Critical Urban Education Issues To Consider

By Roger Perry


There are major differences between education institutions and the environment in urban and rural areas. It would be erroneous to compare the two with the intention of choosing one. However, the intention of lobbyists is to demand more attention on the unique urban education issues that cannot be equated to what institutions in rural areas deal with. If the concerns remain unaddressed, there is possibility of poor performance that should not be blamed on teachers.

There is limited space in urban areas. This makes the establishment of necessary infrastructure a huge challenge. In case such space is available, it becomes too expensive for stakeholders to purchase. In the absence of necessary space, critical infrastructure will not be developed. It means that students depending on these institutions and infrastructure will be disadvantaged yet are expected to perform at the same level.

There are unique dynamics to deal with in schools based in cities. These dynamics are unpredictable because students come from different backgrounds and cultural formations. Their childhood encounters differ, language is different and cultural orientation also differs. A teacher is expected to operate as if he or she is dealing with a population made of students from similar backgrounds. Such discrepancy affects the performance of students and delivery of their teacher.

Urbanite schools are usually funded in the same way as schools and institutions in rural areas. However, the environment and dynamics of these metropolitan areas are different and unique. For instance, an institution has to construct complex structures on a small portion of land. If these structures are not properly funded, they will fail to serve the intended purpose. Working with a dynamic student population also means that you have to spend more resources to achieve similar goals as a teacher with a uniform student population.

There is greater involvement of parents in city schools compared to rural setting. Teachers have to be extra careful when dealing with students because of this close monitoring. This may be an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. It is advantageous because the parents follow up on their children. However, there is possibility of conflict as each expresses his or her desire.

Teachers working in cities and big towns need a bit of attention as well. They work in an environment that is almost unpredictable. The changes in student backgrounds and orientation mean that these teachers have to work harder to deliver on the curriculum. This extra work must be compensated alongside other possibilities like high cost of living and the need to use dynamic teaching methods.

Diverse background of students and the entire school community is also worth considering. Students come from different nationalities and community backgrounds. Teachers and parents also come from similar diverse backgrounds that affect learning. This turns the school into a rich ecosystem that will produce the best students. It is different when dealing with rural institutions where the catchment is restricted.

It must be noted that advocates of unique attention to education in urban areas are not advocating for favoritism. They only need special attention to be paid to the unique challenges that such parents are confronted with. With necessary attention, it will be easier to get the desired results from the teacher and institution at large.




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