Current trends and issues in education

Trend Definition

A trend is a change or development towards something new or

different.

The Use of the Internet and Social Media as a Teaching Tool

All students these days know how to use a computer and the internet,

and most of them are using social media networks to share their thoughts and

to support each other. Educators these days know how to harness the power

of the internet and social media to get in touch with their students, and hear

their thoughts.

Students Teaching Teachers

Students perform better when they have the opportunity to tell their

teachers what things in the classroom needs improvement. Contrary to the

old belief that students are too young to know what they need, K-12 education

systems now give the students the opportunity to give pointers to their

teachers on how they can better deliver their lessons so that the students can

understand.

Paying Close Attention to Each Students' Needs

Educators are not looking at their class as a collective; they see them

as different individuals with different needs, which is why some students lag

{1}
behind the others when it comes to the lectures. Educators can help these

students keep up by giving them personalized attention.

The education industry :-

Online Education has become an important mode of education. Since

the regular courses in India are getting very expensive and highly

competitive, distance and online education is fast developing as an amazing

option for the students.

E-learning opportunities are immense in India.

The distance education programs are serving wonderfully, by offering

a chance of getting educated, especially for the less advantaged segment of

people.

The cost of education. As the expense of formal education in the

educational institutes is increasing very fast, the expense of education via the

internet is comparatively low and affordable. Students can have an easy and

cheap access to Internet with the help of cyber cafes and the various other

cheap internet home connection schemes available these days. Students here

also get the scope to download many e-books, free of cost.

The methodology of education. With lots of information to gather and

more and more books to study, now students are found more burdened with
studying, learning and grasping the materials and the lectures. On a

contrasting note however, so much efforts are being put into making the

learning process an enjoyable one.

{2}
Methodology :-

A set of methods used in a particular area of study or activity.

The results. Roughly in every part of the country a problem that has

been raised is that the type of education followed by the educational system

in India does not always result in offering jobs to the graduates. Our

education system does not provide the students with any assurance that they

will get a job on completion of their educational degree. However, jobs are

definitely being generated by the medium of internet. Writing articles, web

designing, programming, writing reviews etc are among the many job

opportunities offered by the internet.

Current Issues in Education

A number of issues and controversies now face educators and

communities. Among them are discipline and security; race, ethnicity, and

equality; mainstreaming; and public versus private education.

( 1)Discipline and security

Expressions of violence have increased in the culture, and so has

violence in the schools. In the past, only urban or poor inner-city schools

worried about serious violence. With recent school shootings in small towns

from Kentucky to Oregon, all U.S. schools and districts, however small, must

now directly address the increased incidence of school violence. Teachers

have found children as young as kindergarten coming to school armed.

{3}
(2) Race, ethnicity, and equality

Bilingual education, which means offering instruction in a language

other than English, constitutes another attempt to equalize education for

minority students. Federally mandated in 1968, bilingual education has

generated considerable debate. Supporters argue that students whose first

language is not English deserve an equal educational opportunity

unavailable to them unless they can receive instruction in their first

language. Opponents counter that students not taught in English will lack the

fluency needed to function in daily life. Numerous studies support

conclusions on both sides of the issue, and, as funding becomes scarce, the

debate will intensify.

Mainstreaming: Is the practice of placing physically, emotionally, or

mentally challenged students in a regular classroom instead of a special

education classroom. Educators continue to debate the merits and problems

of mainstreaming. In general, the practice seems to work best for students

who can still keep pace with their peers in the classroom, and less well for

students with more severe challenges. Experts note that exceptions do occur

on both accounts and recommend careful consideration on a case-by-case

basis.

(3) Public versus private

Most of the public-versus-private discussion centers on public

education. One cannot ignore the effect of private education and home

schooling on American education, however. Many parents who are

{4}
dissatisfied with the quality of public education, who are afraid of rising

violence in the schools, or who want specific personal or religious values

integrated into the curriculum, turn to private and parochial schools. The
majority of private schools are religious, with the majority of those being

Catholic.

Nursing Programs

Nursing educators develop nursing curricula to ensure adequate

number and categories of nurses to meet current and future social needs.

Nursing programs meets this needed by preparing nurses as a technical

nurses(practical nurses and associated degree programs), and professional

nurses (baccalaureate degree, masters degree and doctoral degree

programs) the program differ in type of client role and practice settings. They

also differ in educational basis, curriculum, educational setting, accrediting

agencies, and professional organizations that advocate their interests.

