Stories about Education from September, 2009
Paraguay: No Funds for Education, but Funds for Arms
Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] refers to complaints from the Paraguayan Ministry of Education who says that there are no funds to purchase school supplies, yet the country spends money on purchasing arms.
Singapore: Toothless education bill?
A Singapore blogger criticizes the Private Education Bill for its lack of provisions that would deter criminal behavior among private school owners.
Bahamas: educational tourism
Repeating Islands reports on a new “educational tourism” initiative in Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas. “This is travel that unites your purpose and passion and ignites your enthusiasm.”
China: School girl wants to be “corrupt official”
On the first day of China’s school term, Guangzhou’s Southern Metropolitan Daily interviewed some kids about their life-goals. One girl told the journalist that her dream was to become “a corrupt official."
Syria: Back to School
Syrian Kinan Jarjous, who blogs at Jar of Juice, is back to school. “[C]ontinuing my education is a major thing I want to finish – not only because it paves a way to potential better jobs, but because I really need the mental stimulation, something I considerably lacked in the...
Azerbaijan: Good news… for a change
Following the detention and prosecution of youth activists in two of the three countries making up the South Caucasus, Thoughts on the Road reports that there is at least some good news for a change. Even if the trial of video bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli is set to...
Hungary: Education
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the problems of the Hungarian education system.
Ukraine: First Day of School
Belatedly, a link to Michelle Knisley's photos of Kyiv schoolgirls celebrating the first day of school on Sept. 1, 2009.
Global Voices Bloggers Mentor New Danish and African Bloggers
Emails have begun to fly this week between 31 Global Voices mentors and 31 participants in a newly launched educational program in Copenhagen, Denmark called Global Change.
Bahamas: International Literacy Day
Bahamian bloggers Womanish Words and tings mash dedicate their posts to the marking of UNESCO’s International Literacy Day.
Trinidad & Tobago: Budget Comments
“It really didn't say much and didn't seem attached to a reality where citizens of the country exist”: KnowProSE.com posts some general impressions of Trinidad and Tobago's 2009-2010 Budget, while kid5rivers says of the TT$7.7 billion shortfall: “Such shortfalls…are really debts to be repaid by future generations…”
Bermuda: Gambling Shooting
As a Bermudian man fights for his life after being shot at a gambling event, Catch a fire, who is “particularly concerned about the prevalance of organised gambling”, also acknowledges the bigger issue: “We currently live in an increasingly atomistic society, a collection of households rather than a neighbourhood, workers...
Afganistan: Universities and master programs
Afghan PenLog explains why universities in Afghanistan are not academically prepared to offer master programs.
Guadeloupe: Erika Delays School
The first day of school was seriously challenged by Tropical Storm Erika: les Cantin en Guadeloupe [FR] expresses fear as the alert levels are raised, Critiqart Guadeloupe [FR] can't see the need for delaying the first day of school because of some rain and wind, and Shakazulu [FR CR] thinks...
India: Teachers Day
September 5 was celebrated as the national teachers’ day in India for the appreciation of teachers or Gurus. “One most important thing that is inherently Indian, is the respect given to Gurus in India,” informs Uber Desi.
Translator of the week: Boukary Konaté in Mali
Boukary Konaté teaches French and English in a high school in Mali. Joining Global Voices in French has steered him onto a new path: he is now involved in Web projects to promote his native language, Bambara, and train rural communities in Mali to use the internet.
Morocco: Teaching “Berber” in Schools
A BBC News piece on the teaching of "Berber" languages in Morocco has got the blogoma talking. The article, which outlines the educational options for learning and studying the language, prompted a variety of posts. Jillian C. York has the story.
Bahamas, Turks & Caicos: Federation?
News breaks that the Bahamian Prime Minister may be considering forming a federation between the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, prompting blogger Sidney Sweeting to comment: “Please note that our PM is responding to a suggestion made by the ex-Premier of Turks and Caicos who was forced to resign because...
Jamaica: Conformity?
“The Caribbean is, according to Rex Nettleford, the ideal model of what the world is trying to achieve through globalisation: different people and cultures and races melted into one big pot, sharing the same geographical space” – but to Jamaican blogger Ruthibelle, “it seems…that this quest for one region, for...
Palestine: Trying To Learn In Gaza
In Gaza, Eva Bartlett writes: “Palestinians have an exceedingly high drive to learn and attain higher education. Of course, here in a besieged Strip, with even school materials deemed non-vital by the Israeli overlords, education is a challenge.”
USA: Deportations Feared as New School Year Begins
A proposed bill that would resolve the legal status of approximately 65,000 undocumented students in the United States is still in limbo as another school year begins this month.