Full Coverage: Education

16.05.2008 Low levels of literacy make it difficult for families in Pakistan to access information on post-natal care, contraception and medical attention. With only two percent of its GDP allocated to education, the country risks achieving the Millennium Development Goals, says UNESCO.

15.05.2008 An ICT project in Sri Lanka is enabling people with disabilities to avail opportunities and live in an inclusive society. The eNABLE project – with Braille-equipped computers, a software to convert text into speech, a group hearing system and host of other facilities – links them with others at global and national levels.

15.05.2008 At a recent review meeting of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights held in Geneva after 17 years, India was adjudged a poor performer. A panel of observers found the progress in critical human development areas such as food, health, housing and education as ‘unsatisfactory’.

14.05.2008 A photoessay including award-winning photographs depicts the lives of girls in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Nepal who marry as children.

14.05.2008 The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation invites applications for India’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008. The Award seeks to recognise social entrepreneurs whose efforts and innovations have contributed towards achieving sustainable development.

13.05.2008 Best practices in preventing and eliminating child labor through education by Child Rights Information Network helps users design and implement capacity-building activities for children in situations of child labour. The book documents experiences of over 80 NGOs and possibilities of change through educational interventions.

13.05.2008 A new publication Data-Driven School Improvement by New York based Education Development centre emphasises use of data to improve classroom learning and teaching. The book examines the role of digital technologies in enhancing student performance.

12.05.2008 Software giant Bill Gates has promised to provide students in Indonesia with low-cost computers and free software. This will greatly help the government seeking to introduce a million computers for educational purposes.

08.05.2008 Freelance journalist and social activist Swagat Thorat in western India publishes a fortnightly called Sparshgyaan in local language for the visually impaired. In view of the limited availability of literature in Braille, this can be described as commendable effort.

07.05.2008 Erive Community Radio is bringing a change in the lives of young girls in Maganja da Costa. The UNICEF-supported station has led to a rise in enrollment in primary schools through its programmes promoting girls’ education. The station is run in partnership with Mozambique’s Social Communication Institute.

06.05.2008 Intel will work with Sheikh Muhammed Foundation to expand its Teach programme in Arab countries. Apart from training 2 million teachers by 2011, Intel also hopes to educate and develop the talent of Arab youth in the region.

05.05.2008 FREE FM, a community radio meant for prisoners in Jamaica, is now available to anyone interested in listening to it from anywhere in the world. Launched in June 2007 by UNESCO, Canadian International Development Agency and others, it was meant to encourage rehabilitation and education of prisoners.

02.05.2008 Environmental website kidsRgreen is in the final rounds for the prestigious Stockholm Challenge Award 2008. Promoting environmental awareness, this unique educational initiative by India based Centre for Environment Education takes young minds beyond classroom teaching by engaging them in various interesting learning tools.

02.05.2008 The Department of Education in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an Indian Union Territory, is introducing IT hobby centres in 24 schools during the summer vacation. The free of cost centres will encourage use of computers in the learning process.

01.05.2008 Many members of parliament in the Indian capital woke up surprised to find groups of children knocking at their doors. The children aided by NGOs submitted a charter of demand to be passed on to Indian Prime Minister, reminding them to fulfill the government’s promise of education for all.