Economic forecasters predict continued economic growth in Asian economies. From Bloomberg (here):
The prediction for a shake-up of the world’s gross domestic product rankings comes in new long-term forecasts by Standard Chartered Plc, which includes a projection for China to become the largest economy by 2020, using purchasing power parity exchange rates and nominal GDP. India will likely be larger than the U.S. in the same time period while Indonesia will break into the top 5 economies.
This trend has implications for not only economic opportunities but for growing militaries and geo-political threats. Will political and education leaders acknowledge this trend and include it in their planning of future education systems in Portland and Oregon?
One response to this trend is to strengthen foreign language programs (especially dual language immersion programs) and study abroad programs (especially paid high school study abroad programs where shifting funding requires no new revenues).
Three future planning efforts touching on education are currently underway: (1) the Oregon Legislature has its Joint Committee on Student Success (whose proposals after statewide hearings included no mention of immersion programs or study abroad); (2) Portland Public Schools current Visioning initiative seeking “in the next decade transform PPS into one of the premier systems in the country.” (3) And “Portland 2.0,” a joint project of OPB and PSU, about the future governance of Portland.
Willing any of these efforts consider these larger global economic trends? Time will tell, but, unfortunately, probably not.
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