21 April 2008
International educationalists will address the challenges in reforming 14-19 education that they see on their own continents, at an international education seminar hosted by Cambridge Assessment, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London on 7 May 2008.
All around the world countries are reforming what they offer to their young people as they come into the last few years of their school education. In the UK this is often referred to as '14-19 Reform' but the same processes are taking place under different names across the globe.
Topics explored at the seminar -which forms part of Cambridge Assessment's 150th anniversary celebrations - include:
- The relevance of curricular provisions in the context of globalizing economies, talent flows and rapid pace of technological innovation
- Challenges identified through the European process and addressing the UK's progress within Europe
- Analysing existing assessment practices as well as their implications for students' intellectual and emotional growth
- The drive toward a more skills based curriculum.
Challenges facing South East Asia will be covered by Professor S Gopinathan of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; the Caribbean by Mr Carol Keller of the University of the West Indies; Europe by Mr Tom Leney of the UK's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; the Indian subcontinent by Dr Razia Fakir Mohammad of the Aga Khan University, Pakistan; and Africa by Dr Yusef Sayed of UNESCO.
Simon Lebus, Group Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to host a debate on innovations worldwide. International exams played a part very early on in our 150 year history and have continued to do so. Reform is about giving all young people the opportunity to choose a mix of learning which motivates, interests and challenges them, and which gives them the knowledge, skills and attitude they need to succeed in education, work, and life."
Cambridge Assessment was at the forefront of introducing examinations for schools 150 years ago with the aim of raising standards in education. Today, it is Europe's largest assessment agency and plays a leading role in researching, developing and delivering exams and tests in more than 150 countries every year.