IGIHE

Category: Education

  • Students protest at Sudan’s oldest university

    {Days of rallies held after reports the government plans to sell some buildings for use as a tourist attraction.}

    Students at the oldest university in Sudan have been protesting for three days over reports the government plans to sell some buildings on the historic campus for use as a tourist attraction.

    Dozens of students have been injured in scuffles with police at Khartoum University and several protesters have been detained.

    News has spread that some faculties will be moved from Khartoum to Suba, a southern suburb.

    “As a student at the Khartoum University, I completely refuse to accept the decision of the Khartoum government to sell the university or move it to Suba,” a protester told Al Jazeera. “For me this university is a heritage site, it holds great memories. It’s our history.”

    The university was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the banks of the Blue Nile river.

    A few days ago, the Ministry of Tourism announced plans to transform some of the historic buildings into a tourist attraction.

    But the government denies there are plans to move the university’s activities to another site. It says a rumour started spreading after the institution asked for fresh financing.

    “The university has asked for financing for some of its projects in Suba. This has been misunderstood and wrongly interpreted to mean to move the university from its location,” cabinet spokesman Ahmed Mohamed Saleh said.

    “The cabinet confirms that no decisions have been made at all to move the university or dispossess its facilities.”

  • Liberian teachers to strike over private schools

    {Monrovia – Liberia’s teachers have threatened to strike over plans to privatise the country’s crumbling primary schools, as criticism grows louder over a multi-million-dollar project to outsource education in one of the world’s poorest nations.}

    The president of the National Teacher’s association of Liberia (NTAL) said on Thursday teachers were ready to strike to express their discontent over the subcontracting of education to a private firm, Bridge International Academies.

    The so-called public-private partnership (PPP) is being rolled out across 120 schools as part of a pilot project, with what is believed to be the aim of incorporating all primary schools.

    “We have decided to go on strike nationwide very soon if the government of Liberia does not listen,” NTAL head Mary Mulbah told AFP.

    “This new system called PPP is not the solution to an improved education system in Liberia,” she said.

    “All the education system needs, is proper funding from government, and a strong monitoring mechanism.”

    Recommendations to the government had fallen on deaf ears, she said, accusing the administration of President Ellen Sirleaf of squandering $148 million on the project.

    The government has previously told AFP only that it would spend $65 million in the first year of the rollout.

    In a sign of the union’s hardening attitude, the NTAL replaced previous head Reverend Ellen Fatou Barclay, who was seen as too sympathetic to the government plan, with the more militant Mulbah.

    Not a dime

    The privatisation scheme has also been condemned by the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Kishore Singh, who called it “completely unacceptable” and in violation of “Liberia’s legal and moral obligations”.

    Liberia’s deputy education minister however told AFP earlier this month that the PPP system would be free, would improve standards and had its base in US-style Charter Schools, independent establishments that seek to raise educational standards in poor areas.

    “The parents will not pay a dime… The new system is going to use teachers that are on government payroll, and they are going to be monitored,” Aagon Tingba said.

    The dire state of education in the country, where children receive on average four years of schooling, according to the UN, and where 40% of the population is illiterate, had led the government to consider more radical solutions, Tingba said.

    “The education’s system we have now is on a serious challenge. Research has revealed that most of our high school graduates today are equivalent to fourth graders. Can we continue the same old thing and expect a different result? I say no.”

  • Genocide history to be taught in primary and secondary schools

    {The school curricula of primary and secondary school are set to be widened to include teaching children history of genocide perpetrated against Tutsi as a way of helping them understand how bad leadership led to tragic events that befell the country culminating in 1994 genocide against Tutsi. This will build deeper understanding and prevent reoccurrence of similar mayhem.}

    Such moral values of fighting against genocide already apparent in other courses are believed to equip children with knowledge and preparing them into proper appreciation of the country’s history and future.

    In an interview with IGIHE, the Minister of Education , Dr.Musafili Papias, said that such courses were introduced at the beginning of this year and will go in line with other programs like Ndi Umunyarwanda, Itorero and other associations meant to fight against genocide.

    Musafiri explained that such courses include units of genocide causes, how it was prepared and consequences; building a Rwandan community that is well informed about the contemporary history.

    “It is about teaching Rwandans starting with children who have to understand history of bad leadership and where such can lead the country. This will give a foundation in building a better future of our country,” he said.

    The deputy director of Rwanda Education Board in charge of curriculum, Dr. Joyce Musabe, said that genocide courses will be included in several academic disciplines as it affected a wide range of people and events.

    She says that these courses were prepared to strengthen patriotism, honesty, humanity and Ndi Umunyarwanda among Rwandans, the ultimate aim being to ensure that genocide never happens again.

    “A person who stands to hunt his fellow and kill him/her is an enemy of the country and his fellows. He loses humanness,” she said.

