Education a 'security issue' - UNESCO

Admin
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Education a 'security issue' - UNESCO Jul 29, 2013 16:13:01 GMT

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Post by Admin on Jul 29, 2013 16:13:01 GMT

The tinderbox mix of high youth unemployment, lack of education and the threat of extremism is turning access to school into a "security issue", says Irina Bokova, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The volatile prospect of millions of uneducated, illiterate youngsters in developing countries, under pressure from the financial downturn, has brought an unprecedented political significance to the campaign to give every child a primary school education, she says.

Ms Bokova was speaking ahead of a speech later this week at the United Nations from Malala Yousafzai, who will call for all children to have the right to go to school.

The Pakistani schoolgirl, who will make her speech in New York on her 16th birthday, defied the bullets of the Taliban in defence of her right to an education.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23197565

ShivaTD
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Politics: Libertarian

Education a 'security issue' - UNESCO Aug 1, 2013 11:17:21 GMT

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Post by ShivaTD on Aug 1, 2013 11:17:21 GMT

I find it interesting when the terms "uneducated" and "illiterate" are used in a statement that also contains the statement "right to go to school" because it misrepresents the definition of what a "right" is.

A "Right" is that which the person can do for themselves without imposing an obligation on others and which does not violate another person's "Rights" through actions.

People have a "Right" to educate themselves but they don't have a "Right" to expect someone else to do it. We provide schools not because the child has a "Right" to go to school but instead because it's in our best interests as a society to help the children educate themselves. There is an old saying that "the teacher doesn't teach, the student learns" and it is very accurate. No matter what a teacher does if the student doesn't choose to learn they won't learn.

How about those advocating schooling of the children first learn what the word "right" means and then address the issue of schools from the pragmatic standpoint that formal education benefits society which is why we should have schools for all of our children.

You give a pothead marijuana with nothing to smoke out of and suddenly they become engineers.

diuretic
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Politics: Centre Left

Education a 'security issue' - UNESCO Aug 6, 2013 10:07:46 GMT

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Post by diuretic on Aug 6, 2013 10:07:46 GMT

I think the idea of "rights" are a bit broader than that, particularly if we think of "human" rights as opposed to more narrow political rights.

www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.