IGIHE

Category: Education

  • South Africa:Children stranded as medical aids refuse funds for education psychologists

    Cape Town – Educational psychologists across the country are still waiting for an answer to why medical aid schemes have withdrawn funding for people needing educational health counselling.

    Dr Martin Strous, chairperson of the Educational Psychology Association of South Africa (EPASSA), the largest in SA, told News24 that as many as seven public and private medical aid schemes have refused to pay for the services of his profession since earlier this year.

    The list includes the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), which covers all government employees.

    The problem arose after the Health Professions Council of SA reclassified the industry’s scope of practice in 2011, differentiating between clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, and counselling etc.

    As a result, medical aid schemes have realised they are no longer legally bound to cover the costs of educational psychologists.

    Many patients, especially children, have thus been refused medical aid in the process, and are regularly advised to see clinical psychologists instead, who aren’t necessarily specialists in educational health.

    Three educational psychologists (EPs) spoke to News24 to discuss how the unexpected change has affected their day-to-day dealings with patients and in their practices.

    ‘I have to turn kids away’

    An EP who runs her own practice in Woodstock, Cape Town, specialises in identifying and treating learning difficulties in children, such as dyslexia.

    She asked to remain anonymous for fear of prosecution.

    “It’s been extremely stressful. I’ve been submitting to GEMS and all the other funds for four years now and have never had a problem,” she said.

    “Then without any warning, they made the decision to no longer pay from June 1.”

    She said she made a loss of around R40 000 for work she had already done in May and June.

    She chose not to tell the parents that the medical aid would not cover their assessment, and decided to take out a personal loan to cover the short-term loss.

    “Parents now contact me almost daily, and the first question I have to ask them is: which medical aid are you on?

    “Since this all started I’ve had to turn away 15-20 kids, and those children aren’t getting the help that they need.”

    ‘70% of my livelihood is gone’

    A 64-year-old EP with 36 years’ experience in Port Elizabeth, Gerhardt Goosen, told News24 that he has lost 70% of his livelihood, and fears for the lives of some of his more troubled patients.

    “It’s drastic. It’s destructive and it’s not just GEMS, it’s also Polmed [police] and many others.

    “My practice itself, about 70% of it is gone. I’m seriously thinking of closing it and retiring. I’m 64, so it will be hard to find another job.”

    He also said he received no notification of the change, neither as a practitioner nor as a GEMS client himself.

    The poor ‘most affected’

    A third EP in Gauteng, who is also the chairperson of the SA School Psychologists Association, said the change has drastically affected NGOs working in the Johannesburg inner city.

    “Most of the people who we see are poor, so they come to us. But many of them can’t afford to pay cash for our services,” he said, preferring not give his full name.

    Martin Strous of EPASSA believes that the issue needs to be challenged at government level, as the status quo is in breach of the Council for Medical Schemes’ advice.

    “What is needed is for the HPCSA’s Professional Board for Psychology, which regulates the profession of psychology, and the Council for Medical Schemes, which regulates medical aids, to act in a way that will stop this injustice,” he told News24.

    GEMS responds to claims

    Communications executive for GEMS Liziwe Nkonyana responded to News24’s questions around funding last week.

    “After careful investigation we have ascertained that there are a number of unresolved issues regarding the interpretation of guidelines impacting the funding of services rendered by educational psychologists,” Nkonyana said via email.

    “This however does not mean that these claims are refuted out of hand by GEMS.

    “It appears that our managed care and administration partners have for various reasons rejected a number of these claims in recent weeks.”

    Nkonyana said GEMS has called for additional information and will be re-assessing the rejected claims.

    “We are pleased that this matter was brought to our attention so that we could intervene in order to ensure that the situation is fully resolved.”

    HPCSA ‘aware’ of challenges

    The Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) told News24 on Friday that it is was aware of the current challenges, but that the change in scope was motivated by inadequate regulations.