    Rwanda Education Board signed a memorandum of understanding with Aegis Trust where the latter shall publish books of testimonies and genocide history to be used as reference tools.

    The executive secretary in the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana says teaching the causes, process and consequences of genocide in schools is an important step towards realizing peace, unity and reconciliation in the country.

    “We want a country free of genocide ideology .Together we will build a better future of our country,” he said.

    Information from CNLG indicates that genocide ideology harbouring has reduced by 84% since 1994 with 180 cases in 2013, 138 cases in 2014 while the number of genocide ideology cases was 168 by July 2015.

    The Minister of Education , Dr.Musafili Papias

  • Kenya:University of Nairobi suspends 62 students over strike

    {Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi said the institution has initiated disciplinary process against the students.}

    The University of Nairobi (UoN) has suspended 62 students for being involved in rioting and destruction of property during a recent students’ unrest.

    Among those who have been sent home is Mr Mike Jacobs, who led a group of students in protesting against the re-election of Mr Paul Ongili, also known as Babu Owino, as the Student Organisation of Nairobi University (Sonu) chairman.

    Mike Jacobs lost to Mr Owino, attaining 3,000 votes against the winner’s 18,000 claimed the elections were rigged in favor of the winner with the help of the administration.

    Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi said the institution initiated disciplinary process against the students “for participating in student unrest and destruction of public property”.

    “They are therefore required to collect their suspension letters from the Registrar, Students’ Affairs, latest by Friday, April 15, 2016,” said Prof Mbithi, in a notice to students posted on the university’s website on Tuesday.

    He, however, did not indicate how long the suspension would last.

    The suspension of the students comes just a day after the VC held lengthy talks with Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi and his Interior counterpart Maj-Gen (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery.

    Mr Matiangi said he would not interfere with any action or decision that the university would make concerning the strike that led to the closure of the university last week.

    On Monday last week, the protests against Mr Owino turned chaotic when the students burnt Sonu offices.

    The students blocked a section of University Way and Uhuru Highway before police used tear gas to disperse them.

    The university’s senate held a meeting the following day and resolved to close the university. Students were ordered to vacate the campus by 5pm.

    The date for reopening of the university remains unknown.

    The University of Nairobi's main entrance.

  • USAID publishes 2.5 million teaching materials to support Rwanda’s new curriculum

    {The United States Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica J. Barks-Ruggles, and the Directorate General for Science, Technology, and Research at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Marie-Christine Gasingirwa, jointly kicked off the nationwide distribution of 2.5 million P1 and P2 teaching and learning materials yesterday at Ecole Primaire d’Application de Kimihurura. }

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invested Rwf 3.1 billion to develop and print the texts to support the implementation of the Government of Rwanda’s new competence-based curriculum. Throughout April, the texts will be delivered to every P1 and P2 classroom in all 2,460 schools, reaching an estimated 1.1 million students.

    This year, primary and secondary teachers nationwide are implementing a new competence-based curriculum which focuses on the development of practical and analytical skills that are needed in the modern workplace. In addition to training teachers on the new curriculum, the availability of high-quality teaching and learning materials is considered a key component to its success.

    USAID developed the materials for P1 and P2 classrooms in alignment with the new curriculum through its Literacy, Language, and Learning Initiative, which is implemented by the Education Development Center.

    The teaching and learning materials, which include illustrated story books and teacher guides, have been produced in both English and Kinyarwanda. The content was approved by the Rwanda Education Board (REB), which officially adopted the materials as the core texts for Rwanda’s competence-based curriculum and maintains the copyright for them.

    The strong collaboration between USAID and the Government of Rwanda made the publication of the books possible.

    In her remarks, Ambassador Barks-Ruggles explained, “Through partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Rwanda Education Board, our combined efforts to improve education outcomes can make a difference in early grade reading and in the future of this country.”

    REB leaders acknowledged how foundational reading is for students’ success in school. “The materials developed through the collaboration of USAID and REB emphasize reading–the primary competence for learning,” said Dr. Joyce Musabe, Deputy Director of the Curriculum and Production of Materials Department at REB.

    Over the last three years, USAID has committed over Rwf 48 billion in basic education in Rwanda, primarily focusing on literacy initiatives because reading is widely considered the first and most important skill for students to succeed in school.

    To date, USAID has delivered 7 million teacher guides, story collections, and reading books, as well as 14,000 mobile phones loaded with audio lessons for Primary 1 to 3 to schools nationwide.

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the foreign assistance agency of the United States Government. USAID supports $150 million of development assistance annually to Rwanda, with programs in health, economic development, education, and democracy and governance.

    Gasinzigwa receives the teaching and learning materials from Amb. Barks-Ruggles at Ecole Primaire d'Application de Kimihurura

  • Uganda:7 million Ugandans haven’t been to school – census

    {Even with a remarkable steady increase in literacy rates, nearly seven million Ugandans, representing 19.3 per cent of the total population, have never been to school. }

    Another 40 per cent of the population that is supposed to be in school, left before completion.

