While Western countries are facing a phenomenon of De-Christianization, Russian Orthodoxy, after almost a century of partial extinction, seems to be reviving with the Russian population on the path...Show moreWhile Western countries are facing a phenomenon of De-Christianization, Russian Orthodoxy, after almost a century of partial extinction, seems to be reviving with the Russian population on the path to Re-Christianization. The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is playing an active role to claim its privileged and historically-rooted position in Russian society. After the collapse of the USSR and consequently the end of a communist ideology, the Russian population suffered from an identity vacuum. The ROC seized the opportunity to help Russians find their national and cultural identity within Orthodoxy. Thus, introducing religious education in the curriculum appears like a suitable way to inculcate Orthodox traditional values in young elementary students. In 2012, a new program incorporating six modules on ethics and religion was introduced in primary schools in the whole Russia. The parents can choose between the different modules and the second most popular and widespread module is the one dealing with the Russian Orthodox culture. In this thesis, I compare two primary sources, one is a textbook for 4th grade student on the Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture written by Andrei Kuraev (an Orthodox theologian) and the other one is an alphabet called “the polite alphabet” taught to students in primary schools in the Irkutsk region (Siberia). I explore how these two school materials construct a national and cultural identity rooted in Orthodox values by using a multimodal discourse analysis.Show less
This thesis explores the role of a teacher under Bolsonaro regime in Curitiba, Brazil. More specifically, it will answer the following research question: how have the oppressive structures of...Show moreThis thesis explores the role of a teacher under Bolsonaro regime in Curitiba, Brazil. More specifically, it will answer the following research question: how have the oppressive structures of neoliberalism under the Bolsonaro regime affected teachers' capabilities in Curitiba, Brazil? The disseratation explores the question through the framework of neoliberalism, the commodification of education and knowledge on the one hand and transformative education on the other. The goal is to identify and analyse the impact of Bolsonaro's neoliberal policies on teachers' experiences in the classroom and society. The research is based on six, qualitative, semi-structured interviews with six teachers in Curitiba. The analysis indicates that teachers find it increasingly difficult to realise their ideological aspirations towards transformative education within the framework of Bolsonaro's neoliberal policies. Based on the data, the Bolsonaro regime's neoliberal educational policies that have led further commodification of education and knowledge which deteriorate teachers' professional status, working conditions, support and pedagogical liberty. Through critical premises, this research engages in the ongoing political debate on the commodification of education.Show less
Very few events resonate with the American psyche quite like the Vietnam War. Countless films and songs serve to keep the memory of the Vietnam experience alive, even in those who were not alive to...Show moreVery few events resonate with the American psyche quite like the Vietnam War. Countless films and songs serve to keep the memory of the Vietnam experience alive, even in those who were not alive to witness it firsthand. It is often remembered as the only “real” war fought by the United States during the Cold War period, but this is not an accurate statement. The first “real” conflict of the Cold War began right as the battle-lines were drawn in 1950, when North Korea crossed the 38th parallel and invaded the South attempting to unify the peninsula on their terms. he Korean War represented the first physical clash between the two ideologies that would dominate the latter half of the 20th century, but its memory and media portrayal do not carry the same impact as that of Vietnam. The primary concern of this thesis is to explore the disparity in representation of the two wars through the medium of school textbooks, and what role the education system plays in emphasizing one over the other.Show less
This research has investigated the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) attempts to transition to a knowledge-based economy (KBE), in accordance with UAE Vision 2021. Using systems theory and based on...Show moreThis research has investigated the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) attempts to transition to a knowledge-based economy (KBE), in accordance with UAE Vision 2021. Using systems theory and based on interviews conducted with experts on the Gulf, this study focuses specifically on the pillars of education and innovation within the existing education system. The findings indicate that the UAE’s focus on improving its gains in the four pillars of education, innovation, ICT infrastructure and the institutional regime have yielded some progress over time. However, since the existing education system does not effectively address local obstacles on the national, institutional and cultural levels, the above-mentioned hurdles remain and continue to negatively affect the UAE’s journey toward becoming a KBE. As such, in accordance with the suggestions of key experts in education, it is important for the Emirati government to identify specific education-related challenges in order to address these local issues instead of focusing almost exclusively on global indicators.Show less
