Science for Rural Education and Development

The System of Tutorial Learning (SAT), Colombia and Honduras

FUNDAEC and SAT

• FUNDAEC origins: Dr Farzam Arbab

• SAT = System of Tutorial Learning

• System of non-formal secondary education for rural life and sustainable development

• Aim to develop attitudes, knowledge and skills for more self-reliant development

• Current importance in Colombia

• Terra Award 2002 and Euro EXPO 2000

Diagnostic: rural development

• Social disintegration, inequity, dependency

• Absence of regional learning process, institutions to support it

• Development is impossible without learning process including science & technology

• Learning process ignores role and needs of human beings: concept of participation

• Ignored development of moral values, human motivation

Concept of participation in SAT:

“it could be claimed that people were in charge of their own development only if they were learning systematically about the changes that occurred in their society, and were consciously incorporating in their continuous learning process appropriate elements from the universe of knowledge” (Arbab, 1984)

FUNDAEC diagnostic (cont.)

• Traditional and modern science/knowledge• Division of knowledge in disciplines:

fragmentation vs. integration, division of natural and social sciences, difficult to convert theory into practice and solve problems, reinforces divisions: traditional and modern, rural and urban

• Inappropriate institutions: universities?• The rural university: dual role

Science in SAT

• Science is heritage of all: rights and capacities

• Content and language of science: re-interpreted in rural development context

• Science: an organised & dynamic process of finding solutions to technological problems

• Study of natural systems and processes

• Investigation of reality: analyse parts, study interactions, place in larger context

Levels of integration

• Integration between science, technology, education and development: technology as application of science to changing reality; technology development as part of learning process essential for development

• Integration between disciplines - examples

• Integration between modern and traditional knowledge: examination of scientific and technological culture of rural societies

Research and learning process

• Research/Action - Reflection - Learning• Educational materials organised around

developing ‘capabilities’ not disciplines• Definition and examples of capabilities• Scientific and social capabilities• Capabilities serve a social purpose• Service to the community• The wider context of SAT