    According to the 2014 National Population and Housing Census, 12.5 per cent, representing one in every 10 children of primary school-going age (6-12 years), had never been to school even with free education under Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), the twin- government programmes introduced in 1997 and 2007 respectively.

    Out of 5,259,200 secondary school- going students of between 13 and 18 years, more than one million, representing 22 per cent had left school through unclear circumstances yet 4.1 per cent had never been to school. The percentage of those who have never been to school is, however, higher among Ugandans aged 60 yearsand above, standing at 37.5 per cent of the total population.

    The demographers who talked to Daily Monitor last week attributed the problem to government failure to monitor what goes on in schools, poverty, child labour and child marriages particularly in the countryside. The Census report found that 87 per cent (more than 6.4 million) of the boys and girls of primary school-going age (6-12 years) were attending school.

    The UPE and USE are seen as main tools for achieving the economic, social and political objectives outlined in the Government White Paper on education. The National Development Plan II (2015-2020) also emphasises education as an aspect of human capital development.

    Dr Ben Mungyereza, the executive director Uganda Bureau of Statistics, has proposed that parents whose children are not going to school yet there is UPE and USE should be arrested. He said this at the launch of the Census report at Kampala Serena Hotel last week.

    About 74 per cent of the population are literate, higher than about 70 per cent 10 years ago. However, literacy among females was lower (68 per cent) than for males (77 per cent). Literacy is also higher in urban areas (85.9 per cent) than rural areas (68.3 per cent). However, the report indicates that in the last ten years, literacy rates have marginally declined in urban and rural areas.

    Literacy has also increased among females from 58.9 per cent to 62.8 per cent because of the government emphasis on the education of the girl-child. However, among males, literacy dropped from 91.5 per cent to now 83.6 per cent as a result of poverty and increased number of orphans in the country.

    At least 8.04 per cent of all children below 18 years are orphaned. There are more female orphans (7.9 per cent) than males and the number of orphans (8.17 per cent) in urban and rural areas is almost the same at 8 per cent.

  • Reproductive health to be taught across courses

    {The reproductive health course was introduced in the new school curricula of 2016 as a move to increase awareness among primary and secondary students. Rwanda Education Board says that despite the fact that it was introduced in secondary and primary school curricula, teachers have to bring students on discourse of the reproductive health in any course.}

    The move came into action after realizing the great number of students engaging in premature sex intercourse leading to various consequences including premature pregnancies, contacting sexually transmitted diseases and school drop outs.

    Recently at the beginning of the civic education for secondary school out going students, 96 girls were found to be pregnant and sent back home.

    The director of Rwanda Education Board (REB), Janvier Gasana has requested teachers to teach students on reproductive health in every course. He made the call yesterday during a training of school heads on how to embed reproductive health courses. The move is meant to up-bring children that are not perverts and counteract consequences that would arise from sexual relations.

    “We request every teacher to include a unit of reproductive health in whatever course he/she teaches to seek how to grow better students,” said Gasana.

    He said that it is ridiculous for a school-going child to get pregnant. School heads have revealed that they are going to try their best to work with parents who shy away from talking to their children about reproductive health.

    “In Rwandan culture, it is not easy to educate children about reproductive health but we have been acquainted with how to approach a child to the extent that she can reveal the problem she has as well as temptations leading to sex. Provided background can help to know where to start from giving advice, “said the head Groupe Scolaire, Rwanyanza ,Twahirwa Ildephonse.

    The deputy headmaster, Groupe Scolaire Ndera Catholique, Mugirasoni Antoinette said that they will teach students about their reproductive health enabling them to take informed decisions for the good of their future.

    The representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Rwanda, Jozef Maerien has lauded Rwanda’s leadership for the program of strengthening reproductive health awareness among students adding that they will keep collaboration for effective implementation of the program.

    It is expected that children will be taught about reproductive health according to their level of study.

    The director of Rwanda Education Board (REB), Janvier Gasana
    The representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Rwanda, Jozef Maerien

  • Netherlands request Rwandans to exploit scholarship opportunities

    {Netherlands embassy in Rwanda says that the country has offered many scholarship opportunities to Rwandans to attend university courses and short professional courses as well but the number of applicants has reduced.}

    The Netherlands ambassador to Rwanda, Frédérique Maria De Man has revealed that her country is committed to building capacity in the Rwanda education sector and provides further assistance through Netherlands Fellowship Program (NUFFIC).

    Programs aimed at facilitating people to study in Netherlands include Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) which offers scholarship to 51 countries including Rwanda in short courses, Master’s degree and PhD.

