Education

• Western style education ->

  • Competitive
  • High tech
  • Well resourced
  • Smaller classes
• Positives: 

  • Universal education is associated with economic growth
  • Way to ensure a skilled workforce for a nations development 
  • Teaches modern ideas, Norms + Values -> Parsons - particularistic to universalistic values 
  • Creates human capital -> Shultz 
  • Education of girls has a positive effect on health of families, female employment + control of fertility 
• However: 

  • Expensive 
  • Cultural imperialism - imposing western values through secondary socialisation in schools. Link to aid: textbooks donated from the west, save money but influenced by Western education.
  • ‘Brain drain’ 
  • May charge fees which parents cannot afford - class inequality 
  • Way of socialising workforce to accept exploitation by the elite - Althusser 
  • Conflict of values - Boko Haram -> Islamist group in Nigeria kidnapped 276 female students from a secondary school. 
  • Richards - against universal education as a priority. Arguing education may make people more rebellious