When people want
to talk about education, often, they focus their attention in Australia. Why
this country? The Australian Education System has proved its efficacy bringing
to Australian people the opportunity to study what they want and to be employed
by people that require their abilities. However, people may think that all of
this can only work for Australian people; nothing could be further from the
truth, the reality is that the education in Australia is not only for
Australian people but also to the rest of the world. Since many years,
education is one of these hobbyhorses due to its academic excellence that has
been useful like a good example to follow. But it does not stop there; this
good reputation gave them the assurance to teach other people like foreign
students: Australia has decided to open its arms to bring others their own arms
leaving its loneliness far behind. What were the influences or causes that
originated this change? Was a political decision or just an adjustment for this
new globalized world?
It is well-known
that Australia was many years ago a British Empire colony. In times of colony,
education did not exist. Well, existed but not for anyone actually because;
obviously, rich people could pay for private education and the poor people had
no enough money to pay for. Even, if they could pay, this did not mean that
there were suitable classrooms or quality education because there had a few
teachers or sometimes there had no teachers simply.
“If
you lived in the country in the 1800s, you might be lucky enough to have a
small, one room school house on land donated by a local farmer. In the city,
if
you could not afford to attend one of the schools set up by the various
churches,
you would most probably be tutored by the wife of the local doctor,
lawyer,
magistrate or other professional. No standard for education existed.
Education
was only available to the wealthier middle and upper classes, who
could afford
to pay tuition”. (McCreadie)
Over time, the government thought that the
bad education or the lack of education resulted in crime. Therefore, the
Australian government in the 1830s earmarked money to improve it and establish
it.
“The
government allocated money for education and this was used to pay
teachers, erect and equip schoolhouses and buy necessary textbooks.
A government school was one which had been either set up by the
government or was an established school which received monies from
the government to continue educating children”. (McCreadie)
Nowadays,
not only the government brings education (public schools) but also there are
private and Catholic schools. All of the schools – whatever is the choice-
follow the same high standard curriculum framework. (Working In Australia., )
Its
academic reputation is so high, so much so that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks it often as the eighth position. (Working In Australia., )
But, what is the
relation with the issue of this work? Well, it is necessary to establish the
differences between the past scene and the current scene to understand how
education has changed and try to explain why they are offering education abroad
and in Australia itself. At this
last point, the reader may be wondering why they are doing that, possibly the answer is: they are doing that because of their good
results that in some way prove the right way to progress and they want to teach
for everyone who wants to participate.
It is known for
all that Australian education is competitive and flexible; the Australian
education system has a good image in the world and it is known for its strong
structure and its policy developments. It is the example to be followed for
many countries, which see as in recent years it has become a multicultural
country with a high quality of education and preferred by many students
worldwide.
It is important
to say that Australia’s laws promote quality education and consumer protection
for overseas students. These laws are known as the Education Services for
Overseas (ESOS) framework and they include the ESOS act 2000 and the National
Code.
The Australian
Government provides quality and protection of the rights of students, also, it
wants overseas student in Australia to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding
place to study; in the other hand, if we ask why so many students decide to
study in Australia every year, we would give several of factors which can affect
their decision: Their institutions are focused on the future “boasting world-firsts in research and
innovation, as well as advancements in new technologies, new cures and new ways
of shaping a better, more sustainable planet. Australian qualifications are
also recognized throughout the world”. (http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/) ; to have
academic excellence and training, The fact that Australia is an English
speaking country can be the most important factor when a student must choose
where to study, but this taken in conjunction with quality and a multicultural
society, the recognition as both inside as out of the country, make Australia a
paradise student.
But we have not
yet said why Australia provides education to the world. There are many reasons;
one of them is that international education provides significant economic
benefits for Australia. What kind of benefits? It is a source of domestic
economic growth and export industry too.
To the
government, it is important the economic growth that every year is reported by the
increase of foreign students, who choose Australia as their place of
preparation for future employment; it is also important the tourism related to
the large number of students and because of the large amount of foreigners arriving
on the country each year to visit students; it is relevant to scientific and
technological development, which manifests itself in exchange professionals worldwide and their constant
training.
The
international education is not only a business for Australian Government, but it
is also the basis of future research collaboration. We know about its
remoteness from the rest of the world, but this has been its excuse for
attracting the world to them. This country has proved its efficacy bringing to
Australian people the opportunity to study what they want and to be employed by
those that require their abilities. Australia can not afford to be isolated in
a more knowledge-connected world. Its future will depend on strong
international connections and openness.
References
·
Australian Government. (n.d.). australia.gov.au.
Retrieved Octubre 3, 2012, from http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/convicts-and-the-british-colonies
·
Australian National University.
(n.d.). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved from
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/savery-henry-2632
·
GROUP OF
EIGHT AUSTRALIA. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.go8.edu.au
·
http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/. (n.d.).
·
McCreadie, M. (. (n.d.). Internet
Family History Association of Australia. Retrieved Octubre 10, 2012, from
http://www.historyaustralia.org.au/ifhaa/schools/evelutio.htm
·
Working In Australia., . (n.d.). Education
in Australia: an overview. Retrieved Octubre 10, 2012, from
http://www.workingin-Australia.com/education/system/overview#.UHXw1JhmIr4
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario