Singapore University of Social Sciences

Educational Opportunities and Challenges in Yunnan

Educational Opportunities and Challenges in Yunnan (OEL316)

Synopsis

The objective of OEL316 is to provide students with the conceptual tools and learning experiences to develop a deeper understanding of the educational opportunities and challenges in Yunnan. The objective is achieved through a combination of service-learning, e-learning, classroom activities, and participation in an overseas trip to Yunnan, China. According to Yue, Tang, Shi, et al (2018), rural educational provision in China has improved by leaps and bounds in the past 40 years. Only a small number of children attended preschool in the 1980s, whereas more than 90 percent of rural children are now receiving formal education. After the implementation of the compulsory education policy, more students are able to complete their grade six training and move on to junior high school. However, achieving educational equity still faces many challenges in rural areas, including high dropout rate, poor learning environments, and a low quality of campus life. To deal with these problems, many non-profit organisations have tried to organise activities and teacher training programmes in order to improve upon the existing education system. This course encourages students to critically analyse the complexities facing the provision of quality education to rural residents in China. Students will work with local youth organisations to design a series of service-learning activities in a school located in a rural area of Yunnan. They will get to explore the education system in the city of Yunnan and immerse themselves in its remote areas to better understand the educational needs, challenges and opportunities from the perspective of the locals. Through such comparative collaborations, students will have the opportunity to reflect on the relationships between educational challenges and opportunities and the issue of educational equity.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every July

Topics

  • Experiential Learning
  • Service-Learning in education
  • Children and Youth Educational Development
  • Challenges facing educational provision in China and how cultural, religious, social and economic factors shape the pursuit of educational equity in the country
  • Preparation and design of an overseas experiential learning project: service-learning activities, liaising with local community partner(s), safety and emergency response, cultural sensitivity
  • Preparation and design of a local experiential learning project: service-learning activities, liaising with local community partner(s), safety and emergency response

Learning Outcome

  • Identify challenges and opportunities facing educational provision on Yunnan
  • Explain the role of schools, families and local authorities in shaping the pursuit of educational equity in rural China
  • Apply social scientific theories to relate educational provision to equity in China
  • Deconstruct preconceptions about China and its approach towards education
  • Construct new approaches to address the challenges in educational provision and achieving educational equity in China
  • Examine how the assumptions behind new approaches shape the way selected issues are addressed
  • Verify new approaches with stakeholders
  • Appraise team members’ roles and responsibilities in shaping team-based experiential learning
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