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Due Date: 2025
ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
QUESTION 1
Question 1(a)
1. Definition of Comparative and International Education
Comparative and International Education (CIE) is a scholarly field that studies education
systems, policies, and practices across different countries and cultures. It focuses on how
societal factors such as economics, politics, culture, and geography influence education
systems, and vice versa. The field adopts a threefold perspective: an education system
perspective, where education is analyzed as a structured institution; a contextual
perspective, which examines how societal factors shape education; and a comparative
perspective, which compares different education systems to gain insights, assess practices,
and improve educational outcomes (Wolhuter, 2015). The "international" aspect of the field
reflects the increasing importance of studying global forces like globalisation and
international policy frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, and their
impact on local education. In essence, CIE serves to understand and evaluate education
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ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
QUESTION 1
Question 1(a)
1. Definition of Comparative and International Education
Comparative and International Education (CIE) is a scholarly field that studies
education systems, policies, and practices across different countries and cultures. It
focuses on how societal factors such as economics, politics, culture, and geography
influence education systems, and vice versa. The field adopts a threefold
perspective: an education system perspective, where education is analyzed as a
structured institution; a contextual perspective, which examines how societal factors
shape education; and a comparative perspective, which compares different
education systems to gain insights, assess practices, and improve educational
outcomes (Wolhuter, 2015). The "international" aspect of the field reflects the
increasing importance of studying global forces like globalisation and international
policy frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, and their impact on
local education. In essence, CIE serves to understand and evaluate education
across diverse contexts, with the aim of informing policy, improving teaching
practices, and promoting equity in global education.
2.
The evolution of Comparative and International Education can be traced through
several key phases. Four notable phases include:
Travellers’ Tales (Phase 1): This prescientific phase involved casual observations
by travellers comparing educational practices across societies. These comparisons,
although informal, were the earliest forms of cross-cultural educational reflection
(Wolhuter, 2014).
Systematic Study for Borrowing (Phase 2): Starting around 1830, governments
began studying foreign education systems to adopt effective practices. A notable
example is Victor Cousin’s influential reports, which informed educational reforms in
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France. However, this approach often lacked scientific rigour and ignored contextual
differences between countries.
‘Factors and Forces’ Approach (Phase 4): Initiated in the 1930s, this phase
emphasized understanding how contextual elements like culture, politics, and
religion shape education systems. Michael Sadler’s critique of indiscriminate
borrowing laid the foundation for this phase, promoting deeper contextual analysis.
Heterogeneity (Phase 7): Since 1990, the field has embraced diverse paradigms
and interdisciplinary methods. Rather than a single dominant theory, scholars now
tolerate and appreciate a variety of theoretical lenses, reflecting the complexity of
education in a globalised world (Rust, 1992).
These phases show how CIE has grown from simple comparisons to a complex,
reflective field that responds to global educational challenges.
3.
Comparative and International Education (CIE) contributes significantly to the field of
education in several key areas:
1. Description: One foundational role of CIE is to document and describe various
education systems in their unique cultural and societal contexts. This helps build a
global understanding of how education functions across different societies (Wolhuter,
2015).
2. Evaluation: CIE provides tools to critically assess and compare education
systems. For instance, through international tests like PISA and TIMSS, countries
can evaluate their systems’ effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Evaluation also includes the analysis of education’s broader societal impacts, such
as its influence on democracy or economic growth.
3. Education System Reform: Policymakers use comparative insights to design or
reform education systems. By learning from other countries’ successes and
challenges, governments can implement more contextually appropriate and effective
reforms (Wiseman, 2012).