This study investigates interactions between Argentine and Spanish anarchist educationalists at the beginning of the 20th century. Drawing on the concepts of transnationalism and cultural transfer,...Show moreThis study investigates interactions between Argentine and Spanish anarchist educationalists at the beginning of the 20th century. Drawing on the concepts of transnationalism and cultural transfer, this paper demonstrates that Argentine rationalist educationalism was a transnational phenomenon. Iberian mediators brought the teachings of the Catalan pedagogue Francisco Ferrer to the Southern Cone through physical migration or anarchist media. In Argentina, local anarchists received his alternative educational ideas and adapted them to local socio-political conditions.Show less
The author explores the motives of Chinese parents to send their children to Waldorf school and how those change over time. Through the grounded theory analysis of field work data, the author...Show moreThe author explores the motives of Chinese parents to send their children to Waldorf school and how those change over time. Through the grounded theory analysis of field work data, the author concludes that there is a multitude of motives to make the initial decision for Waldorf. Being a Waldorf parent, however, is characterized by worrying much about whether the decision is still right and how to improve the childrens' education.Show less
The purpose of this research paper is to analyse the major constraints faced by women in attaining employment and education opportunities, living in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa situated in...Show moreThe purpose of this research paper is to analyse the major constraints faced by women in attaining employment and education opportunities, living in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa situated in Pakistan. It looks at different aspects of religion and regional culture as the natural causes that have fostered this gender discriminatory environment. Moreover, it looks at the role the government has played through public policy over the last decade through a critical lens. It provides insights into the minds of ten working women from KPK regarding this matter through primary semistructured interviews and describes their experiences. The goal of this paper is to spread awareness regarding the state of gender disparity and root factors that cause and facilitate it in KPK. The paper concludes by providing a list of recommendations for the state to possibly implement that could tackle the state of worsening gender disparity .The state of Pakistan has been facing numerous economic and social issues and effective incorporation of women in the labour force could be one of the best way to tackle it and achieve inclusive and societal development.Show less
This study sets out to understand the workings, uncover the outcomes and shed light on the insiders’ experiences of cram schooling in Japan. Cram schools are an intertwined part of the Japanese...Show moreThis study sets out to understand the workings, uncover the outcomes and shed light on the insiders’ experiences of cram schooling in Japan. Cram schools are an intertwined part of the Japanese education system, with the majority of Japanese students being enrolled in cram school at some time in their education. The seemingly necessary but in reality voluntary cram schools lead to several issues: one of them, referred to in this study as the first dimension, is the dimension of cram schooling causing a lot of stress for and pressure on the students, and depriving them from much-needed free time. The second dimension focuses on the accessibility of cram schools, and brings the debate of inequality and social immobility to this study. The third dimension is based on original interviews and provides an inside look into the experiences of cram school students and teachers, in a search for an answer to the research question: “How do the participants of Japanese cram schooling experience the cram schooling system and do their opinions match the criticisms voiced by outsiders?”Show less
This paper examines through an empirical research whether Dutch students exhibited the pronunciation issues mentioned by sources in the field of applied phonetics such as Collins and Mees (2003),...Show moreThis paper examines through an empirical research whether Dutch students exhibited the pronunciation issues mentioned by sources in the field of applied phonetics such as Collins and Mees (2003), and Swan and Smith (2001). In addition, the students’ opinions were tested to see how they judged aesthetic appreciation for another speaker who exhibited the pronunciation features in an exaggerated way. After reviewing the literature, the ten most significant problems that could complicate mutual intelligence were collected, and a list of ten sentences with each five tokens of the same phenomena were used to test if 30 students in the South-West part of the Netherlands exhibited these ten specific pronunciation difficulties. The students read the ten sentences aloud and their speech was recorded and analysed. Additionally, the students filled in a questionnaire grading a native Dutch speaker who consciously exhibited these problems on a scale from 1 (ugly) to 5 (beautiful), and accounted for their reasoning. Only five out of these ten problems were distributed by the students, namely, final devoicing of [z], [d] to [s] and [t], [ae] realised as [a] or [e], the [ð] becomes [d], the voiced fricative [v] is realised as the voiceless counterpart [f] , and lastly, voiced [b], [d] and [g] for aspirated [pʰ], [tʰ] and [kʰ]. This paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of this study and suggestions for further study.Show less
