HEADlines | A shakeup in higher education | Head Foundation Singapore on EventBank

Issue 25: 28 July 2020

Every week, HEADlines brings you the latest news, stories and commentaries

in education and healthcare. This week, get insights on the latest developments

in education.

A shakeup in higher education

For 10 years starting from 2021, the top 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. should only admit students from lower-income families—this is the bold proposal by Eboo Patel, an inter-faith activist. Bright but disadvantaged students would have the opportunity to receive world-class education, while the rich attend other schools and help improve these schools along the way .

Harvard economist Professor Kenneth Rogoff offers a less drastic solution to improve social mobility: the government should fund online learning to create a better and more universal higher education system.

While some might point to the German dual system of university and apprenticeship as an alternative, it might not be feasible in fragmented systems like the U.S. and Britain as it requires a high level of complex coordination between multiple stakeholders.

Nonetheless, it is time for a shakeup in higher education to update this centuries-old model.

Education in the Spotlight

Education Next: How the Coronavirus crisis may improve teacher quality

A study of more than 30,000 teachers in Florida, U.S., found that cohorts of teachers hired during recessions have an unusually high share of superstars.

Education Next: What Google search data reveals about learning during the pandemic

These results reveal a new aspect of the digital divide: the extent to which households seek out online learning resources.

The Economist: The risks of keeping schools closed far outweigh the benefits

The costs of missing school are huge, not just for children in developing countries, but also children and women all across the globe.

Forbes (Contribution): How educational inequality in America could be impacted by the homeschooling pod frenzy

Those that are able to hire teachers, tutors and childcare will not only fare better, but also potentially take resources away from the families that need them most.

Brookings: Ghana’s leapfrog experiment: Free senior secondary school for all youth

Ghana’s radical initiative to expand access to senior secondary schooling increased inclusion without building new schools.

Photo credit: Doug Linstedt on Unsplash

Best of New Jersey: First Lady Tammy Murphy talks climate change education

Watch New Jersey First Lady share how she thinks Climate Change Education helps children learn how to combat the crisis and thrive in the future green economy.

The Straits Times: NTU undergrads must take new interdisciplinary core curriculum from next year

The compulsory courses are designed around society's greatest challenges and issues such as climate change and global health.

That's all for the week!

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