Critical Review of Article About Communication Scholarship

Introduction

USA is not oblivious to the changing demands of the present times. In fact, it has engaged itself towards reforms and initiatives to cope up with the everyday changing needs of the various industries that affect its growth and development. Moreover, the country recognizes the vital role education plays to meet the demands of the changing times. The country deemed it imperative that as early as now the public and private sectors take part and look into what it can contribute to the betterment and improvement of the educational system if they want to be competitively and globally excelling in all areas.

Summary of the Article

It is very noteworthy to mention Alford's paper on “Developing Secondary Education in USA” where he placed the value of education as an arm “for a change in the future…to improve and revitalize the process of development” (1). He emphasized the interrelationship among education, change and development. With this in view, he discussed the reforms that should be made in the last two years in secondary school and the family's and the two sectors', public and private, roles in education. More significantly, he described the “current situation of secondary education in USA, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the importance of teacher training for this type of education” as well as the government's policy towards educational reform (Jupiter, 19). Jupiter recognizes the relevant phase of secondary education in the educational system. He refers to this as “a decisive turning point in the life of the great majority of young boys and girls” (5). In this phase, students must have acquired the general culture, social and ethical values, and have attained the skills and competencies for them to survive university demands and at the end, success in their own lives (Jupiter, p12).

With this laid out, Fairfield University is one of the six institutions who was accorded and chosen by the U.S. State Department for its English Access Microscholarship Program. This program to quote the U.S. State Department “provides a foundation of English language skills to non-elite, 14-18 year old students through afterschool classes and intensive summer learning activities.” The objectives of this program is for “(a)ccess students (to) gain an appreciation for American culture and democratic values, increase their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their countries, and gain the ability to compete for and participate in future U.S. exchange and study programs” (The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department). This addresses the educational system's aim to “revitalize the process of development” (Jupiter, 2008, 1) and the role of the private sector for educational reform.

From these perspectives, the university aims to unite the concerns posed by the two sectors by “become(ing) an involved participant and strategic partner in the comprehensive development of the community by providing unique services in education, scientific research, and community services” (Fairfield University, 20) thus, the offering and opening of the Micro-access Scholarship Program which has been in full and active ...