Education making us Ignorant – SMH

This article sites statements made by Ken Henry, Julia Gillard’s advisor on Asia about Australia’s attitude to Asia in regards to education and comparisons made between Australian and Asian educations systems. In the article he labels Australians as complacent in terms of their education and attitude. For example he mentions the nations attitude towards language within education and the lack of bilingualism that is currently rife throughout Australian education. He believes that the ability to focus education on language, in particular Asian languages will not only benefit Australian’s but also Australia at a much larger level.

He goes on to say ho with the large Asian population that dominates the world it is imperative to recognize Asian culture and language. “We will need an education system - right from the very earliest years of schooling - that acknowledges and recognises Asian culture and history, equipping the next generations to operate more effectively in an Asia-centred world."
I think this article really touches on issues such as the importance of multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism and the real long term focus that has on not only furthering students but also furthering the country.

It also comments on the heavy centering of westernized learning in Australia. A lack of Cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism is evident from the learning of students today, as Mr. Henry says; there is a severe lack of focus on linguistics and culture of the other. As Cosmopolitan idea’s towards education focus around the idea that we should be opening up our educational landscape to all types of diversity rather than just one set ‘Other’. This is primarily found in the reading of Rizvi, Education and Its Cosmopolitan Possibilities. In this he talks about increasing global connectivity which I believe is very similar to what Mr. Henry is saying about the education of Australia, and certainly a way that Australian’s can increase their global connectivity is through Language. (Rizvi 105)

Furthermore I think that we should be not only extending ourselves to China and the rest of the eastern world but certainly globally. Australia is a greatly diverse multicultural country and would be made more tolerant and more aware of the identity and cultures that the myriad of ethnicities bring. This of course could always be broadened from a young age through education. Integrating language and culture in a diverse and cosmopolitanistic way would change the Nation’s attitude to asia and multiculturalism in general.

References:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education-making-us-ignorant-20120820-24ipb.html
Rizvi, F. (2008). Education and its cosmopolitan possibilities. In B. Lingard, J. Nixon & S. Ranson (Eds.), Transforming learning in schools and communities: The remaking of education for a cosmopolitan society (pp. 101-116). London: Continuum.