| ID | 091951 |
| Title Proper | Education |
| Other Title Information | Jewel in the commonwealth's crown |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Ramphal, Shridath |
| Publication | 2009. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The 2009 UK Forum for International Education and Training conference theme, politics, policies and progress in education, can be illustrated from experiences of government in Guyana, of the role of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and of influential UN commissions. Tremendous progress has been made in the expansion and development of Commonwealth education systems over the past 50 years, although many obstacles have been encountered. Understanding of the potential and limitations of education in relation to development has greatly increased, but persistent problems of quality and inequality have yet to be resolved. As the world has shrunk, international interdependence in education has increased and the global community needs to apply policy formation and political processes intelligently in national as much as in international contexts. The Commonwealth has never enjoyed the 'hard power' at the disposal of larger bilateral and multilateral agencies through their substantial financial resources. It has the 'soft powers' of pioneering thinking and progressive strategy, consultation and co-operation across economic social and cultural divides, and of empowering even the smallest Commonwealth countries. The 'soft power' approaches to which the Commonwealth is committed should be an increasingly valued part of international policy-making and political accommodation in educational initiatives, through which a more equitable and harmonious future world community can be built. |
| `In' analytical Note | Round Table Vol. 98, No. 405; Dec 2009: p663-678 |
| Journal Source | Round Table Vol. 98, No. 405; Dec 2009: p663-678 |
| Key Words | Commonwealth; ; Education ; Commonwealth Scholarship - Fellowship Plan ; Globalisation ; Student Mobility |