Author: Kayla Mehl

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina is currently experiencing StagLearning, whereby despite high government spending on education, basic achievement is not improving. In response to its dwindling educational outcomes, the government has recently introduced a standardized test to assess the performance of students. A scale for assessing student performance in Argentina showed student learning had not improved since 2000, according to the Program for International School Assessment (PISA). In order to increase GDP growth, a more educated workforce is essential. However, this does not mean students need to spend more time in school, rather a more effective education program must be implemented. Argentina’s lack of…

SANTIAGO, Chile — Education in Chile underwent significant reform in the 1980s that transferred authority and power over public school management from national to municipal levels, the country has been undergoing issues concerning inequalities in the education system. When the Chilean government transferred responsibility to the municipalities, the financial upkeep for education in Chile also changed. Municipalities started receiving funding vouchers for the schools based on the number of students who attended. Therefore, the enrollment dictated and restricted their budget. Privately owned schools that did not charge tuition also received this type of funding. Tuition-charging private schools continued to operate, even without…

SEATTLE — While the world has made progress in addressing particular health concerns in developing countries, there is still much progress to be made in global health. The following 10 facts about global health might not be as widely known as others but have affected the lives of millions. 1. Lack of surgical care results in 18.6 million deaths each year. This issue surmounts the number of people who die from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Despite these statistics and the fact that the death and infection rates for communicable diseases have drastically declined, the U.S. continues to focus over 60…

SEATTLE — The Oaxaca Philosophy for Children Initiative is a program that was started by a philosophy professor at the borderland university, The University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. Amy Reed-Sandoval started the program seven years ago in an attempt to support an organization called Centro de Esperanza Infantil, or Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots. The organization was created to provide education for children of the poorest households in Oaxaca, Mexico. Despite some pushback and hesitancy from the Oaxaca community, the organization granted Dr. Reed-Sandoval permission to conduct philosophy classes during the summer. Among all the states in Mexico, Oaxaca is…

SEATTLE — On July 22, 2016, President Obama met with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico to discuss United States-Mexico relations. A central topic of discussion covered during this meeting was the issue of the recent influx of refugees illegally entering the U.S. However, this discussion did not only impact Mexico, but concerns the U.S. as well — there has been a substantial increase of Mexican refugees in recent years. Here are 10 facts about Mexican refugees: Those crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are primarily from Central America. Central Americans have recently been seeking asylum within the borders of Mexico and then, making the…