    The 2011 change actually expanded the scope for educational psychologists to include learning and development across a lifespan, and not just in contexts of family, school, social or peer groups, Communications manager Priscilla Sekhonyana told News24.

    “The board is aware of the challenges experienced with some medical aids due to their refusal to reimburse educational psychologists, and is interacting with the Psychological Society of South Africa to convene a meeting in order to assist in these challenges.

    “Further, communications with some of the medical aids was also undertaken to assist in the challenges.”

    Sekhonyana said the Council’s primary mandate was to protect the public and ensure that psychologists are properly trained in their professional category.

    A High Court case between psychology association Relpag, the HPCSA and Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi is set down for August in Cape Town.

  • Rwanda researchers hampered by inadequate funding- Gasingirwa

    {The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has revealed that some Rwanda researchers are discouraged by inadequate funding to effectively carry research despite the importance of research outcomes in addressing such issues climate change. }

    This was revealed by Dr. Marie- Christine Gasingirwa, the Director of Science, Technology and Research in MINEDUC in a meeting assessing how to uplift capacities aimed at promoting research in energy that brought together some Rwandan researchers and various research experts from Africa and across the World.

    She said that Rwanda has researchers but face obstacles of inadequate funding, an issue which has to be addressed.

    “They have been connected to financiers to enable them carry out research on the causes and mitigation efforts in climate change and energy,” she said.

    With clearly defined early warning systems established through research, it becomes easier to mitigate and adopt resilient approaches to climate change effects.

    Dr. Marie- Christine Gasingirwa, the Director of Science, Technology and Research in MINEDUC

  • Uganda:27 pupils admitted over suspected food poisoning

    {At the children’s ward, about eight of the pupils clad in their uniforms laid on the hospital beds while on drip.}

    About 27 pupils of Kings Kid Primary School, Soroti District have been admitted to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital over alleged food poisoning.

    The pupils were rushed this morning (Friday) to the children’s ward and the outpatient department at Soroti hospital where they are being attended to by several doctors and nurses.

    At the children’s ward, about eight of the pupils clad in their uniforms laid on the hospital beds while on drip.

    Mr James Peter Odeke, the school head teacher told Daily Monitor that the children started feeling stomach upsets and vomiting on Thursday evening, but they were attended to by the school nurse.

    He said when their condition worsened, the school management called the hospital administration which advised them to rush the children to the hospital for further medication.

    “As we talk now, some of the pupils have been discharged and will be going home with their parents,” Mr Odeke added.

    He refuted claims of food poisoning, saying from what the medics have shown them, it is Malaria that had caused stomach upsets and vomiting among the children. Mr Odeke said the affected pupils are in the school’s boarding section especially from primary four to six.

    However, a nurse who asked not be named said of all the tests done, there are no confirmatory presence of Malaria parasites in any of the pupils blood.

    “I suspect the food that the pupils ate could have caused the stomach upsets and vomiting,” she said, adding that the pupils are recovering.

    One of the parents identified as Florence Apio, said she rushed to the hospital only to find that one of the children was her daughter.

    “Well I have interacted with the nurses and they tell me, there is no need to worry,” she said, adding after her daughter is discharged, she will have to take her home for further monitoring.

  • Dr. Vince Sinining appointed new provost of Mahatma Gandhi University-Rwanda

    {Dr. Vince Sinining has been appointed as the new provost of Mahatma Gandhi University – Rwanda. }

    Talking on appointed duties Dr. Sinining has said “I am honored of the trust and confidence accorded to me by the Chancellor Dr. Rajan Chopra to serve as the chief academic leader of a University known for its commitment to provide innovative programs using the latest technologies.”

    “I am excited to work with Chancellor Dr. Chopra and the leadership team led by Director Dr. Varun Gupta to elevate the national and international profile of Mahatma Gandhi University in Rwanda. I am also excited to live here in Kigali, and be part of the government’s efforts of providing the people of Rwanda quality academic experience for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.

