· March, 2009

Stories about Education from March, 2009

Puerto Rico: Murder Rate

  31 March 2009

“We. Don't. Give. A. Damn. Because it isn't really ‘Us’ getting killed, it's ‘them.’ We don't see the obvious. There is no ‘them’ on an island. There's only Us”: Puerto Rico's Gil the Jenius links to a study reporting that a 10% increase in graduation rates can reduce murder rates...

Barbados: Moving On Up?

  27 March 2009

“Will Barbados’ proposed housing developments be part of an economic and social package that is geared to give people a better standard of living?”: Living in Barbados questions the wisdom of high-rise developments on the island.

Tunisia: Dismissed Student Activists on Hunger Strike for the Right to Education

A total of 158 Tunisians and their friends from around the world went on hunger strike for a day today (March 26) in solidarity with five students who have been on hunger strike since February 11 in Tunisia. The initiative has been orchestrated on a Facebook group [Fr] as a symbolic form of support to the students, who are members of Tunisian Students' Union (UGET), and who have been suspended from university for their activism on campus.

India: Vlog of a Mumbai Youth

  26 March 2009

Rahul Katyayan scripted, shot and directed a movie on his life in Mumbai and posted in his blog. The movie (vlog) was made for American students who wants to know more about the students of their age from different part of world.

Trinidad & Tobago: SEA of Fools?

  26 March 2009

“The children of Trinidad & Tobago are this morning sitting the dreaded SEA (Secondary Entrance Assessment) exam that replaced the even-more-dreaded 11-Plus”: Barbados-based B.C. Pires shares his thoughts.

Student Elections in Nepal

  24 March 2009

Last week Nepalese students exercised their democratic rights. Student elections were held at public universities and colleges campus throughout the country. Private institutions do not hold elections. The call to include them in the process has been growing over the years but fearing vapid political interference in college environment, private...

Brazil: A Private Nature Reserve – Is It Possible?

  24 March 2009

Society demands green action and Brazil’s policy that motivates land onwers to join the National Conservation Units Systems is having a great impact on society. Under the program known as RPPN, land onwers receive investments and credit too. Land use is restricted to research, environmental education and ecotourism. Blogs are one of the tools used to report experiences and document the work being carried out to keep Brazil green.

Hong Kong: Vindication of June 4 in Question

  22 March 2009

2009 is the 20th anniversary of June 4 Tiananmen Massacre. If there were reincarnation, people who had been killed then would be twenty years old this year. Some of them would probably become university students, who are usually regarded as conscience of the society. Sadly this year, at least two...

India: Gujarat Diamond Workers Suicide in the Face of Crisis

  21 March 2009

On the following videos we can see and hear about the situation the Gujarat diamond polishers in India are facing. As the world recession and economic crisis affects their industry, thousands are laid off. Unable to feed their families, pay bills or send their children to school, they have to adjust to living hand to mouth, many are turning to suicide as their last resort.

Jamaica: V-Day

  20 March 2009

Abeng News Magazine reports that Jamaica is an active part of the international V-Day 2009 campaign – “a global movement to stop violence against women and girls.”

Nepal: On Individualism

  19 March 2009

Thinking About Nepal believes that: “if Nepali parents are able to indoctrinate in their children a sense of individualism along with respect for community and elders, Nepal will have a citizenry that will able to deal with most challenges faced today and in the future.”

India: The Menace of Ragging

  19 March 2009

Sam's Lodge [chai-coffee] describes how the trend of ragging is becoming severely violent in India. The blog comments: “a clear distinction must be made between ragging and bullying. When ragging becomes bullying, it crosses all lines of decency.”