Stories about Education from December, 2009
Thailand's English as Second Language industry
A Filipino teacher-blogger in Thailand shares a brief background on the English as Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) industry in the country.
Uruguay: The Best Blogs from School-Aged Children
The blog from Plan Ceibal in Uruguay shares links to the best blogs from school-aged children [es] across the country as part of the campaign, “Your Ideas are Valued.”
Israel: Defining Parenting Styles
“What defines Israeli parenting?” asks A Mother in Israel. Readers provide commentary about their impressions and experiences.
Azerbaijan: Education, free thought and development
Following a previous post from Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines on European concerns with the situation of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, and especially following the imprisonment of video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, the blog comments on remarks made by the country's Minister of Education. The...
Japan: Peace picture books
The pacifist association called Peace Picture Books [ja, en] published online their last story titled Evil & Punishment: psychology of punishment [en]. On the same website it`s possible to read picture books by different illustrators.
Fiji: History syllabus that should be history
Wendy, from the blog Babasiga, hopes that the history syllabus taught in Fiji's schools is not really from 1960. “Sobosobo, that was colonial! Before Independence, before coup culture!,” she writes.
Tunisia: Student Jailed for Media Interview
Tunisian activists have started a Facebook group and a blog in support of Mohamed Soudani, 24, who disappeared on October 22, 2009, in Tunisia, after giving interviews to Radio Monte Carlo International and Radio France International. Friends have since learned he was detained and tortured.
China: Another elite's suicide – the story of Yang Yuanyuan
YANG Yuanyuan, a 30-year-old postgraduate at Shanghai Maritime University, hanged herself in her bathroom on November 25. She told her mother that knowledge cannot change destiny on the day before she committed suicide. Recent years have seen an increasing number of suicides committed by Chinese university students, in particular among postgraduates...
Russian Google Books Site Launched
Google launched its “Books” project in Russian language [RUS], reports Russian radio “Mayak” [RUS]. The corporation will face serious competition from other 10 large Russian e-libraries with lib.ru [RUS] being the oldest and most popular.
Kazakhstan: Taking the blogosphere’s pulse for the month
Bloggers continue to share their opinions on current events, from questions of government and regional development in the republic, to musings on the interrelatedness between social behavior and consumer priorities.
Colombia: Critique and Rebuttal on Medellín Digital
Fernando Castro of Bitácora de viaje enlists the obstacles of ICT program Medellín digital [es], which implements technology in institutes and public places of Medellín, Colombia, to promote equality and education. Blogger suggest that using propietary software may not be the best way to reach the common user, and readers...
Russia: “Teaching the Rich in Moscow”
English Man In Moscow recounts a recent experience of doing “some teaching at a mega rich Russian family.”
ICT4D for Women: Opportunities and Risks
Mobile phones present opportunities for development as well as risks for further abuse and marginalization of women. Gender awareness is crucial when it comes to using ICT for development.
Trinidad & Tobago: Small Farmers
“Hopefully after viewing this you will be inspired to plant your own organic garden (i.e. if you don't have one already)”: Now Is Wow Too posts a video she recorded of an initiative by the students of a Trinidadian primary school.
Slovakia: Controversial Politician Opposes Construction of a Casino
TriGranit, one of Europe's largest property developers, in cooperation with Harrah's Entertainment, the world's largest gaming company, are to build a leisure and shopping complex with a casino in Slovakia. Tibor Blazko translates some of what Slovak netizens have to say about one of the critics of this construction project.
Peru: Students Complain After Charge on Raffle Tickets
Engineering students from the Señor de Sipán University at Perú made a quick profit analysis of a raffle organized by the institution [es] after a ticket charge on their college monthly payments without prior notice.
Bhutan: Grades vs Education
Tomlax says: “those people who score more in exams are not really more educated.” Read the post at Kuzu-Bhutan Weblog to learn why.
Austria: How Social Media Set “Universities on Fire”
Did you know that at this very moment many universities throughout Europe are occupied by students? This remarkable movement has been coordinated entirely via online social media.
China: Draining the brain?
Both the blogosphere and the mainstream media in China have been alerting us to the country’s severe brain drain. According to the Global Times, around 1.4 million Chinese have gone abroad as students and scholars since 2007, with only a quarter returning after graduation. The Blue Book on Global Politics and...
Trinidad & Tobago: Gay Issues at CHOGM
gspottt says that “for the first time at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting…in Trinidad & Tobago, there was significant representation of GLBTQ (gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/queer) activists among civil society participants, and a concerted effort to highlight issues of sexual citizenship and rights.”
Caribbean: World AIDS Day
Regional bloggers discuss World AIDS Day.