    The director of Mahatma Gandhi University, Director Gupta has welcomed Dr. Sinining noting that his experience in education, global leadership, research and sustainable development will help to provide excellent and quality academic experience among the generation of leaders in Rwanda and in the East African Community.

    “Dr. Sinining has been a dedicated member of the Mahatma Gandhi University’s faculty team on our graduate online programs, a veteran educator for the last thirty years and an experienced administrator of non-profit, non-governmental organizations,” said Director Gupta.

    “He has more than 27 years of academic experience, including 17 years as educator in secondary and tertiary levels in the United States, 9 years as visiting professor in Southeast Asia, and one year in the Pacific Islands.He also served for 10 years as Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development to select member states at the United Nations in New York, and has worked closely with various heads of state and government. He is currently writing his new book on the intricacies of multilateral diplomacy among small states at the United Nations,” he added.

    He expressed delightfulness to have Dr. Sinining as the provost as he is expected to ensure the highest standards for students’ academic training.

    Dr. Vince Sinining will work with the president, senior management and academic staff members on university-wide collaboration, academic policy and top priorities.

    Dr. Vince Sinining

  • EAC mulls uniform tuition for varsity students

    {A move to charge same tuition fees from East African students is being frustrated by some Community members, Ms Jesca Eriyo, the EAC deputy secretary general in charge of productive and social sectors, has said.}

    Ms Eriyo was speaking at the opening of the regional meeting, Intra-African Talent Mobility Partnership (TMP) programme, in Kampala yesterday.

    She said in addition to free movement, students from EAC partner states are to be treated equally.
    “We know that some students from within the region are charged in foreign rates which is contrary to what we agreed upon,” Ms Eriyo said.

    Centres of excellence have been identified by the Community to enable students acquire more professionals but Ms Eriyo said this cannot be implemented if countries are still charging different fees.

    Mr Kirunda Kivejinja, the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, said the EAC has made significant strides, including achieving free movement of students from the region.

    “The EAC has made some remarkable achievements on the movement of persons and labour key among which are use of National Identification Cards (Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya) as travel documents, use of EAC passports and issuance of gratis students passes, among others,” Mr Kivejinja said.
    Mr Kivejinja also emphasised the need for uniform fees in the region.

    “If there is a centre for excellence everything has to be the same, except for transport because the objective is to get a concrete mass for East Africa,” Mr Kivejinja emphasised.
    In 2014, vice-chancellors from Ugandan universities came out and opposed the proposal for uniform fees, saying Uganda is a free market economy and the matter of fees should be left to individual institutions.

    The Intra-African Talent Mobility Programme brings together African States with a major aim of establishing mechanisms and common policies on mobility of professionals, business persons and investors.

  • Ivory Coast’s ‘hero’ professor backs student mothers

    {An Ivory Coast professor, who was photographed carrying a student’s baby in class in a widely shared image, has said being a mother should not stop women getting an education.}

    Honore Kahi offered to take the baby as he was crying and preventing the mother from sitting in class.

    He said his students were surprised, began to laugh and then took pictures.
    He told the BBC that they then realised that “this is a good father, this is a real man… [and] a role model”.

    Some of those sharing the photograph on social media praised him as a hero.

    Mr Kahi, who teaches communications at Ivory Coast’s Bouake University, said that women should not be discouraged by people’s perceptions of what they should be able to do.

    Girls are less likely than boys to start primary education in sub-Saharan Africa and are under-represented at higher education, the UN says.

    “What prevails here is… male chauvinism,” he said and then quoted an ancient philosopher in his interview with BBC Afrique.

    “‘It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.’ In our environment we let ourselves be discouraged by others.”
    He said that when he took the baby and tied him on his back he stopped crying and fell asleep.

    He knew how to do it by observing how women carry their children.

    “In fact, men are able to do certain things, and usually it’s the way society sees men that prevents them from doing these things.

