HEADlines | Tests, tests and more tests | Head Foundation Singapore on Glue Up

Issue 3: 25 February 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.

Education—widening or narrowing inequality?

Education is often touted as a social leveler and a degree from a prestigious university is thus highly sought after. However, chasing after degrees can further entrench inequality; those without a good degree may have trouble climbing up socio-economic ranks. This fixation on higher education is illustrated in the award-winning South Korean movie "Parasite", in which a character forges his qualifications in order to get a job.

Meanwhile, various efforts are being taken to narrow inequality gaps. A study in the U.S. found that open educational resources may help students complete college; by bypassing expensive textbooks, open resources may eliminate barriers to education materials for lower-income students. In Singapore, the government has decided to focus on the early years, committing to double its spending on its early childhood sector to help its young citizens start school on an equal footing. While measures are being taken to combat educational inequalities, countries around the world must continuously examine and tweak education systems to improve social mobility.

Education in the spotlight

The New York Times: How technology is changing the future of higher education

Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and other innovations could improve learning and lower costs for Generation Z and beyond.

Edsurge: Are algorithmically-generated term papers the next big challenge to academic integrity?

Students can now outsource their homework to an algorithm that writes term papers for them based on chosen keywords.

The Diplomat: Why Monash opening a campus in Indonesia is a big deal

This move indicates the Jokowi administration's commitment to opening up Indonesia to improve education and accelerate economic growth.

Channel News Asia (Commentary): Why do parents still pay top dollar for pre-schools when there are more affordable options?

Doubling the early childhood education budget may make high-quality pre-schools accessible to more, says Annie Tan.

The Conversation: If you’re preparing students for 21st century jobs, you’re behind the times

Deeper education-industry linkages should be the way forward.

The Guardian: Pupils draft their own climate bill as anxiety grows over lack of guidance for schools

Concerns are growing that UK children are not being taught adequately about the emergency, so one student took things into his own hands.

Ecowatch: Meet Denmark's school where education is all about sustainability

At Green Free School — which has 200 pupils aged six to 15 — sustainable living is at the heart of its syllabus.

Times Higher Education: Climate change education ‘could help more than some renewables’

In climate actions, education, which inspires behavioural changes, could just be more effective than the shift to renewables.

That's all for the week!

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