2.4 The Concept of Boarding Schools
Boarding schools are an intensive form of education, in which students live at school, and visit their families only for specific days and vacations. There is a long-standing tradition among upper-class families of sending male children to elite boarding schools even at a very young age. Akyi et al. (2008) argue that by doing so, parents hope to provide their children a sense of discipline, and, thus, prepare them for leadership positions. But boarding schools have also been used to increase the educational opportunities of marginalized and disadvantaged students. In the end of the 19th century, American philanthropists from the Indian Rights Association set up boarding schools for American Indians' children, …show more content…
Moreover, it has been difficult to draw overall conclusions regarding differences in effectiveness and effects of day- and boarding schools. Schools in distinctive countries, regions, communities and even within a community differ from each other on various aspects. The effectiveness and effects of schools are dependent on a wide range of aspects. The specific characteristics of day- versus boarding schools are only one aspect. Bista (2005) outlined the following as benefits of the boarding school system:
• Boarding schools promote access to schooling. Often boarding schools (UNESCO focuses mainly on state boarding schools) are established to increase learning opportunities for underserved and disadvantaged communities. Boarding schools make for example schooling possible for many rural children.
• Boarding schools contribute to attain gender equality in enrolment, retention and achievement. By offering food, accommodation and a place in school, boarding schools contribute to the attendance of girls. Barriers for attending school and for studying are diminished by boarding schools.
• Boarding schools provide better learning environments to children. Study facilities in a boarding school are for example better than an overcrowded home with no …show more content…
Well-managed boarding schools can offer good nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, a balanced daily routine of personal care, education regarding health and nutrition, assistance for the boarding school community, sports and recreation. Students take good habits at home and introduce them to their family and take them to their lives as adults.
• Boarding schools promote socialisation and mainstreaming of poor minority children. Children from remote and rural areas or of ethnic and linguistic minorities can be introduced to new ways of living; new routines and responsibilities; new technologies; new teachers and fellow students from outside their community. In a boarding school these children can develop skills that can serve them to live in a broader community. Boarding schools can also strengthen national unity by housing children of different ethnicities together
• Boarding schools provide effective links between the community and the larger society. Boarding schools provide a centralized location for learning and living that can be an effective link between the remote communities of origin and the larger society.
• Boarding schools reduce the costs of educating children in areas with low population. In areas in which the average number of students per school is lower than 25, boarding schools can be more cost-effective than small
Boarding schools are an intensive form of education, in which students live at school, and visit their families only for specific days and vacations. There is a long-standing tradition among upper-class families of sending male children to elite boarding schools even at a very young age. Akyi et al. (2008) argue that by doing so, parents hope to provide their children a sense of discipline, and, thus, prepare them for leadership positions. But boarding schools have also been used to increase the educational opportunities of marginalized and disadvantaged students. In the end of the 19th century, American philanthropists from the Indian Rights Association set up boarding schools for American Indians' children, …show more content…
Moreover, it has been difficult to draw overall conclusions regarding differences in effectiveness and effects of day- and boarding schools. Schools in distinctive countries, regions, communities and even within a community differ from each other on various aspects. The effectiveness and effects of schools are dependent on a wide range of aspects. The specific characteristics of day- versus boarding schools are only one aspect. Bista (2005) outlined the following as benefits of the boarding school system:
• Boarding schools promote access to schooling. Often boarding schools (UNESCO focuses mainly on state boarding schools) are established to increase learning opportunities for underserved and disadvantaged communities. Boarding schools make for example schooling possible for many rural children.
• Boarding schools contribute to attain gender equality in enrolment, retention and achievement. By offering food, accommodation and a place in school, boarding schools contribute to the attendance of girls. Barriers for attending school and for studying are diminished by boarding schools.
• Boarding schools provide better learning environments to children. Study facilities in a boarding school are for example better than an overcrowded home with no …show more content…
Well-managed boarding schools can offer good nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, a balanced daily routine of personal care, education regarding health and nutrition, assistance for the boarding school community, sports and recreation. Students take good habits at home and introduce them to their family and take them to their lives as adults.
• Boarding schools promote socialisation and mainstreaming of poor minority children. Children from remote and rural areas or of ethnic and linguistic minorities can be introduced to new ways of living; new routines and responsibilities; new technologies; new teachers and fellow students from outside their community. In a boarding school these children can develop skills that can serve them to live in a broader community. Boarding schools can also strengthen national unity by housing children of different ethnicities together
• Boarding schools provide effective links between the community and the larger society. Boarding schools provide a centralized location for learning and living that can be an effective link between the remote communities of origin and the larger society.
• Boarding schools reduce the costs of educating children in areas with low population. In areas in which the average number of students per school is lower than 25, boarding schools can be more cost-effective than small