Comments on: 23 years later – educated, schooled or learned?

By: B. A. Antwi-Boasiako

B. A. Antwi-Boasiako — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:10:32 +0000

Hi Emmy,
I’m from Ghana and presently doing my postgraduate studies in Germany. You scared me when you wrote “Kindergartedn is the most important stage of school.” I never had the opportunity to attend one. In fact, I went to stage/class 1 myself – when I didn’t want to follow my mother to the farm. In your view, how might have affected my education? I’ve generally been an ‘above average’ student though.

By: Emmy

Emmy — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:58:37 +0000

Hi Vanda!

Thanks a lot for the comments! How is everything in Brazil?

Interesting to read that you also experience the same challenges that we do … and that many start over! Most of us do not really have this luxury.
Where is the emphasis on education?

By: Vanda S. C. Pereira

Vanda S. C. Pereira — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:55:30 +0000

Hi, Emmy from Kenya.
In our universities it´s a 9 ( Junior School)-3 (Senior High) and then-4 year journey to get a Bachelor´s degree, meaning to major in a certain field of knowledge.
Nursery schools and kindergarten exist, but most of them are private.We have public and private schools but not always is the level quite the same. The university courses at a public college are very good and everybody wants to be there what makes it even more difficult for youngsters who didn´t have the best likely studies, especially at a public school. The national exam is to enter the University but students can choose their major.
We also have the problem of having chosen the wrong subject because sometimes only at the university a student understands what that course is really all about. Many start over.
Here in Brazil having a university degree means the chance of a better job,status and a career,
Not enough emphasis is given to technical courses, which, in my opinion are a must in developping a country. I agree with you: nursery and kindergarten are needed because that’s the time when the children are to be trained in basic skills. People worry too much about a diploma, which many times just means having a piece of paper.