Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Debunking some myths

“…So schooling today needs to be much more about ways of thinking (involving creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and judgement), ways of working (including communication and collaboration), tools for working (including the capacity to recognise and exploit the potential of new technologies) and about the capacity to live in a multi-faceted world as active and responsible citizens. 11 The conventional approach in school is often to break problems down into manageable bits and pieces and then to teach students how to solve these bits and pieces. But modern societies create value by synthesising different fields of knowledge, making connections between ideas that previously seemed unrelated.…”

“…In October 2009, policy makers from across the political spectrum agreed on a school reform that would reduce the degree of stratification in the school system and moderate its impact. 11 The politicians had understood that this would be the most effective way to provide better and more equitable learning opportunities. But proponents of the initiative had not worked hard enough to convince parents of its merits, and a citizens' group lobbying against the reform, mainly involving families whose children were in the elite track, soon emerged.…”

“…Their insights could have a major impact on efforts to make instruction more relevant to a wider range of learners. 11,12 How policy can help create a more equitable system…”

“…But there are other initiatives promoting dialogue, including one on developing national student tests that, each month, selects and celebrates a school that has achieved excellent results, and one that encourages municipalities to work together to improve the Folkeskole. 11 At the heart of the New Zealand education system is trust in the professionalism of staff and a culture of consultation and dialogue. It was collaborative work, rather than prescriptions imposed from above, that was responsible for developing the country's evaluation and assessment system.…”

Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education

“…There are many ways in which schools could use the voice and experience of students -both those who succeeded and those who "failed" -to guide improvements make instruction more relevant to a wider range of learners. 11,12 How policy can help create a more equitable system How we treat the most vulnerable students and citizens shows who we are as a society. Providing equitable education opportunities is not a technically complex issue, and the PISA data show that in some countries -and in some schools in many countries -even the most disadvantaged children can be high performers in school.…”