Shaping Curriculum and Conflict through Foreign Education Aid

Abstract

In recent years, policymakers, scholars, and non-governmental organizations have stressed the risks of crises disrupting the current status of global education. Few of these works critically examine the status quo within the field of education. The goal of this paper is to examine the historical forces that have shaped the current implementation of standardized education in the Middle East. Specifically, this thesis frames the overwhelmingly positive public rhetoric of global education within the underlying goals of donor organizations and nations. Colonial legacies, the development of global education agencies, and the exploitation of educational institutions in conflict have shaped the current status of international education initiatives in the region. This project critically examines the historical roots of existing education institutions to facilitate the development of education that is equitable, apolitical, and sensitive to the needs of unique populations.