SUMMIT DIALOGUE #1 ACCESS TO EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION Martin Luther King Jr. had once said: “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Many others also agree that education improves one financial status and political involvement. In different countries, no matter how developed, education does not have the same accessibility or programs.

UNITED STATES PERSPECTIVE Public schools run by state, not federal government. However, the federal government controls many aspects of schools. The average starting age is six, with the ending age as seventeen The Disabilities Education Act ensures that children with disabilities are receiving proper education Last October, 65.9% of high school graduates enrolled in college. Though the percentage rose for decades, it now appears to be steadily declining The advancement of education has been usually progressed by civil and social concerns

GERMAN PERSPECTIVE Children go to school for nine-ten years. Homeschooling is not allowed, though there are exceptions Between 5-7 years of age, he/she has to pass an entrance examination for primary school More and more schools prepare to be accessible for the handicapped. Children with smaller learning disabilities (dyslexia/ADHD) can attend the Gymnasium Until 2009, there was separate schools for the mentally handicapped, until the UN decided that disabled children should get inclusive education

ESTONIAN PERSPECTIVE Mandatory for nine years & attendance applies until the graduation of middle school/until seventeen years of age Children with special needs must be provided education in a special school/class with a pedagogue or psychologist After general school, students go to industrial school or gymnasium Some continue industrial school after gymnasium but most try to go to a university Schools used to be for males with rich/well known parents & school used to be based on religion In 1949, seven-year education for everyone became mandatory

ITALIAN PERSPECTIVE Children can start with nursery school from the age of three Depending on which type of high school is attended, compulsory education lasts for years There are two types of high schools: Liceo (more academic school) and Istituto (vocational) Students with disabilities are provided with personalized lessons, computers and tablets containing special programs University is available to all students if they have completed five years of secondary school and received an upper secondary school diploma The proportion of young people attending university increased from 39% to 49% in 2010

SCENARIO 1 Your country has an excellent compulsory education system with a low dropout rate. Yet, a large percentage of students do not continue their education after secondary school due to high costs. How can the government fix this problem without overspending?

SCENARIO 2 The UN has decided that children with disabilities have to be integrated in “normal schools”. However, most teachers have received no formal education to deal with special needs. How can they learn how to provide for the disabled children within their schools, and how can their colleagues help them?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION How should teachers be held accountable for the success of their students? How should teachers be evaluated? How do you prevent dropouts in families where students are expected to provide for the family income? Should the mentally disabled children be integrated in the same schools with non-disabled children? If so, should they also be in the same classrooms?