· October, 2012

Stories about Education from October, 2012

Pakistan: Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy fired from LUMS

MIT alumni and preeminent physicist Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy has been fired from Lahore University of Management Sciences presumably because of ideological differences with the management. Dr. Hoodbhoy's contract was a buzzing news on the Pakistani twitter community.

30 October 2012

Slovakia: Protesting SOZA's Newest Copyright Fees

SOZA's general manager Vladimír Repčík addressed Slovak high school seniors via his blog on October 22, urging them to register with his agency and pay €15 for their traditional graduation parties. Tibor Blazko reports on the controversy.

28 October 2012

Brazil: Rethinking Drug Policy

Rio Real blog wrote about the launch of Pense Livre (Think Free) [pt] in September 2012, a network to urge a rethink of Brazil’s drug policy. The author stresses that drug decriminalization...

24 October 2012

Cameroon: Students and Researchers Evaluate the Welfare System

Welfare Systems are rapidly evolving in Sub-Saharan Africa, with some countries having implemented systems allowing evaluation of measures taken several decades ago. Students and researchers from Cameroon have closely examined social public policies and private sector initiatives in their country.

22 October 2012

After Japan Earthquake, a New Local Newspaper by Citizens

Since the local newspaper in Otsuchi, Japan was forced to close down after the 2011 earthquake, a new hyper-local, hybrid newspaper project is teaching local citizens skills in reporting, and invites journalism students from across the country to sign up for internships.

22 October 2012

Slovakia: Music Copyright Agency Vs. School Drama Club

The Slovak Performing and Mechanical Rights Society imposes a €975 fine on a high school drama club for a fundraiser ball, which included a raffle and featured songs authored and performed by the club members - but had not been properly registered with the music copyright agency. Tibor Blazko reports.

17 October 2012

Sierra Leone: Is Ami Musa the Saddest Pinterest Page in the World?

One blog, Lovelyish, considers a Pinterest campaign about a 13-year-old girl Ami Musa from Sierra Leone by UNICEF UK to raise awareness about children living in poverty in Africa "the saddest Pinterest page in the world." Another blogger, Tom Murphy, argues that Pinterest represents a bit of a brave new world for NGOs to reach newer audiences.

14 October 2012

Costa Rica: Students Protest Veto of ‘Photocopying Law’

Thousands of students participated in a march in San José on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, protesting for their right to photocopy textbooks for educational purposes. The unrest was caused by President Chinchilla vetoing Bill 17342 (known as the ‘Photocopying Law’) on the grounds that it removes protection of the work and intellectual property in the artistic, literary and technological areas.

11 October 2012