Practical Nurses Programs

Practical nurses programs prepare students to become licensed practical

nurses (LPN) or licensed vocational nurses (LVN). The graduates give

patient care under the guidance and direction of a registered nurse or other

licensed health professional.

{5}
 1) Educational settings: The Practical nurses program is typically

offered by a trade or technical schools. The program may also

be sponsored by high schools, hospitals or community colleges.

2) Entry requirements: Requirements are a high school diploma or

demonstrated high school equivalency. Other requirements may

be stipulated by the educational institutions.

3) Educational base: The curriculum builds on introductory

contents in the biological and social sciences. These courses

may carry college credit, or may be integrated in to the

curriculum.

4) Curriculum: The course of study is 12-18 months and includes

courses with a focus on acute and chronic illness, rehabilitation,

maintenance of health, and prevention of disease. Heavy

emphasis on is clinical practice.

Graduate from LPN/LVN program's are prepared to give care,

under the direction of a registered or licensed physician, to

patients whose care plan is well established, and in structured

setting such as long-term care or acute care hospitals,

outpatient settings, or physicians office.

Diploma Programs :-

Diploma programs prepare students to become registered nurses. The

programs are typically associated with a hospital, but more recently are

{6}
affiliated with a college or university. The program prepares students for

technical nursing practice.

1) Educational setting: The hospital is the educational setting for

the diploma courses. Cooperative arrangements may be

established with a community college or university to provide

educational courses in the biological and social science.

2) Entry requirements: A high school diploma is required for a

diploma or into a diploma school. Some schools user's

scholastic aptitude tests such as the SAT and nursing aptitude

tests as admission guidance.

3) Educational base: The diploma program is based on a

foundation of general education course in the biological and

social sciences.

4) Curriculum: The curriculum is designed to prepare nurses for

direct patient care and includes courses in nursing management

and home health care. The curriculum can be completed in 2-3

years. Heavy emphasis is on clinical practice.

5) Licensure: Graduates from diploma program take the NCLEX-

RN. Graduate are licensed as registered nurse.

6) Accrediting agency: Diploma programs are accredited by the

council of diploma programs of the NLN.

{7}
 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM

Associate degree programs prepare students to become registered

nurses. The curriculum is offered in a community college or a senior

university and prepares the graduates for technical nursing practice.

a. Educational setting: Associate degree programs are offered primarily

by community and junior colleges. They may be offered I vocational

colleges, senior universities, or as a free standing degree-granting

institutions.

b. Entry requirements: Applicants to associate degree programs must

meet the entry requirements of the college or university in which the

program is located; normally includes graduation from high school or

equivalent qualification.

c. Education basis: Associate degree program is based in general

education courses. The courses meet degree requirements of the

college or university and include biological and social science.

d. Curriculum: There are two curriculum patterns preparing graduates

for the AND degree. The first is a generic or basic curriculum. The

second pattern is a LPN or ADN program that provides mobility for

graduates of LPN programs and accepts the credits and experience

for previous learning.

e. Degree granted: The degree is granted by the institution of higher

education in which the Associate degree program is located.

f. License: The graduates have to write NCLEX-RN examination.

{8}
 g. Accrediting agency: AND is accredited by the associate degree

council of the NLN.

Baccalaureate Nursing Programme

Baccalaureate nursing programs set in colleges and universities

are designed to prepare graduates as generalists in profession

nursing practice. Baccalaureate graduates are care givers,

client advocates, change agents, consultants, case finders,

teachers, and leaders. Bachelors' of science in nursing (BSN)

graduates care for individuals, groups, families, and

communities and are prepared to give nursing care in structured

and unstructured settings.

1) Education setting: Baccalaureate nursing programs are offered in

senior (4-year) college and universities.

2) Educational base: The Baccalaureate curriculum is founded on a

strong base of liberal arts and science curriculum.

3) Curriculum: The two types of curricula preparing students for a BSN

are the generic curriculum and the post diploma curriculum.

4) Degree granted: The degree granted is a BN, BSN, or BA.

{9}
5) Accreditation agencies: BSN programs are accredited by the council

of higher degree programs of NLN.

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME

Master's degree programs in nursing prepare nurses for speciality

roles in nursing practice. The programs also prepare nurses with a

functional focus of educator, manager/ administrator, clinical

specialist or nurse practitioner. Master's degree in nursing programs

in nursing originally developed to meet the need for teachers and

advanced practitioners.

1) Educational setting: Masters programs are offered in college

and universities with graduate programs.

2) Entry requirements: Graduation from a BSN program.

3) Educational base: BSN program is the basis for the masters

program, includes liberal arts and sciences.