Ongoing conflict in Kachin State between the military and ethnic separatists - the KIA/O - has been argued in the literature to be fuelled by an array of factors. While some authors have argued...Show moreOngoing conflict in Kachin State between the military and ethnic separatists - the KIA/O - has been argued in the literature to be fuelled by an array of factors. While some authors have argued that issues of language are central to the continuation of ethnic violence, this thesis disputes this and employs an alternative framework for understanding why ethnic conflict persists in the era of Myanmar democratisation. This thesis argues that in the current renewed Kachin conflict, other issues are more crucial in fuelling the conflict. Martin Smith proposes in his 2007 paper State of Strife: The Dynamics of Ethnic Conflict in Burma, that the dynamics of ethnic conflict are cyclical in nature, with continuing violence being fuelled by continued military rule, ongoing military offensives, widespread military atrocities and a lack of guaranteed ethnic rights in Myanmar’s constitution. This thesis proposes that Myanmar, particularly in Kachin State, has entered a sixth cycle of ethnic conflict, and that the current ethnic conflict in Kachin state is fundamentally fuelled by these four criteria.Show less
This thesis explores the high level of persistent inequality that is experienced by the majority of the South African population, by closely examining three socio-historical determinants: land,...Show moreThis thesis explores the high level of persistent inequality that is experienced by the majority of the South African population, by closely examining three socio-historical determinants: land, education and the labour market. By doing so, a critical analysis of the post-apartheid government is carried out, and evidence points to the several legacies of apartheid that are still negatively affecting many people in South Africa, a quarter century after the end of apartheid.Show less
This research uses the television series SKY castle as a case study with the focus on trying to answer the question: How does Sky Castle discuss education fever as a byproduct of status...Show moreThis research uses the television series SKY castle as a case study with the focus on trying to answer the question: How does Sky Castle discuss education fever as a byproduct of status consciousness in Korean society? SKY is an acronym used to refer to the top three universities in Korea using the first letter of their names: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. The case study draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s distinction theory to show the impact that education has on status awareness in South Korea as portrayed in SKY Castle. Chapter 1, discusses this methodology and the theoretical framework of this paper and the choice for focusing on SKY Castle as a case study will be further argued. Chapter 2 focusses on the actual analysis of the television series SKY Castle. The findings of Chapter 2 are discussed in Chapter 3 by showing an overview and interpretation of these findings. Lastly, in Chapter 4 this paper gives a conclusion and discusses the limitations of this research and future research possibilities. Sky Castle can be seen as a dialogue with reality, highlighting specific social issues and can be seen as a way to open the discussion towards the current debate in Korea on the topic of status and education fever. The popularity and success of the television series imply that the subject with regard to the Korean educational fever and status consciousness, speak to the social concerns of the Korean viewers.Show less
Public security in the city of Rio de Janeiro has been characterized by military intervention in an attempt to contain urban violence and recently, this military intervention model has been...Show morePublic security in the city of Rio de Janeiro has been characterized by military intervention in an attempt to contain urban violence and recently, this military intervention model has been proposed to address urban violence in other Brazilian cities, Latin American countries and in the United States (Hoelscher, Norheim-Martinsen 2014, 957)(Fenizola 2018.) To compliment research in the academic field of violence in conflict areas, this paper aims to explore to what extent the potential relation between educational opportunities and violence can enforce or debilitate conflict in the case of Rio de Janeiro's favelas. To analyse this, an innovative theoretical framework is used that combines insights from fhi360's research on the causal relation between educational opportunities and violent conflict, critical race/post colonial theory, John Galtung's Conflict triangle and sustainable peace. Through a multidisciplinary approach and qualitative data analysis, the findings reveal that underlying the visible direct and structural violence shaping public security, is the mechanism of cultural violence that works to justify the direct and structural expressions of violence and indirectly, the militarization of public security. In regards to education, this entail that marginalized youth generally end up in a negative spiral of exclusion that enforces pacification, repression, more violence and eventually less educational opportunities. In response to this model, the paper proposes a method that can reverse the causal cycle of violent conflict and educational opportunities so that sustainable peace may be achieved.Show less
Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, scholars and policy-makers perceived higher education as the "great equalizer" in American Society. However, in recent decades, family income...Show moreThroughout the second half of the twentieth century, scholars and policy-makers perceived higher education as the "great equalizer" in American Society. However, in recent decades, family income has become the main predictor of postsecondary educational success in America and many low-income students find universities inaccessible. This paper shows that many highly-qualified low-income students are unable to pursue higher education due to non-academic constraints and shows different ways, in which this issue can be approached.Show less
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Georgia was permeated with corruption. The thesis discusses characteristics and examples of corruption in higher education system and main anti...Show moreFollowing the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Georgia was permeated with corruption. The thesis discusses characteristics and examples of corruption in higher education system and main anti-corruption reforms and interventions in the education sector in post-Soviet Georgia. Three major reforms are discussed in detail 1)Equal access to education through Unified National Entrance Examinations 2) Improvement of quality of schools, through the European based system of accreditation 3) Higher effectiveness, through the institutional and staff restructuring. The thesis focuses on the level of corruption and the advancement of anti-corruption measures that, as this paper suggests, have significantly contributed to decrease of corruption levels in the country, especially by reducing opportunities for illicit behavior, restructuring and better checks and control.Show less
Transitional justice plays a central role in helping nations move forward in post-conflict periods in which nations have suffered from mass violence and other atrocities. Moreover, educating youth...Show moreTransitional justice plays a central role in helping nations move forward in post-conflict periods in which nations have suffered from mass violence and other atrocities. Moreover, educating youth on the past is necessary in order to work towards reconciliation and preventing the reoccurrence of atrocities. By presenting a comparative study of two countries that have gone through the same type of horrific violence, this thesis will examine the transitional justice approaches adopted in the field of education Cambodia and Rwanda, whereby it will conclude which one has promoted the most effective way of dealing with the past. According to International Centre for Transitional Justice (2018), the aims of transitional justice is ‘the recognition of the dignity of individuals, the redress and acknowledgment of violations and the aim to prevent them happening again.’ Thus, I argue that education plays a crucial role in transitional justice, and is not only important in teaching youth about a country’s history, but schools also help shape politics and create intergroup relations. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the research on the relationship between transitional justice and education. By presenting two case studies, I will analyse which one of the two approaches in education has proven more successful as a mechanism of transitional justice. Lastly, I will conclude with a summary of the findings and give further recommendations.Show less
This thesis explores the Romantic-era nature/nurture debate as represented in Gothic fiction, by examining the representation in Frankenstein of Mary Shelley’s standpoint regarding the significance...Show moreThis thesis explores the Romantic-era nature/nurture debate as represented in Gothic fiction, by examining the representation in Frankenstein of Mary Shelley’s standpoint regarding the significance of nurture for human mental development. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores the role of parenting and education in the formation of individual identity. Frankenstein is first analysed in relation to the work of Shelley's parents regarding parenting, upbringing and education. Shelley's representation of the malleability of children is examined, after which Frankenstein's creature is read as a Female Gothic victim-heroine, in order to demonstrate how Shelley extends existing Gothic conventions to illustrate her beliefs regarding the influence of upbringing on the formation of individual identity. Finally, this thesis explores the role of the cult of domesticity on Frankenstein, in order to complete its analysis of Shelley's intellectual standpoint regarding the importance of nurture for the formation of individual identity. Shelley is shown to take up an intellectual position between the radical egalitarianism of her parents and her husband, that stresses nurture above everything else, and the more conventional – Christian – wisdom concerning human development as exemplified in Ann Radcliffe’s Female Gothic romances. Frankenstein shows that even though sociopolitical institutions have the power to corrupt individuals, the individuals have the responsibility to act according to their conscience.Show less
