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Anwar Dafa-Alla

Assistant Professor - Computer Science, IEEE

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Politics for Education

Education needs resources...including a political representative...
Resources are usually allocated to politicians or on their hands at least!
Many NGOs tiny or giant (e.g. UNICEF) trying their best to leave no child behind and it seems like it's open-ended thread.

Through analyzing our situation here in Sudan...and believing on Education as the way and only way to develop. I came up with this idea:
Forming a political party for Education.

According to Sudan political parties regulations we need 500 members to register officially...we started a Facebook group "Sudan Education party" last Monday, July 23rd, 2012... today, Monday, July 30th, 2012..we're nearly 1000.


As far as I know, this is the first of it's kind in Sudan (Don't know if you're aware of such initiative else where).

We'll resume our efforts to bring OLPC to Sudan, and make use of all of these TED talks/initiatives...this time with our own political support...

Your thoughts/input is highly appreciated.

Related Talks:
Topics: TED-Ed
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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    TED Translator
    Jul 30 2012: the last thing we want in education is government presence. compulsory state education is failing all over the world. the freer the better.
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      Eric Grovum

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      Jul 31 2012: The only way for true democracies to function is for all its members to be educated enough to make informed decisions in the control of the government's direction. If you eliminate universal education, you will reinforce a ruling class of economic elites. What would be the moral justification of an ruling economic elite? A better possible solution than to just say "get government out" is to give every student in the nation an education stipend and allow private schools to compete for the enrollment. Government would not be running the schools, but all students would have the same funding level, and share the same starting line. Financially handicapped students would have a more equal chance to succeed in life, and the schools might be encouraged to improve by competition.
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        Krisztián Pintér 200+

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        TED Translator
        Jul 31 2012: and how is that going? we have nonfunctional schools that churn out practical illiterates.
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          Eric Grovum

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          Aug 1 2012: You didn't read my post. I was offering an alternative. Maybe we shouldn't even try... or maybe only kids whose parents can afford to pay for it should receive an education?
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        Scott Armstrong 50+

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        Jul 31 2012: true democracy is a beautiful lie.
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          Eric Grovum

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          Aug 1 2012: I agree that it is right now. What do you recommend instead? The pursuit of an ideal is usually what leads to coming to a closer proximity to that ideal.
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        Scott Armstrong 50+

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        Aug 1 2012: decentralising democracy.

        in New Zealand, local governing bodies are being amalgamated into oversized bureaucratic leviathans which are termed "super-councils" and other such grandiose names. In reality, they are even less efficient and flexible (and more expensive!) than ever before.

        there is a lack of transparency in political goings-on which leads to abuse of privileges and power that is rarely dealt with unless the media gets onto it (and even then, there is often very little real justice).

        the idea of having one general vote every 4 years is no longer in keeping with the pace of information dissemination and communication in these modern times.
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          Eric Grovum

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          Aug 2 2012: Thanks Scott. This leads me to think that maybe now that communication is so instant, a direct democracy without representatives may be possible. There has to be some solutions out there somewhere, someday. All I know is the more I learn, the more I realize my ignorance. Nice to be speaking with someone from New Zealand again. When I was younger I worked for a wonderful lady from New Zealand. (That was in Casper, Wyoming in the States.)
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      John Moonstroller 30+

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      Aug 19 2012: I think people have become smarter and more literate than in the past. Most of this is through the efforts of governments. I have to disagree.
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        Krisztián Pintér 200+

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        TED Translator
        Aug 20 2012: you are free to think that despite all the evidence.
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          John Moonstroller 30+

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          Aug 20 2012: I think that because of the evidence. Thank you for giving me the freedom to do so.
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        Krisztián Pintér 200+

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        TED Translator
        Aug 20 2012: ah. secret evidence, that must be.
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          John Moonstroller 30+

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          Aug 20 2012: And how did you deduce that idea?

          If you have a question, by all means ask it. I will not be offended. You can use as many words as you like as long as they give a full meaning to the question you are asking.

          I'm Jewish, which is to say I believe in Judaism, not that I'm Hebrew or Israeli.

          What is your dispute with my answer? Is it related to the "Government" part? The reference to "Muslim" or the distinction between North and South Sudan? Or is it related to the "People are smarter" statement?

          Please be clear my friend.
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        Krisztián Pintér 200+

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        TED Translator
        Aug 20 2012: in case i was not clear, you are welcome to present ideas how the government increased the level of education compared to what we would have without the government.

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