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Medvedev vows support to young and talented
Published: 19 January, 2010, 17:04
Edited: 23 January, 2010, 00:30
President Medvedev has said his initiative “Our New School” – the project aimed at modernizing the education system in Russia – will be launched in the nearest future.
I think one of the healthiest stories of 2010.
I think every student should have an education bank account that can only be spent on their education and activities throughout the year. The money spent should be tracked by 3 independent auditors that way corruption and graft would be kept to a minimium. All receipts for school, supplies, activities should be recorded into the account and any leftover money could be saved invested and used for approved educational trips or trips abroad. This would help students direct their own learning and help them start to understand value for money. If a teenager is 16 and gets good grades and has a clean record, he should be allowed to go on a Safari in Africa, take a summer course at MIT or learn to surf in Hawaii. When students show increasing levels of responsibility and good judgemnet they should be given the opportunity to make decisions about their future education. The excellent care and education of young people should be a national priority and one that everyone should gladly pay taxes for. Putting the onus of responsibility on students, supporting their endeavours and giving them hope for a bright future is the winning ticket to a strong, viable nation. Getting this equation right is what will set one nation apart from another. Get kids moving and excited about their lives. This is where innovation and greatness begins.
Absolutely the correct goals, we need invest in education, reward success, allow merit to shine through..... Our children are our investment in the future. But we all know it is a long road we are on, the parents today are 'influencing' the sysetm heavily and the pupils and students have worked out ways around it. There is still the mentality that you can buy anything, and that your parents 'position' will gaurantee an easy ride through education and on to a 'warm' career position. So let's keep walking, give the teachers the remuneration and make them work for it, also give them the authority and resources and back them up. Then face down the parents, when they try to apply the muscle. But also realise that schools are not just about education, they are about value systems in formative years, they are about culture and social skills. They are not just about knowledge and grades. It is a wholistic package. So let's make sure we address these aspects as well, not only with our children, but with their whole families as an extension of our educational establishments. Don't push, just lead and resist impropriety.