    Professor Honore Kahi put the baby on his back so that the mother could concentrate on the class

  • Tanzania:Presidential deadline on desks supply intact

    {The government has reaffirmed on June deadline for school desk crisis as fixed, calling on all relevant authorities to industriously meet the target line.}

    {Minister in President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), TAMISEMI, Mr George Simbachawene, reiterated that the directive issued by President John Magufuli and Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa was unchangeable.}

    “All district and council executive directors who will by June still face shortage of desks in primary and secondary schools they should count themselves failures,” he said in Morogoro at the weekend.

    Official government figures shows primary and secondary schools in the country are facing a shortage of over 3,000,000 desks with primary schools having a shortage of 2,800,000 while 200,000 desks are needed in secondary schools.

    But speaking in Morogoro at a meeting with district commissioners, council directors and head of departments, the minister recalled the president’s order saying it seeks to unseat pupils from the floor.

    He said there is no debate on the presidential directives. All directors whose pupils and students still sit on the floor will be held responsible for failing to execute their duties.

    “One way to address the crisis is by approving the use of forest resources to address the problem,” he told Regional and District Commissioners who doubles as Chairpersons of decision making units at district and regional levels.

    The minister immediately cautioned the directors and commissioners to be vigilant of the forest resources permits for the undertakings.

    Morogoro is facing a shortage of 73,972 desks in primary schools and 11,038 desks in secondary schools. Similarly the region is in short of 4,508 classrooms in primary schools and 352 classrooms in secondary schools. “There is still a big challenge in Morogoro all alone.

    The region is reach in forest resources somewhat more than Coast Region,” he said. The minister warned over likely surge in debts owed by civil servants and bidders offering food service among public schools as a result of corrupt employment and finance officers.

    “No stone shall remain unturned,” the minister said calling the on Regional Commissioner Mr Kebwe Steven Kebwe to start screening deceitful servants before it’s too late. “Accountants are a mere problem in the region.

    You can be surprised a debt amounting to 25bn/- if audited it falls to 5bn/- we will wipe them out,” he said.”

  • Sub-standard international schools given two months to improve or be closed

    {The Ministry of Education has said that International Schools operating in Rwanda without international competence will not be allowed to operate in Rwanda from the beginning of the next academic year in September, 2016.}

    The state minister in charge of primary and secondary schools in the Ministry of Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya has said that the MINEDUC conducted an audit and was surprised to find some schools claiming to be international yet they lack standards.

    Rwamukwaya noted this yesterday as he officially opened the meeting on education in Kigali city yesterday.

    “We have carried an audit and realized that some schools don’t have standards allowing them to operate as international schools. At the time we gave them two months to uplift standards. Last month we conducted another audit and realized that many of such schools claiming to be international have no licenses from Rwanda Education Board (REB) or Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and are not even known by headquarters of main international schools to which they attribute their activities, “he said.

    Rwamukwaya said that subjects of international schools must be linked to programs of the mother school to offer the same education.

    “If you emulate an international program, you have to demonstrate the license from main school founders or tell Rwandans the truth .Don’t cheat them but follow the education system of the country which also requires licensing,” he said.

    Even though Rwamukwaya declined to point out such sub-standard schools, he said; ‘No school will operate again without complete required standards since they will not operate from September, 2016.’

    The deputy mayor of Kigali city in charge of social welfare, Kazayire Judith highlighted that such schools exist and jeopardize quality education as they hoodwink parents and fleece them of their hard earned money.

    The state minister in charge of primary and secondary schools in the Ministry of Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya

  • Carnegie Mellon boosts Kigali tech leaders

    Carnegie Mellon University’s commitment to educating Africa’s next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs received a boost yesterday with a $10.8 million commitment from The MasterCard Foundation.This new partnership, which will be established at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering program in Kigali, Rwanda, will benefit 125 academically talented but economically disadvantaged students from Sub-Saharan Africa as part of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program.

