U. S. African Chamber of Commerce President Comments on Education Reform: The Time Is Now for Multicultural Education
The U. S. Chamber of Commerce President, Mr. Martin Mohammed, believes that the U. S. “no child left behind” act should be reformed to include “no teacher left behind.”
Washington, DC (Vocus) March 30, 2010
The U. S. African Chamber of Commerce President, Mr. Martin Mohammed, believes that the U. S. “no child left behind” act should be reformed to include “no teacher left behind.” He recommends the re-certification of current immigrants who have been duly certified as teachers in their countries of origin. These multicultural educators will help prepare the United States in competing globally through the education of its current student populations who are the future workforce in the competing global market.
Reform for the U. S. educational system should focus on “no teacher left behind.“ The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (better known “ESSA“), which underscores the “no child left behind” agenda, should now be reformed to include Multicultural Education, according to Martin Mohammed, the President of the U. S. African Chamber of Commerce (USACC). Specifically, Mr. Mohammed is strongly recommending the emphasis on Multicultural Education and the certification of immigrant teachers who have been certified as teachers in the countries of origin.
This process can be accomplished through collaborative partnerships among our district school systems, the U. S. Department of Education, the business sector, non-profit organizations, teachers unions, and educational policymakers.
Mr. Mohammed believes that ESSA needs to incorporate multicultural education principles and practices in our current education system; I. e., where our education system truly reflects our growing multicultural demographic changes.
This is a timely mandate for our country as it embarks on its ongoing 2010 Census campaign. The underlying benefit of a strong multicultural education system is that it places the United States at the forefront of the global competition.
Mr. Mohammed sees that the USACC can exert an integral role in encouraging the increase in the number of minority higher education graduates as well as current immigrant teachers who are prepared to be re-certified here in the United States education system. The teachers unions in any states, including Minnesota, according to Mr. Mohammed, are “against” re-certification of immigrants teachers.
It is unfortunate that many immigrant teachers are working as taxicab drivers and security guards instead of utilizing their qualifications as teachers and, thereby, contributing to the closure of our nation’s education gap.
In the area of Higher Education, Mr. Mohammed thinks that universities and colleges need to better facilitate the process of working closely with foreign students such as the transfer of appropriate credits acquired in their countries of origin, instead of having them repeat their educational courses or credits and degrees obtained, and go through unnecessary ESL (English as a Second Language) courses.
As president of a national immigrant-serving chamber of commerce, Mr. Mohammed sees the role of this chamber as a conduit between corporations, government, educators, immigrant communities, legislators and policymakers, in order to ultimately foster a better-educated workforce in the United States that will revitalize America in its place in the current global competition. Multinational companies have preferential hiring for job applicants with multicultural competencies acquired through a strong multicultural education system.
The U. S. African Chamber of Commerce (USACC) (http://www. usafricanchamber. com/) is asking both private and public sectors to work for this agenda on behalf of the American people and all immigrant populations contributing to the vitality of the national and global economy; and to encourage small business job creation as one critical objective in helping eliminate our national debt.
Historically, America has been admired globally for its entrepreneurship, creativity, and fierce problem solving. The USACC It must continue to preserve this spirit to compete in the global market for the twenty-first century -- in educational system reform, health care reform, the economy and job creation, and free enter price.
Contact Person:
Martin Mohamed
(202) 465-0778 NEWS
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