Mobile phones have become a "frequent and distracting influence" in Scotland's classrooms following a sharp increase in the number of children bringing them to school, an official report has concluded.
The Education First initiative from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who attributes his successes to the transformative education he received in Korea, is refreshing for its recognition of the role of teachers.
In South Korea, 64.9% of school teachers are women, and the imbalance is most evident in primary schools, where 76.2% of teachers are women. However, data show that high-ranking positions in education are dominated by men, with 15.5% of school-principal positions being held by women.
Some schools in Ohio are encouraging students to bring in their own technology -- such as cellphones, iPods and other electronic devices -- as long as they are used responsibly.
Teachers should take up leadership roles in the changed education system to earn the respect of the society as well as students, said Dr John Guy, senior education adviser of Cambridge international examinations (CIE), adding that the society no longer placed teachers on a high pedestal.