Stories about Education from December, 2013
Malagasy Genius Seeking Happiness off the Grid
Malagasy genius decides that what he wants is a normal life, away from all the public attention..
4 Women Journalists Defying the Odds in Mexico City
This post is part of our series on gender and sexuality in Latin America and the Caribbean in collaboration with North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA). Despite the low salaries and the dangers that come with being a reporter in the most dangerous country for journalists in the Americas, some Mexican female...
DIY Galaksija Computer, Bedrock of Serbia's IT Industry, Turns 30
Thirty years ago in Yugoslavia, young inventor Voja Antonić and his team created a personal computer that users could build at home, using tools and parts readily available in stores.
Chinese University Professor Quits to Seek Academic Freedom
"I want to be responsible for my own life. The only thing you can change is yourself."
Innovation: A Spell Checker for Bambara Language
Fasokan in Mali reports on the creation of an app to help spell check texts in Bambara [fr] : Il est disponible sur les traitements de texte et outils bureautiques libres et gratuit : Open Office, Libre Office, Néo Office, et sur les ordinateurs Windows, Mac, et Linux. Qu’est-ce qui...
The State Of Freedom Of Religion in Maldives
The Maldives ranks high on the list of governments that restrict religious freedom. Maldivian citizens have to be Muslim and cannot practice any religion other than Islam. Non-Muslim foreigners cannot vote, worship publicly, obtain citizenship, and hold public positions. Journalist Hilath Rasheed notes that Maldives perhaps will not be able...
South Korean Education Ministry Discourages Students’ Poster Movement
As South Korean university students’ ‘We Are Not Fine!’ poster movement spreads like wildfire across the country, even up to the point of motivating high, junior high and elementary students [ko] to write their own, the Ministry of Education has given notice to schools to control students’ poster-making in order...
3 Initiatives Working to Make Niger a Better Place
Positive stories from Niger are a few and far between these days, thanks to economic hardship combined with threats of terrorism. Three projects are trying to change that.
Another Rural Japanese Elementary School Disappears Due to Declining Birthrate
Every year, about 500 public schools in Japan are closing due to shortage of children as the cost of education becomes unbearable for rural communities.
3,000 Students Protest against Educational Reform in Gabon
Reforms to the educational system were suspended [fr] in Gabon after teachers and students marched together in protests. In the proposed reform, the final exam to obtain the high school diploma will be done in one round instead of two and the entry into high school will be subjected to...
Upholding the Essential Values of the Bhutanese Youth
Bhutan has been blessed with a sustained, rich cultural heritage and the Bhutanese people take pride in upholding a number of essential values including harmony, compassion and patriotism. Blogger Dorji Wangchuk has been working with the recovering addicts and alcoholics and looks for a long-term solution of the problem among...
Review of University Websites in Southeast Asia
Le Minh Khai reviewed the websites of the leading universities in Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and was disappointed with the design and content of these online platforms.
China Downplays English-Language Education With Series of Reforms
"How many Chinese have been hurt by the English education? It should have been abolished long ago."
“I Am a German Street Vendor in Dakar”
Being a street vendor is not an easy job, especially in Senegal. Yet this is the choice that Sebastian Prothmann, a native of Germany, made after he arrived in Dakar, Senegal a few months ago. The following video shows Prothmann at work [fr]: Prothmann explains in an interview for the...
Spain Regional Education Minister Steps in it with Translation Gaffe
Spain's Regional Minister of Education for the Balearic Islands, Joana Maria Camps (@joanamariacamps), has proven herself not very familiar with one of the most important studies on education: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). In a parliamentary session on November 21, she talked [ca]...
China: Father's Role
Offbeat China introduced a new popular TV program called “Where Are We Going, Dad?”. The show arranges five celebrity dads and their young kids to fulfill various outdoor tasks in the form of competition without the presence of moms. Below is one of the netizens’ comment quoted by the blogger:...