Message-ID: <32F0F3AA.6193@mind.net> Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 19:16:58 +0000 From: "B. Diamond" <mailto:bdiamond@MIND.NET> Subject: Re: THEORY: Shall I accept this consulting assignment? To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
mailto:EUNSteve@AOL.COM wrote:>
> The work involves helping the Ministry create a centralized school system for
> four largely rural villages. Each village now has its own small walk-to
> school that the Ministry considers inadequate: the teachers, for example,
> have "O" levels themselves, or less, and thus have studied maths for fewer
> years than our college freshmen.
>
> The Ministry proposes to create a single central school with a "modern"
> curriculum, science labs, etc.
>
> Roads and other infrastructure will be necessary to build, and buses obtained
> for transport.
> . . .
>
> Should I take this assignment?
>
> Here are elements of my uncertainty as they link to the theoretical issues
> that have been raised here: you can fill in the rest.
>
> Listening to the indigenous. If I listen to the Minister, am I really
> listening to the indigenous? Do the local elders really want a central
> school?
Perhaps it might be a good idea to ask the elders directly. It is my belief that ALL Development projects should revolve around full disclosure; that is simply that all parties involved be made aware (as much as is possible) what the full consequences of the proposed action are. All too often those behind the projects "push" the project by highlighting the benefits and ignoring or seriously downplaying the potential negative effects. Full disclosure is imperative.
> Respect for traditional culture. Predictably much will follow in the wake of
> such school "reform." A higher level of literacy, with its consequences.
> Graduates leaving the village to go off to university: brain drain. Airports
> and more infrastructure. The introduction of "modern" industry employing the
> now trained workforce. Etc
This is the part that always kills me, the slippery slope argument that suggests once villagers have a taste of "modern life," they will scramble like mad to embrace any and all modern conveniences as they wildy seek to make of for "lost time" wasted living their traditional lives instead of learning how to use a microwave and a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. In fact, what really frustrates development "junkies" is when in fact native peoples DON'T fall hook, line, and sinker for everything modern. It's bad enough when people like myself "bite the (technological/economic) hand that feeds me" by speaking out against rampant consumerism, but when the damn savages have the audacity to thumb their noses at our technological superiority--that REALLY pisses them off.
> Appropriate technology. Is this educational technology--a central school and
> modern curriculum and roads and buses--appropriate for this nation and
> culture?
Is a central school with busses, and roads, and airports, infrastructure etc. all really necessary? Isn't the goal to improve the educational experience of the children? Couldn't this be easily accomplished by devoting time and a little money to better train the local teachers (there's only four schools) than in spending millions of dollars on roads, busses, airports etc. while at the same time respecting the culture and local control of the present system? Of course we shouldn't forget that better training for the teachers would not result in handsome earnings for development banks, contractors, etc......
BD