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Problems in Education
Vocabulary
advocate to support or speak in favor of someone or something
by means of way; method; road used to reach or achieve something
celebrated acknowledged; appreciated; famous
concept general idea; mental picture
egalitarian the idea of equal rights and opportunities for all
grade level American system of class/ education levels in school
handicapped to have a physical, mental, or social barrier or disability
needy to be lacking basic materials or
abilities; requiring help numerous many
proceed move forward; continue on a path or with a plan/activity
reflects shows; presents; mirrors
speaks well for gives hope; is positive
striking a balance between find or establish equality of importance or attention
Pre-Text Discussion
1. What do you consider to be the biggest problem in university education today?
2. If a university has problems in the system, who do you think should be responsible for making changes to improve the situation? Why?
3. What do you think “functional illiteracy” means?
4. Do you know, or can you guess, what some problems are in U.K. and U.S.A. universities?
5. Do you think that everyone should have the opportunity to study in a university? Explain your answer.
Text
Problems in Higher Education in the U.K.
There are more than 60 universities in the U.K. The leading universities are Cambridge, Oxford and London. English universities differ from each other in traditions, general organization, internal government, etc. British universities are comparatively small, the approximate number is about 7-8 thousand students. Most universities have fewer than 3000 students, some even less than 1500. London and Oxford universities are international, because people from many parts of the world come to study at one of their colleges. A number of well-known scientists and writers, among them Newton, Darwin, Byron were educated in Cambridge. A university consists of a number of departments: art, law, music, economy, education, medicine, engineering, etc.
After three years of study a student may proceed to a Bachelor’s degree, and later to the degrees of Master and Doctor. Besides universities there are at present in Britain 300 technical colleges, providing part-time and full-time education. The organization system of Oxford and Cambridge differs from that of all other universities and colleges. The teachers are usually called Dons. Part of the teaching is by means of lectures organized
by the university. Teaching is also carried out by tutorial system. This is the system of individual tutorage organized by the colleges. Each student goes to his tutor’s room once a week to read and discuss an essay that the student has prepared. Some students get scholarships but the number of these students are comparatively small. There are many societies and clubs at Cambridge and Oxford. The most celebrated at Cambridge is the Debating Society at which students discuss political and other questions with famous politicians and writers. Sporting activities are also numerous. The work and games, the traditions and customs, the jokes and debates – all are parts of students’ life there. It should be mentioned that not many children from working class families are able to receive a higher education, as the fees are very high (more than L1000 a year). Besides that, special fees are taken for books, for laboratory works, exams and so on.
Functional Illiteracy Much attention is presently being given to what is termed “functional illiteracy”. This should not be confused with the problem of illiteracy, that is, the inability to read and write. Current United Nations (UNESCO) figures indicate that 99 percent of all Americans are literate, the same figure is assigned to nations such as Britain or Germany. Functional illiteracy, by contrast, is concerned with how much difficulty people have in actually using reading and writing skills in everyday situations. This might be interpreted, for example, as the relative ability to understand federal income-tax forms, or printed instructions, or how well someone can write a letter of complaint, or apply in writing for a job. There are no agreed-upon definitions of what functional illiteracy is and, in articles, definitions vary widely. For many years reading tests have been used throughout the country. These tests define reading ability by grade level. A “tenth-grade reading level,” for instance, would be the average reading score of all pupils who have completed ten years of school. There are, of course, many different reading tests and types of tests. One definition of functional illiteracy holds that anyone is “illiterate” who reads at less than an eighth-grade level. Another common definition uses a twelfth-grade level (the last year of high school in the U.S.). There seems to be general agreement that at least one-tenth of all Americans are functionally illiterate in English to some degree. It is also hardly surprising that those nations which (like the U.S.) have paid most attention to this concept, and which have nationwide testing, have found the greatest problems. As one educator humorously put it, “Reading tests cause illiteracy.” Canada, for example, which also has a large non-English-speaking immigrant population, has recently found that many of her citizens too, are functionally illiterate. The attention given this problem, therefore, reflects the fact that in North America schools as well as pupils are continually tested.
A series of studies in the 1980s criticized American public schools. As a result, better training and payment for teachers has been advocated and more stress has been placed on academic subjects. But striking a balance between a comprehensive, Egalitarian education and one of specialization and excellence has always been a difficult task, and is likely to remain so. Schools and universities have also been asked to do more and more to help with, or even cure, certain social and economic problems, from the effects of divorce to drug problems, from learning disabilities to malnutrition. Most school systems not only
have lunchrooms or cafeterias, they also offer free or low-cost meals, sometimes including breakfast to needy pupils. They also employ psychologists, nurses, staff trained to teach the handicapped, reading specialists, and academic as well as employment counselors. Because of their traditional ties with the communities, schools are expected to be involved in many such areas. Given America’s history and that of its people, their many backgrounds, needs, and desires, the fact that American education is sensitive to its weaknesses (and to its strengths) speaks well forth future.
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