CHALLENGES FACING

THE STUDY OF
COMPARATIVE
EDUCATION

Apple Mae C. Galang

 Introduction
As it is with all other disciplines of study, comparative education is also
faced with some challenges in the process of studying it both to the
learner and the teacher. These challenges are worth considering exposing
the learner to them and allowing the learner to have an opportunity to
suggest possible solutions, to these challenges. It is worth noting that the
challenges are not exhaustive in themselves, taking into account the
dynamics of the discipline at each stage. We, therefore, look at some of
the predominant challenges to the study of comparative education.
 • 1. Challenge of Definition

T h e fi r s t c h a l l e n g e r e l a t e s t o t h e d e fi n i ti o n o f
c o m p a r a ti v e e d u c a ti o n a s a n a r e a o f s t u d y . A s
n o t e d e a r l i e r v a r i o u s s c h o l a r s d e fi n e
c o m p a r a ti v e e d u c a ti o n d i ff e r e n t l y d e p e n d i n g
o n t h e i r o r i e n t a ti o n . O n e b i g c h a l l e n g e a m o n g
s c h o l a r s a b o u t d e fi n i n g c o m p a r a ti v e
e d u c a ti o n h a s b e e n w h e t h e r i t s h o u l d b e
d e fi n e d b y i t s c o n t e n t o r m e t h o d . I n d e e d t o
d a t e s c h o l a r s a r e s ti l l d i v i d e d o n w h e t h e r
c o m p a r a ti v e e d u c a ti o n i s a fi e l d o f s t u d y o r
j u s t a m e t h o d o f r e s e a r c h i n g e d u c a ti o n a l
issues.
 2. Challenge of Comparability
Most issues in comparative education are
linked to the social, cultural, political, and
economic realities of particular countries.
These are further related to issues like
equal opportunity, curriculum relevance
among other issues which are all
interpreted differently in different cultures
and educational systems. In consideration
of these different interpretations, it
becomes a tricky and sometimes
misleading affair to make comparisons of
educational systems and issues across
national boundaries
 3. The challenge related to Method.

Over the years, some of the analytical tools used in

the study of comparative education have been in
most cases considered to be primitive as compared
with the tools currently being used in other social
inquires. For example, the use of questionnaires sent
through the post office proves to be unsatisfactory in
that unreliable data is likely to be provided because
of different interpretations given do different levels of
education and the understanding of the purpose for
which the data are collected.
4. Challenge related to Subjectivity of Analysis.

In many studies, there is a human tendency to

view issues with one's social background. Since
we all come from various social backgrounds,
some from the primitive, conservative, and
sometimes rigid, while others come from the
modern, open-minded, and move receptive to
changes.