    Carnegie Mellon University will join a global network of 23 Scholars Program partners, comprising educational institutions that are committed to developing Africa’s young leaders. These Scholars will go on to use their knowledge and skills to lead change in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent.
    Since 2011, Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda has contributed to enhancing the quality of the engineering workforce in Africa. This effort has addressed the critical shortage of information and communication technology (ICT) skills required for Africa to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution where physical, cyber and biological systems converge through information, computing and communication technologies to transform the lives and livelihoods of citizens around the world in unprecedented ways.

    The talented graduates of Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda play a strategic role in Africa’s trajectory, leveraging ICT to digitally leapfrog socio-economic development across the continent. With transformative support from The MasterCard Foundation, Carnegie Mellon will be able to multiply its impact on higher education and the ICT sector in Africa, as part of the Rwandan government’s vision to create a Regional Center of Excellence in ICT and to serve as a technological hub for the region.

    “We are excited to partner with Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda, an exceptional institution committed to training the next generation of African engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs to meet pressing global challenges,” said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation. “Investment in STEM education is pivotal to Africa’s future and will ensure that African nations have the opportunity to identify, develop and deploy their wealth of talent.”

    From right:Dr Musafiri Malimba,the Minister of Education ,Subra Suresh, the president of Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda and Kim Kerr, Deputy Director, Education and Learning at The MasterCard Foundation.

  • Mexico: Six killed in clashes during teachers’ protest

    {Police and protesters clash as teachers rally against education reform and colleagues’ arrests.}

    Violent clashes between police and members of a radical teachers’ union who had blockaded roads in southern Mexico have left at least six people dead and more than 100 injured, officials said.

    The teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE, are opposed to the mandatory testing of teachers as part of Mexico’s sweeping education reform and are also protesting against the arrest of union leaders on money laundering and other charges.

    In Sunday’s clashes in the southern state of Oaxaca, protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails, and burned vehicles, while journalists saw riot police firing on demonstrators. Clashes took place in several municipalities in Oaxaca, but the most violent were in Nochixtlan, north of the state capital also called Oaxaca.

    Officials said six people were killed in Nochixtlan while 53 civilians, 41 federal police agents and 14 state police agents were injured.

    Oaxaca state Governor Gabino Cuesaid said all the dead were civilians, with two having ties to the CNTE union. A state official had previously said a state police officer was killed but it turned out the person was a civilian.

    {{‘Gun attacks’}}

    Earlier on Sunday, Mexico’s federal government released a statement saying 21 federal police had been wounded, three of them by gunfire, and that its agents who participated in the operation were not carrying guns.

    “The attacks with guns came from people outside the blockades who fired on the population and federal police,” it said.

    But footage filmed by The Associated Press agency shows at least one police officer firing a gun several times, though it was unclear if he was a federal or state agent.

    Late on Sunday night, Federal Police chief Enrique Galindo acknowledged that he had sent in some officers with guns after agents came under fire.

    “The police obligation is to protect the population,” he said.

    Clashes were continuing on Sunday night outside of Oaxaca city and in the municipalities of San Pablo Huitzo and Santiaguito, where protesters had burned federal police installations.

    Over the past week, unionised teachers have blockaded streets, a shopping mall and even train tracks in the western state of Michoacan. They have also forced some bus lines to cancel trips to Oaxaca, which is a popular tourist destination, and blocked a highway. And in Oaxaca city, protesting teachers have set up an encampment in the city’s main square.

    Federal prosecutors accuse union leaders of setting up an illegal financial network to fund protests and line their own pockets. They allege the scheme operated in 2013-2015, when the union effectively controlled the payroll of Oaxaca’s teachers.

    Following the arrest of some if its top leaders, the union called for a revolt against Mexico’s government.

    Ten years ago, the teachers started a six-month takeover of Oaxaca that did not end until police stormed the barricades.