Stories about Education from March, 2011
Venezuela's Hip-hop Schools (Video)
Caracazo Media shares their short documentary featuring interviews (with English subtitles) and performances of students from an EPATU (Popular School for the Arts and Urban Traditions) hip-hop school in the “overcrowded barrio of La Vega in the hillsides of Caracas, Venezuela.” The film incorporates video filmed by the youth.
Taiwan: Problems with Chinese-language pedagogy
Lao Ren Cha discusses problems with the pedagogy of teaching Mandarin in Taiwan. She wants to see a mutiny that will result in an overhaul in how Mandarin is taught.
USA: Student Blogs Seeks Middle East Voices
Students from Middlebury College in Vermont (former exchange students in the Middle East) manage the blog Mideast Reports which features audio, video, and links about ongoing protests.
Barbados: Girl Power
“That’s not to say that there aren’t some things that need changing or work, but it’s good to see international recognition and confirmation that Bajan girls and women have every opportunity to be the best that they can be”: Barbados Free Press is pleased with a report that says the...
Bermuda: Dr. Ball Passes On
“She was one of the greatest Bermudians of our modern era, and her achievements and work are truly inspiring”: Catch a fire blogs about “[his] own memories and reflections” of “Bermuda's Lady of Labour”.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Heroes Day
Today is National Heroes Day; Abeni explains why “the challenge…is to play our part in educating others on [Carib Chief] Chatoyer and why he is important to our sense of self.”
Jamaica: Skin Bleaching Perspective
Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel gives a talk at the University of the West Indies; Active Voice comments: “Kartel is on the cutting edge of research and thinking about this phenomenon when he argues for the changing role skin bleaching plays in this society today.”
Africa: Increasing Female Participation in Science and Technology
Gamel looks at practical ways to increase female participation in Science and Technology in Africa: “I disagree with attempts to “level the playing field” through the practice of admitting females into science and technology programmes, in high schools and universities, at lower grades than males.”
China: Vice principle of university kills 2 and wounds 3 in fatal car accident
China Hush translates a forum post from MOP on a recent car accident in Jiangxi University, in which the vice-principal of the University killed 2 and wounded 3 people. Despite the victims’ family claim that the driver was under the influence of alcohol in the tests after the accident, local...
Puerto Rico: Professors debate student strike
Blogger and law student Mariana Iriarte comments [es] on the debate among professors of the University of Puerto Rico on the effectiveness of the strategies proposed by students as part of their protest against the imposition of tuition fees.
Puerto Rico: Violence in the University
The Puerto Rican Association of University Professors of Puerto Rico (APPU) condemned the physical attacks [es] a group of students perpetrated against the Provost of the Río Piedras campus, Ana Guadalupe. The University of Puerto Rico has been in turmoil due to budget cuts and tuition hikes.
International Women's Day Marked in Ghana with Awards Ceremony
Every year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Ghana and her women were not left out of this important day.
Paraguay's Digital Divide
Juan Edgardo Lezcano [es] writes about the digital divide in Paraguay. Juan reports that there are few educational institutions focusing on information and communication technology (ICT), and that low-income citizens can't access the scarce opportunities to learn these skills.
Jordan: #HashtagDebates and Reforms
The second #HashtagDebates organized by 7iber took place at Makan House in Amman this evening (March 7). 7iber, the Jordanian youth-orientated independent media outlet has been contributing to growing public dialog both online and offline through several programs and activities.
Panama: Thoughts on Improving Education
Panamanian students returned to school on March 1st. Hanna at Contrapunto [es] writes about education in Panama and how to improve it. She argues that Panamanian educators need to realize the need to change and improve; furthermore, she says Panama needs to find a way to encourage more young people...
Palestine: Life in the Eyes of Two West Bank Students
Linah Alsaafin and Heba Awadallah are students at Birzeit University near Ramallah in the West Bank, who started a blog together a year ago. Called Life On Bir Zeit Campus, the blog takes an incisive and entertaining look at student life and Palestinian politics amongst other topics.
Romania: Education System
Csíkszereda Musings writes about some of the problems with the Romanian education system – here and here.
Russia: “Tutor/Nanny/Friend/Plaything”
English Man In Moscow, who seeks to be hired as a tutor by an affluent Russian family with kids, writes about a recent 3-hour “‘trial’ lesson” that he gave to a 9-year-old for $43/26 GBP/1,250 rubles per hour. (“Not a fortune, but at the low end of pay for private...
Colombia: High School Students Speak About Sexual Diversity
In Colombia, the government of Medellin has started a campaign to raise awareness on sexual diversity in high schools, and part of the campaign includes online videos of different students speaking about their experience
Lebanon: Protests Against Sectarian Regime
More than 2,500 Lebanese citizens marched last Sunday (February 27, 2011) in the capital Beirut against the sectarian system which they think is the reason of the country's problems. Here's how it went and how the Lebanese online community reacted. Other protests are planned for tomorrow (March 5).
Puerto Rico: World Day of Solidarity with the UPR
Sympathizers with the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico will stage simultaneous demonstrations in solidarity with the UPR in cities around the world on Friday, March 11, 2011. Some cities are Amsterdam, Madrid, New York and Manchester.