4) Curriculum: There are three major curriculum structures for

the MSN. The common structure is that of the post

Baccalaureate curriculum. The curriculum consists of core

courses in nursing issues, research, statistics, and nursing

theory; course in the speciality major ( medical surgical,

psychiatry, OBG, paediatrics, community etc;); and courses in

the functional role(education, administration).

{10}
 5) Degree granted: Graduates from masters program receives the

MSN (M.Sc) or MA.

DOCTORAL PROGRAMME

Doctoral program prepare nurses for role as academicians, administers,

advanced clinical scientists, researchers, consultants, and independent

practitioners. Doctoral degree in nursing may be professional degrees (EdD,

DNS, ND) or research degree (PhD). The first doctoral degree in nursing

was offered at Columbia University in 1924.

1) Educational setting: Doctoral program in nursing are offered in

colleges and universities with graduate programs in nursing.

2) Entry requirements: Admission requirements to doctoral

programs are set by the nursing program and the college or

university.

3) Educational base: Doctoral program in nursing build on the

educational basis of advanced arts, science, and nursing of the

MSN program.

4) Curriculum: There are four types of doctoral nursing programs.

The doctor of nursing science (DNSc, DNS); the doctor of

{11}
 philosophy(PhD), which is the most common; the doctor of

education (EdD); and the nursing doctorate(ND). The

curriculum design of the degree is depend on the purpose of the

program, program objective, and the degree granted.

5) Degree granted: The degree granted is depend on the type of

educational program the student attends.

Issues in Education

1. Social issues

2. Ethical issues

1. Social Issues in Education

1) Emotional Issues :-

a. Society has changed considerably in the last few decades.

Today, the divorce rate is very high in America and many school

going children are brought up in single parent families.

Growing up in broken homes can adversely affect the emotional

health of a student and this may lower his performance at

school. However, even when children are brought up in homes

where both parents are present, it's not necessary that there

emotional needs will be met, as in majority of families today,

both the parents are working.

{12}
2) Ethnic Issues :-

a. Children belonging to certain ethnic groups such as blacks, are

expected to be slower learners as compared to others. There are

certain stereotypes that have been attached to specific races

and, children belonging to them, suffer from low self-esteem.

3) Gender Issues :-

a. Another social issue in education is differentiation on the basis

of sex. Girls have lesser opportunities, compared to boys for

studying, in certain sections of the society. Expectations from

girls to score high in studies or study further, are less too.

4) Economic Issues :-

a. Some social issues in education arise due to the economic strata

a student belongs to. Students who belong to poor families, go to

public schools which are not so well equipped with technology.

This automatically puts them at a disadvantage, when compared

to the students who go to some good private schools.

5) Cultural Issues :-

a. Students belonging to immigrant families, may not be well

versed with English language. This creates a barrier in

communication between students and teachers and thus, such

{13}
 students are not able to receive proper education. You may

further go to cultural diversity in the classroom.

6) Impact of Social Issues in Education :-

a. These issues basically have two kinds of impact -firstly, the

student's performance suffers and secondly, the teacher's

expectations do not remain the same for everybody. That's why

certain political issues on education have been raised to deal

with these social problems.

b. The government is running various bilingual programs in

schools, where majority of students belong to immigrant

families. This helps them learn English and other subjects faster.

Secondly, the government has come up with "private-school

vouchers", with the help of which students of public schools can

attend private schools to get a superior education.

c. Some current issues in education with regards to politics, that

require immediate attention by policy makers are - Providing

family and medical leave to all working parents so that they can

spend quality time with their children, providing financial

support to low-income families and single mothers, giving

scholarships to teachers to study further and running training

programs for them and lastly, taking steps to prevent the spread

of HIV, STDs among adolescents.

d. These are some of the major social issues in education currently.

The government has to make certain policies and see to it that

{14}
 they are implemented properly, to tackle these issues. Besides

political will, a change in society's attitude is needed too, to

ensure that these issues do not arise any further.

Girl Education

To correct the male-female sex-ratio and limit the family size the

Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has come up

with a novel scheme of providing free ships and scholarships to all girls from

single child families up to the post-graduate level. Starting from next

academic session all single girl children will be eligible for free education

from Class VI onwards for graduate and post-graduate studies.

2. ETHICAL ISSUES

There are certain ethical issues in education which too, affect students

such as - whether to allow cell phones in school or not, should school

uniforms be made compulsory, etc.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Test book of nursing education (second edition)as per inc syllabus,

(D.Elakkuvana bhaskara raj and Nima Bhaskar),page32 to 38.

{15}