Thursday, June 10, 2010
Education for all - But with what quality?
Education is usually considered an essential part of social life. Yet, all over the world many countries, if not all, still face challenges in making education better.
Not surprinsingly, UNESCO took the lead in promoting education all over the world with the intent of bridging the gap among countries in relation to the quality and access to education. Governments followed suit. This is the case for example in Brazil where several actions for improving and expanding education in all levels have been taken in recent years.
A specially interesting aspect of Brazil's educational policies, however, is its emphasis in higher education. All over the country, the number of private and public colleges and universities has increased surprisingly. Government funds for public and private education - in the form of scholarships - is now part of the budget. This does not mean that other levels of education are not being assisted or improving. However, this picture has created a critical situation.
First of all, although higher education is important for technological, social and economical development, the emphasis on higher education is not just an issue of putting the country in the right track of increasement. There is a cultural side in it all. For many Brazilians, the chance of going to college is a matter of making a dream come true and gaining social status. Therefore, the now easy access to higher studies before an increase of quality for other levels of education has resulted in difficulties in academic survival and in a less qualified education.
Granted, such access to education has many positive counterparts. But the challenge for education in Brazil is not just related to elementary or secondary levels. In fact, to a great extent, it is students and lecturers who mostly cope with this situation, since the improvements in budget offers do not fit the needs of teaching, specially in private institutions where teaching, research and college structure do not always go hand in hand.
Not surprinsingly, UNESCO took the lead in promoting education all over the world with the intent of bridging the gap among countries in relation to the quality and access to education. Governments followed suit. This is the case for example in Brazil where several actions for improving and expanding education in all levels have been taken in recent years.
A specially interesting aspect of Brazil's educational policies, however, is its emphasis in higher education. All over the country, the number of private and public colleges and universities has increased surprisingly. Government funds for public and private education - in the form of scholarships - is now part of the budget. This does not mean that other levels of education are not being assisted or improving. However, this picture has created a critical situation.
First of all, although higher education is important for technological, social and economical development, the emphasis on higher education is not just an issue of putting the country in the right track of increasement. There is a cultural side in it all. For many Brazilians, the chance of going to college is a matter of making a dream come true and gaining social status. Therefore, the now easy access to higher studies before an increase of quality for other levels of education has resulted in difficulties in academic survival and in a less qualified education.
Granted, such access to education has many positive counterparts. But the challenge for education in Brazil is not just related to elementary or secondary levels. In fact, to a great extent, it is students and lecturers who mostly cope with this situation, since the improvements in budget offers do not fit the needs of teaching, specially in private institutions where teaching, research and college structure do not always go hand in hand.
Bit-made beats - the widespread presence of electronic music
There is nothing new in talking about electronic music played in clubs and parties. But the presence of electronic music in fashion and technology events, and in TV programs gives some food for thought.
Electronic music seems to be everywhere - from TV commercials and shows to sports events. This fact suggests, first of all, the force of globalization in standardizing behaviors. Yet, it is not just the case that economical interests and well-tailored marketing strategies have their way into daily life. There is something about the making of identities in such acceptance of this music style.
Post modern world, as some would call it, has a special relation with the passing of time. The time of post modernity is not for an enjoyment experience. The now nostalgic feeling of letting the day pass and talking away is just a memory of a less-urban society. In the big cities, people struggle for so many things that enjoyment of time is completely out of question. In fact, most people feel bored when they have no other choice than waiting in public places or traffic jams.
In keeping with this new way of experiencing time, entertainmet is now felt as necessarily made of short, even though frequent, experiences. In addition, the amazing development of technology is another evidence of the contemporary taste for a speed-up life. It is not just the case that people have no chance for choosing between a slow and easy-going and a rushed life style. It is a consequence of modernity, to remember Giddens, that as social demands change life experiences, social tastes also change in relation to entertainment experiences.
So the articificial beats of electronic music have an identity feeling that matches the expectations of contemporay experience. It is at the same time a symbol of technology and a sign of a different, specially urban way of experiencing time. Maybe this can explain why it is so widespread in the domains of social and media life.
Electronic music seems to be everywhere - from TV commercials and shows to sports events. This fact suggests, first of all, the force of globalization in standardizing behaviors. Yet, it is not just the case that economical interests and well-tailored marketing strategies have their way into daily life. There is something about the making of identities in such acceptance of this music style.
Post modern world, as some would call it, has a special relation with the passing of time. The time of post modernity is not for an enjoyment experience. The now nostalgic feeling of letting the day pass and talking away is just a memory of a less-urban society. In the big cities, people struggle for so many things that enjoyment of time is completely out of question. In fact, most people feel bored when they have no other choice than waiting in public places or traffic jams.
In keeping with this new way of experiencing time, entertainmet is now felt as necessarily made of short, even though frequent, experiences. In addition, the amazing development of technology is another evidence of the contemporary taste for a speed-up life. It is not just the case that people have no chance for choosing between a slow and easy-going and a rushed life style. It is a consequence of modernity, to remember Giddens, that as social demands change life experiences, social tastes also change in relation to entertainment experiences.
So the articificial beats of electronic music have an identity feeling that matches the expectations of contemporay experience. It is at the same time a symbol of technology and a sign of a different, specially urban way of experiencing time. Maybe this can explain why it is so widespread in the domains of social and media life.
Linguistic facts about Brazil
Did you know that..................?
- The official language in Brazil is Portuguese;
- Portuguese is spoken all over this huge South American country;
- It is not the only official language, however. LIBRAS - the Brazilian Sign Language - is official too.
- In Brazil, many immigrant and native languages are also spoken. German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese are some examples for the first case. In addition, there are about 180 native languages spoken by indios (Native Brazilians).
- A new orthography for Portuguese was approved by all Portuguese-speaking countries and was put into effect in 2009.
- Portuguese comes from Latin.
- Before Portuguese became an official and widely spoken language, the 'língua geral' (general language), a mixture of several native languages, mostly Tupi, was the main means of communication in the country.
Why beetrootreads?
Beetrootreads comes out of my wish of writing in English, providing readable texts for students and sharing my views on topics of interest. The choice of such name is the result of trying to find good-sounding name with reference to something casual in life as a healthy, yet 'loved or hated' vegetable. This is what reading is about to many people. Some love it! Some hate it! But few dare to say it's not healthy. So, I invite you to join in and practice a little reading. Reading practice apart for learners, I hope this blog may be of interesting to anyone. So, come on. Make your reading and leave a comment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)