Flash Points: How politics shape schools around the world

Plus: Why are Haitian students taught in French? [Foreign Policy Logo]( [Foreign Policy Flashpoints]( September 03, 2022 | [View in browser]( To read unlimited articles featured in Flash Points, [sign in]( or [subscribe today](. Around the world, or at least the Northern Hemisphere, many students are starting a new school year. In China, pupils will study curricula that prioritize manual labor, harkening back to Mao Zedong-era policies. Many Haitians, meanwhile, will soon return to classrooms conducted in French—a language few Haitians can speak. In this edition of Flash Points, we take you into five school systems, examining how their education policies reflect domestic politics and geopolitical realities.—Chloe Hadavas --------------------------------------------------------------- [Xi Wants Chinese Students Back in the Countryside]( New labor education policies echo Maoist obsessions. By Don Giolzetti --------------------------------------------------------------- [Haiti’s Foreign Language Stranglehold]( Around 90 percent of Haitians speak only Haitian Creole. So why is school mostly conducted in French? By Benjamin Hebblethwaite --------------------------------------------------------------- [Taliban Reversal on Girls’ Education Ignites World’s Anger]( The sudden about-face could undercut the Taliban’s hopes for international recognition. By Lynne O’Donnell --------------------------------------------------------------- [Palestinian Schools Have a Problem—and Are Running Out of Time]( The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees has failed to fulfill demands for reform—and may soon face the consequences. By Yardena Schwartz --------------------------------------------------------------- [The Arab World’s Star Student]( What Tunisia can teach its neighbors about the value of education. By Kim Ghattas Image: Chris Gash illustration for Foreign Policy --------------------------------------------------------------- More than ever, graduate schools are designing programs that emphasize experiential learning to effectively bridge the gap between theoretical teaching in the classroom and real-world applications. Earning a graduate degree or certificate can prepare you for a fulfilling career in international affairs. [Click here to access our special career-focused FP Graduate School Guide](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Summer Sale Ends Labor Day Weekend: [Get 50% off unlimited access to Foreign Policy.]( Apply promo code FPSUMMER22 at checkout to claim this rate for your first year. FOLLOW FP ON This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you are subscribed to FP’s Flashpoints newsletter. Want a friend to receive this newsletter? [Forward it]( now. Want to receive other FP newsletters? [Manage]( your FP newsletter preferences. [unsubscribe]( | [privacy policy]( | [contact us]( | [partner with FP]( Foreign Policy magazine is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2022 The Slate Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006. [Link](