Going for Growth? School, Community, Economy, Nation
Metaphors of growth have continually informed debates on the role of education in the development of children, schools, communities, economies and nations. The 9th UKFIET International Conference is an invitation to explore the educational implications of Going for Growth in the contemporary world.
For more than 50 years, growth-oriented education has been promoted as a route to economic prosperity, strengthening the market, globalisation, national development, equality of opportunity and poverty alleviation. With the rapidly expanding economies of China, India, parts of Africa and Latin America, economic growth debates are once again prioritised in development and education agendas.
The past decade, however, has seen increasing concern over patterns of economic management that create unprecedented poverty, degrade the environment and increase inequality, as wealth creation for the few denies livelihood, justice and rights for the majority. The 2007 Conference seeks to make a further contribution to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). The challenge is to ensure that educational policy and practice stimulate personal development and well-being, community learning and social responsibility, along with economic success.