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Education in perennial crisis: Have we been asking the right questions?

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  • Ahmed, Manzoor

Abstract

When a crisis is talked about for six decades, it begs the questions: How is the educational crisis being defined? If a crisis continues for sixty years, is it still a crisis; or are some inherent characteristics of the education system and process being misrepresented? In other words, are we asking the right questions? The writer, from five decades of involvement in efforts to enhance the relevance of education to fighting poverty, inequality and exclusion, suggests some likely missteps in conceptualizing and defining education system problems. The experience of Yidan education prize aim of ‘creating a better world through education’ is brought up to illustrate the complexities of navigating through some of the missteps raised in the article. The discussion of the challenges and efforts to address them lead to a two-fold conclusion -- that the narrative of persistent crisis arises from a mismatch of expectations from education and the system’s capacity to deliver in the larger socio-political context; and that political settlement determines chosen activities and priorities, what is implemented or not implemented – not necessarily the technical merits of a solution. Influencing the political dynamics of decision-making is critical for educational transformation, which education scholars and advocates of reform tend to neglect. The pragmatic way ahead lies in major stakeholders in education uniting to build a supportive social compact that changes the political dynamics for realizing the expectations from education.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed, Manzoor, 2023. "Education in perennial crisis: Have we been asking the right questions?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:103:y:2023:i:c:s0738059323001864
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102910
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chattopadhyay, Saumen, 2012. "Education and Economics: Disciplinary Evolution and Policy Discourse," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198082255.
    2. Dani Rodrik, 2010. "Diagnostics before Prescription," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 33-44, Summer.
    3. Lewin, Keith M, 2020. "Beyond business as usual: Aid and financing education in Sub Saharan Africa," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
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