Displaying items by tag: Education

Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:45

Pupil behaviour getting worse, say teachers

A BBC-commissioned survey reveals a worrying trend in England's schools. Nearly one in five teachers experienced physical aggression from pupils this year. Incidents of spitting, swearing, and chair-throwing are increasingly common, with a rise in pupil violence and abuse since the Covid pandemic. Teachers like Lorraine Meah, with 35 years of experience, have observed a deterioration in student behaviour, especially among younger children. In response, schools like St John Fisher Catholic Academy in West Yorkshire are implementing strict behaviour policies, including rewards for good attendance, restricted corridor access, and banning mobile phones. The survey found that 30% of teachers witnessed pupil fighting, and 15% of secondary teachers experienced sexual harassment from students. Patrick Roach of the NASUWT union has said the rise in violence has been exacerbated by cuts to specialist behaviour and mental health services. The DfE is taking measures to improve pupil behaviour, including expanding mental health and wellbeing programmes.

Published in British Isles

The Department for Education has issued new guidelines prohibiting children from attending protests during school hours, following accusations that teachers allowed pupils to skip lessons for pro-Palestine rallies. Thousands of students participated in demonstrations against the war in Gaza in November, organised by the Stop the War Coalition (SWC). The Government's guidance, effective from August, explicitly states that leave of absence should not be granted for protest activities during school hours. SWC criticised the new rules as an attack on students' democratic right to protest. However, the Association of School and College Leaders expressed the view that pupils should not miss school for protests but recognised that they might well feel very strongly about the cause about which they are protesting: ‘We feel that these are matters that are best left to the discretion of schools.’

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 22 February 2024 21:15

Schools given new guidance on curbing phone use

The Government has issued new guidelines aimed at curbing mobile phone use in schools to improve behaviour and minimise disruptions. The move follows previous calls for phone bans. Education secretary Gillian Keegan emphasised the need for consistency across schools but hinted at potential legislation if the guidelines prove ineffective. While some students see benefits in limited phone access, the Association of School and College Leaders doubts the effectiveness of the guidelines, considering existing school policies. Critics argue that the Government should focus on more pressing issues, such as funding and special needs. The announcement coincides with calls for tighter regulations on children's social media access following a tragic incident. However, the Government remains cautious about restricting phone access for under-16s. Despite differing school policies across the UK, complete phone bans are rare, and the UN has highlighted global concerns about phones' negative impacts on education.

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 07 December 2023 21:24

USA: college heads testify on rising antisemitism

The heads of three top US colleges, including Harvard's president Claudine Gay, have testified before the House of Representatives in response to accusations that their institutions were not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus. Jewish students at these universities had reported facing antisemitic threats and assaults, particularly due to the conflict in Gaza. The college leaders acknowledged the rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campuses but highlighted the challenge of balancing freedom of speech and protest with protecting students from hate. A recent survey found that nearly 75% of Jewish college students had experienced some form of antisemitism during the school year. Muslim and pro-Palestinian students also faced challenges, with instances of doxxing (public identification of people without their consent) and bias incidents reported. The House committee questioned the colleges' response to these issues.

Published in Worldwide

England's education watchdog, Ofsted, has warned of a significant deterioration in the 'social contract' between families and schools, a situation where parents ensure their children attend school regularly and respect school policies. In her final report, Ofsted's chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, highlighted issues including lower attendance, poor behaviour, and increased friction between parents and schools. She cited a worrying shift in attitudes since the pandemic, with some parents challenging school policies more frequently. Government data show that over a fifth of pupils in England were persistently absent in the 2022/23 academic year, a notable increase from pre-pandemic levels. This trend is contributing to declining educational progress and outcomes. Additionally, schools are experiencing more disruptive behaviour, particularly low-level disruptions like backtalk and misuse of social media in class. Restoring the traditional relationship between schools and families is crucial but is expected to take years.

Published in British Isles

University students in the UK are facing unprecedented rent increases as the value of maintenance loans fails to keep pace. Rents have risen by over 8% since 2022, with some cases seeing increases of up to 27%. The demand for accommodation has soared, with nearly 390,000 more students needing housing in the past decade. Rising operational and development costs, high inflation, and a decline in new bed space delivery have contributed to the increases. The average private sector rent outside London now exceeds £7,600 per year, consuming 77% of the maximum student maintenance loan allowance. Fewer than 10% of beds in major university cities are affordable to students receiving maintenance loans and grants. Rental growth in purpose-built student accommodation has reached 9.4%, exacerbating the affordability challenge. Students are increasingly taking on part-time work to cover expenses, negatively impacting their studies. To address the crisis, there have been calls for increased maintenance loans, rent freezes, and rent controls.

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 21 September 2023 22:20

Concern over app used in Bristol schools

Over 100 schools in Bristol have faced criticism for using the Think Family Education (TFE) app, which provides safeguarding leads with easy access to pupils' and their families' interactions with police, child protection, and welfare services. Staff using the app have reportedly kept it secret from parents and carers. The city council and Avon and Somerset police, who collaborated on the system, maintain that the app is meant to protect children and is not secretive, with information about its existence publicly available. Critics argue that most parents are unaware of the app's existence, and that it should be shut down to prevent the profiling and criminalisation of children. The app draws data from the Think Family database, which contains information from around 50,000 families in Bristol, collected from various agencies. It uses ‘targeted analytics’ to identify children at risk of exploitation, though critics argue it may disproportionately affect children from minority ethnic or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 21 September 2023 22:08

Change in attitudes towards school attendance

A recent report conducted by consultancy Public First highlights a ‘seismic shift’ in parental views on daily school attendance since the Covid pandemic. The factors contributing to this shift include the cost of living crisis, increased mental health concerns among students, and a more holistic approach to daily life. The research reveals that before the pandemic daily school attendance was seen as a fundamental aspect of good parenting. However, post-Covid, parents no longer view it in the same light, considering school attendance as one of several competing options or demands on their child. This shift is exemplified by a significant number of parents taking their children on holiday during term time, which is now considered socially acceptable. The report recommends the abolition of fines for school absences, citing their ineffectiveness in changing parental behaviour and their detrimental impact on school-parent relationships. It also advocates for increased investment in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to improve attendance.

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 21 September 2023 22:02

Germany: shortage of teachers

As the new school year begins in Germany, the biggest problem is still the nationwide shortage of teachers. This could be remedied, for example by employing career changers, having larger classes, and using more hybrid lessons (partly online). But this increases the risk that the existing teachers may suffer illness or even resign and makes the general atmosphere and conditions for the students to learn well in lessons more challenging. In addition, due to measures introduced during the Covid crisis, learning deficiencies and mental illnesses have increased significantly among children and young people. The fear of being infected by Covid has now been replaced by fears about climate change and the apocalypse (the world coming to an end). These take away motivation and willingness to learn. The building of a world for tomorrow requires not only discipline, but above all a vision.

Published in Europe
Thursday, 14 September 2023 21:33

Sudan: 104 higher education institutions destroyed

A total of 104 government and private higher education institutions in Sudan, as well as research centres and the National Fund for Student Welfare have been damaged or destroyed since April, when the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces became embroiled in a war. All institutions in Khartoum state, where the capital is also located, as well as several in other states, have been affected. The scale of destruction in Sudan’s higher education sector was posted on Facebook on 27 August by the country’s ministry of higher education and scientific research. The ministry’s own offices were damaged in a fire that affected several floors. After several years of disruption because of political volatility and the pandemic, UNICEF has launched the Learning Passport, an online and offline e-learning platform, almost free of charge, to enable schoolchildren to take part in flexible learning in different parts of Sudan.

Published in Worldwide
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