world to a halt, with school closures affecting more than 1.6 billion learners. While nearly every country in the world offered remote learning opportunities for students, the quality and reach of such initiatives varied greatly and were at best partial substitutes for in-person learning. Now, 21 months later, schools remain closed for millions of children and youth, and millions more are at risk of never returning to education. Evidence of the detrimental impacts of school closures on children's learning offer a harrowing reality: learning losses are substantial, with the most marginalized children and youth often disproportionately affected. Countries have an opportunity to accelerate learning recovery and make schools more efficient, equitable, and resilient by building on investments made and lessons learned during the crisis. Now is the time to shift from crisis to recovery - and beyond recovery, to resilient and transformative education systems that truly deliver learning and well-being for all children and youth."--The World Bank website.

Study of trends in educational needs and the educational system of developed countries and developing countries in the 1970s and 1980s - considers population dynamics, spread of informal education, impact of technological change on educational technology, compression of educational expenditure, growth of youth unemployment and regional disparity; covers the impact of cultural change on literacy, the role of UNESCO and other international cooperation in educational development, student exchange, etc. Graphs, references, statistical tables.