    Rwanda students studying under the scholarship of Netherland in Master’s degree have reduced from 40 students in 2013; 34 students in 2014 while in 2015 only 11 students benefited. Students on short courses scholarship were 31 in 2013; 12 in 2014 and were reduced to 3 in 2015.

    Ambasaderi Frédérique Maria De Man requests Rwandans to maximize benefits of such scholarship opportunities.

    “We have realized that people are not aware of such opportunities. This year’s applications’ closing date is April 30th, 2016. People must know that there are many scholarship opportunities in Netherlands,” she said.

    Ambassador De Man says that no matter how short time is remaining for scholarship applicants, Rwandans should get ready for next year’s round of trainings reserved for employees who will be selected from any institution to attend capacity building trainings.

    The secretary of Netherlands embassy in Rwanda, João Vasco Rodriguez said that through the program of NFP, employers are helped to pay salaries of employees who went to attend trainings in Netherlands. He added that trainees also receive living allowances, accommodation fees, school fees and research expenses.

    Netherlands has been helping Rwanda where various institutions sent employees for trainings.

    There is also a program of NICHE which takes responsibility of building capacities. The program, which has been in place since 2009 and recruited 14 times, gives priority to judicial sectors, economic development, promoting private sectors, agriculture and agro-processing.

    To date, 300 Rwandans have benefited from the scholarship programs in Netherlands including the minister of labor and public service, Judith Uwizeye; the governor of National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa; the CEO of WASAC James Sano among others working in judicial sectors and elsewhere.

    Netherland has various famous universities including Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, Delft University of Technology, Leiden University and University of Twente among others. Opportunities to study in such universities are applied for through the website of Netherlands embassy in Rwanda.

    The Netherlands ambassador to Rwanda, Frédérique Maria De Man

  • Rusizi teachers weary over delayed housing projects

    {Teachers in Rusizi district are worried over delayed completion of teachers’ houses promised by the Ministry of Education of which construction has been pending for three years instead of taking one year. In many parts of the country, teachers’ houses were completed.}

    Some of teachers from Saint Augustin School expressed their worries to IGIHE saying that they still travel long distances to reach the school which affects their overall performance.

    “Traveling a long distance to reach the school is tiresome, affects performance and pupils learning,” said Alex Niyigena.

    Another teacher Philbert Ngabonziza said; “This area becomes muddy especially when it rains. It takes a long process to reach the school. We want renewal of construction of suspended building activities to improve the situation.”
    The officer in charge of education in Rusizi district, Jean Pierre Nteziyaremye they are investigating the cause of delay.

    “All required materials were provided. We are investigating to know what went wrong. We are sending district auditing team to help in following up the case,” he said.

    Building teachers’ accommodation was introduced by MINEDUC in a bid to getting teachers closer to schools for quality teaching.

    Teachers' house construction has been pending for three years instead of taking one year

  • Kenya:Crisis in varsities as council bosses to go

    {Public universities will find it difficult to constitute their governing councils following a directive that those holding jobs in the public service should not be appointed to boards of parastatals.}

    Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua said the directive is meant to ensure individuals are not pocketing double salaries — as public servants and members of boards of public agencies.

    Yet most council chairmen are also lecturers in public universities while others, including some council members have other public jobs.

    The crisis has also hit the Commission for University Education (CUE) as several commissioners, led by the chairman, Prof Henry Thairu, are set to relinquish their positions since they hold other public offices.

    This is complicated further by a fresh requirement that one must posses a doctorate degree to qualify as a university council chairman.

    CUE says Kenya does not have enough PhD holders and those enrolling for doctorate degrees are also few.

    That more than half of the 10,350 lecturers don’t have PhDs. Only 4,394 students (one per cent) of all learners are enrolled for doctoral degrees.

    “It will be hard to get a full PhD holder willing to be chairman of a university council which meets on a quarterly basis,” said a university council member who declined to be named. Kenya has 31 public universities.

    DEADLINE IN PLACE
    This also makes it hard to implement new guidelines requiring universities to only hire PhD holders as lecturers. The rule takes effect in 2018.

    Last month, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i nullified councils of all universities and directed that new ones be constituted.

    The Universities Act provides the council of a university or constituent college should consist of nine members appointed by the CS, including the chairperson and representatives of Education and Finance principal secretaries.

    The CS should also appoint five members through a competitive process. The vice-chancellor or principal serves as an ex officio member.

    A university council employs staff, approves statutes, policies and the budget of the university.

    CUE Chief Executive David Some said the November 2018 deadline for universities to have only PhD holders as lecturers still stands.

    The government is hoping to produce at least 1,000 PhD holders annually but no much headway has been made.

    Source:Daily Nation:[Crisis in varsities as council bosses to go->http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Crisis-in-varsities-as-new-rules-set-in-motion/-/1056/3087228/-/15uxel9/-/index.html]