Stories about Education from February, 2011
Honduras: Taxi Drivers and Teachers Strike
“La Gringa” blogs about a strike led by teachers and taxi drivers in La Ceiba on February 21. “This was the third national strike of the school year, which only began on Monday, February 14,” she writes.
Malaysia: Rally against ‘racist’ book
A rally was held by Malaysian Indians in Kuala Lumpur to protest the continuing use of Interlok novel in schools. The controversial book, according to protesters, discriminates against the Indian community.
Laos: School building project in Champasaak Province
Sao Darly gives an update on the Lao School building project in Champasaak Province.
Chile: Electronic Textbooks for Schoolchildren?
The school year is starting in Chile, and Enzo Abbagliati in Cadaunadas wonders, “why aren't textbooks in Chile digital?” after he spent almost $300 USD in textbooks for his son. He presents possible advantages to giving schoolchildren electronic textbooks they could read on a tablet or e-reader.
“We Are Not Ants”: New Book Promotes Educated Optimism
No Somos Hormigas (We Are Not Ants) is a book and online platform; a Spanish-language project devoted to "educated optimism." Global Voices is mentioned in the book and online as an example of a project of social innovation.
Puerto Rico: Conflictive One Day Walk-Out
In a general student assembly yesterday, a majority of students of the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico voted in favor of ending the strike for one month [es], but they declared a one day walk out today as part of their protest initiatives against the imposition of...
Puerto Rico: A Student's Life Broadcast Through Youtube
Christian Ortega published the first episode of his regular web series "La Cabeza de Christian" back in the summer of 2009. Through LCC, as it is known for short, Christian generally speaks his mind about Puerto Rican politics, headline news, and his life on the island for seven to nine minutes at a time each week. Alfredo Richner interviews Christian about his online success, Puerto Rico's blogosphere, and the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico, among other topics.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Outcry Over Molestation Charges
‘Three male teachers were questioned/detained on charges of gross indecency and acts of lewdness with their male charges”, causing a firestorm of reaction in St. Vincent. Abeni hopes to bring some reason to the debate, saying: “In the hysteria over a story that is yet to be proven we cry...
Video: Learning a New Language Through Online Video
February 21st is the International Mother Language Day and this year's theme is Linguistic Diversity and New Technologies. With that in mind, we bring you a series of examples of how people are helping others to learn their mother languages using videos and websites.
Japan: It's nursing time on Twitter!
Inexperienced Japanese mums and dads use Twitter to share worries and advices on child-rearing with parent fellows.
Puerto Rico: Congressman Condemns Human Rights Abuses
Blogger and lawyer Hiram Meléndez has posted the video in which Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez appears before Congress forcefully condemning the human rights abuses against students and protesters in the Island, the imposed restrictions on free speech at the University of Puerto Rico, and the crisis of the Bar Association,...
Dominica: First Indigenous Lawyer
The Voice of the Taino People Online is proud to tell the story of “Pearl Diane Williams…the first indigenous Kalinago Carib person from Waitikubuli (Dominica) and possibly the Eastern Caribbean to be admitted to the Bar in the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
Bahamas: Dr. Keva Bethel Dies
Womanish Words pays tribute to the late educator Dr. Keva Bethel: “Bahamian women of my generation can be especially proud of her and grateful to her for a life and career that inspired us to reach for greatness in a man's world.”
Puerto Rico: Muñoz for UPR
Repeating Islands reports that a new interim president has been selected for the University of Puerto Rico.
Latin America: Conversations About OCD Iberoamérica
Juan Arellano spoke to Soraya Sacaan [es] and Juan José Retamal [es] of OCD Iberoamérica [es], a Chilean initiative whose mission is to “contribute to knowledge of digital communications in the private sector, academia and government to promote and understand its scope and application in society.” Juan added both videos...
India: More Awareness Required To Fix The Education system
Himanshu Rai advocates for more awareness of the complexity of the problem in the Indian education system. The blogger opines that “the education model needs to be transformed from teacher-centric to a learning-centric.”
Senegal: Book for Africa Partnership
Peace Corps/Senegal is partnering with Books for Africa to bring textbooks and reading materials to schools and community libraries throughout the country. Volunteers in about 35 communities are working with teachers and village leaders to open libraries and reading spaces…”
Malaysia: National language and patriotism debate
Jebat Must Die from Malaysia writes about the online debate between prominent political bloggers about the use of the national language in the country and its link to nationalism.
Malaysia: Unemployed college graduates
Greg Lopez, writing for the New Mandala, tackles the issue of unemployment among college graduates in Malaysia.
Puerto Rico: “I Support My Alma Mater”
“I stand behind my country’s public university and what it should be: an accessible institution that promotes the advancement of different types of knowledges, provides spaces to discuss and solve some of the most pressing issues facing Puerto Rico, and is not beholden to the whims and stratagems of politicians...
Puerto Rico: UPR President Resigns
In the midst of a severe crisis, the president of the University of Puerto Rico, José Ramón de la Torre, resigned allegedly due to “personal reasons.” The student digital publication Desde Adentro/Rojo Gallito informs [es] that De la Torre resigned one day after sending the Police Superintendent, José Figueroa Sancha,...
