Chinese popular with American students

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Medgar Evers College Preparatory School is a public school in central Brooklyn, NY. Most of its student population is African American and Afro-Caribbean. The school runs one of the largest Chinese language programs for students not from a Chinese background in the US. The World’s Alex Gallafent went back to school for us. Download MP3

• Alex Gallafent’s photos from the Brooklyn school
• From the NY Times: Will Americans Really Learn Chinese?
• The World in Words

Singapore’s science dreams

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Singapore is laying the foundation for a future economy based on science. It’s sending its own citizens abroad for a top education, and enticing some the world’s best minds in science to its shores. Reporter Ari Daniel Shapiro has more.

Confucian education in Britain

The ancient teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius are serving as the modern-day inspiration for England’s schools minister, Jim Knight. He wants to import Confucian-style teaching methods to classrooms across the country. The World’s Laura Lynch has this report.
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Education in Cambodia (6:00)

The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports that only a third of Cambodia’s population is fully literate. The Cambodian government blames the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge. Others blame current government corruption.

Private schools in poor communities (6:00)

Anchor Katy Clark speaks with James Tooley about his research into how parents in poor communities in the developing world are choosing to send their children to private schools. Tooley is the author of “The Beautiful Tree”.

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KATY CLARK: I’m Katy Clark. Private schools aren’t just for the rich. That’s according to James Tooley. He’s a Professor of Education Policy at Newcastle University in England. He’s also the author of a book called “The Beautiful Tree.” It’s published by the Cato Institute, the Libertarian think tank in Washington. Tooley spent years exploring why poor parents in places like India, Africa, and China, are giving up a free education and paying for a private one instead. He says he was surprised to learn how often that happens.

JAMES