Education blog

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

A national volunteer program that recruits college-educated people aged over 60 to help in health care, education and other fields has benefited 200 million people in the past eight years, the China National Committee on Ageing (CNCA) announced Friday.

Since the program began in 2003, about 3 million of the 8 million over-60s with a junior college degree or higher have volunteered in agriculture and other social and economic sectors, the CNCA said in a statement.

Wu Yushao, vice director of the CNCA, an organization affiliated to the central government, said the program tapped the knowledge of an increasingly large and long-living group of educated elderly people in the world’s most populous country.

“With their professionalism and knowledge, elderly intellectuals are an infinite source of manpower for China,” Wu said.

The number of those aged 60 or above is expected to rise to more than 200 million by the end of 2015, accounting for 14 percent of the entire population, a 4-percent increase from 2000.

It is estimated that more then 10 percent of China’s urban residents aged 60 or above have been educated at colleges or universities, and the ratio is set to rise in future.

U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to delay the consideration of a measure to give tens of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal status.

The Senate was originally scheduled to take a showdown vote on the so-called DREAM Act Thursday. But after the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved its version of the bill, Senate Democrats decided to table the consideration of its own version and take up the House-passed version sometime later to save the lower chamber from re-voting on the matter.

The Senate and House versions of the bill have much in common with only technical differences. By a tally of 216 to 198, the House voted to pass the DREAM Act, an abbreviated name for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

If passed, the measure would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrant children who were brought to the United States before turning 16 years old, have lived continuously in the country for at least five years and graduated from high school or gained an equivalency degree if they joined the military or attended college for two years.

Senate Republicans have made it clear that they would block any legislation during the lame-duck session until the chamber approves bills to extend the Bush-era tax cuts and fund the government.

It’s still unclear whether Senate Democrats can muster enough votes to overcome Republicans’ filibuster. Most Republicans opposed the measure as they considered it a “mass amnesty,” arguing it would allow even criminals and terrorists to gain legal status.

Republicans also worry about the long-term effect the bill would have on the country’s budget, even though the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would cut billions of dollars in federal deficit over the next 10 years.

Integrated steps are needed to return endangered species to their habitation jungles, not only preparedness of the rehabilitated species, but also improved forest condition to be conducive for them to live, an expert told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

“It is true that it’s difficult to return the rehabilitated endangered species to their habitat as their capability to live in the wild decreases following months of being treated in sanctuary. However, if the species are ready, how about conditions of their habitat?” said Darma Jaya Sukmana, director of the International Animal Rescue (IAR) Indonesia, a wildlife preservation organization focusing on slow loris (Nycticebus Spp.)

He admitted that decreasing quality of habitat will pose difficulties for the species. Moreover, Indonesia needs a stronger law enforcement to avoid such endangered species out of their habitat.

“That’s why we need the government’s good willing in the process of forest rehabilitation and to impose stronger law enforcement. These integrated steps are needed to return the species back to jungle smoothly,” he said.

According to Sukmana, nowadays it takes more serious efforts to rehabilitate endangered species as conditions are more difficult compared to the past.

“For example, it is not possible that one of the world’s most endangered species of slow loris (Nycticebus Spp.) will be extinct just like Javanese and Balinese tigers if we do nothing or let current condition just the way it is. We don’t want that slow loris extinct just like those tiger species in which we even cannot find any specimen,” said Sukmana.

He also said that it is difficult to measure whether a species is back to be a non-endangered species from the point of view on population.

“It is almost impossible to return endangered species to their amount before. What we can do the best is how to maintain the existence of the species and to prevent them from extinction,” he said.

He said that according to the Wildlife Crimes Unit (WCU), slow loris is the second largest primate traded in Indonesia after long- tailed monkey.

He also said that factors hindering law enforcement should be identified and addressed.

According to Sukmana, education to children about endangered species is very important to save the species from extinction.

“For example, we can educate children that it is not good to keep endangered species at home. We can tell them that slow loris, even though they are funny and cute, they are not cuscus that is also endangered species. Cuscus is more famous in Indonesia than slow loris that attracts children to keep them at home,” he said.

U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night passed a measure to give tens of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal status.

By a tally of 216 to 198, the House voted to pass the so-called DREAM Act, an abbreviated name for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

If passed, the measure would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrant children who were brought to the United States before turning 16 years old, have lived continuously in the country for at least five years and graduated from high school or gained an equivalency degree if they joined the military or attended college for two years.

The bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to take up the measure Thursday morning. But its chances of clearing the upper chamber are considered slim, as Democrats need at least 60 votes to overcome Republicans’ filibuster.

U.S. President Barack Obama sent his congratulations to congressional leaders immediately after the vote, and urged the Senate to pass the bill so that he can sign it into law as soon as possible.

“This vote is not only the right thing to do for a group of talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own by continuing their education or serving in the military, but it is the right thing for the United States of America,” Obama said in a statement.

“The DREAM Act is not amnesty; it’ s about accountability, and about tapping into a pool of talent we’ ve already invested in,” he said.

Eight Republicans crossed the party line to vote in favor of the bill. Most Republicans opposed the measure as they considered it a “mass amnesty,” arguing it would allow even criminals and terrorists to gain legal status.

Republicans also worry about the long-term effect the bill would have on the country’s budget, even though the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would cut the deficit by 2.2 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon will leave for Cancun, Mexico, on Tuesday to attend the UN climate change conference, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said here Monday.

The secretary-general “will address the high-level segment of the climate change conference,” Nesirky said.

This weekend two draft decisions for adoption in the final plenary of the conference on Dec. 10 were put forward, Nesirky said.

The draft decisions included decisions on continued strengthened support to developing countries’ efforts in adaptation and mitigation, including concrete technology transfer projects, he noted.

Countries also agreed to strengthen education training and public awareness on climate change through increased funding and to engage civil society more strongly in decision making and the UN climate change process.

“This underlined the commitment of the negotiations to remain open, transparent and engaged,” the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s executive secretary Christiana Figueres said, and noted that “faster and more effective action on climate change requires governments to welcome the fresh ideas and active participation of all sides of civil society.”

The UN climate change conference, which entered its second week on Monday, is scheduled to end on Dec. 10.

Ugandan Minister of Information and National Guidance Kabakumba Matsiko on Monday hailed China’s state- owned Xinhua News Agency for staging a photo exhibition highlighting Africa’s presence at the recently concluded Shanghai Expo 2010.

Matsiko who launched the Xinhua Gallery here that was also launched in 10 other African countries simultaneously said that the one-day photo exhibition showed the growing relationship between China and Africa.

“I am glad that Xinhua is one of the most active international news agencies in Uganda and on the Africa continent. It used to provide news free of charge and technical equipment to our own Uganda News Agency,” she said.

John Nagenda, senior presidential adviser on media and public relations congratulated Xinhua for the exhibition, saying that it is critical to take records because they teach about the past and can be able to tell the future.

He was talking about one of Xinhua achieve pictures taken in 1959 showing a veteran journalist turned politician Jolly Joe Kiwanuka. The black and white picture was taken while Kiwanuka was paying a visit to China.

Sun Heping, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, also congratulated Xinhua for the exhibition saying the pictures showcased Africa’s diverse and unique culture.

He said Uganda’s pavilion which attracted over 18 million visitors is generally recognized as one of the best joint pavilions in the Expo.

“We sincerely wish that with more cultural exchange like today’ s exhibition, Ugandan friends will get to know more about today’s China and the China-Uganda people-to-people exchange will be lifted into new heights,” he said.

The exhibition attended by among others, a top Uganda military officer Gen. Elly Tumwine, was held under the theme, “Wonderful Expo, Smiling Africa”. In the future, Xinhua Gallery will update its exhibitions with different themes covering politics, economy, culture and education among others.

Guinean president-elect Alpha Conde has said that one of his top priorities will be good political and economic governance.

In an interview with the national radio, Conde reiterated the need for the state to carry out reforms in the public administration.

At the same time, he called on the country’s development partners to support the fight against corruption and impunity so that Guinea can achieve economic stability and balanced growth.

Conde announced that his government will carry out an audit to recover the public money that was stolen and also carry out reforms in the military.

In the social domain, the new president said there is need to form a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission to discuss all social injustices that have continued to divide the country.

Conde’s social plan also intends to promote youth, women and create jobs in order to resolve the fundamental problem of unemployment.

Regarding the mining sector, Conde announced the need to come up with a proper mining code and the renegotiation of some mining contracts.

In his opinion, all these reforms will lead to supply of water and electricity to the population at an affordable price in order to improve their living conditions.

Conde’s other priorities include reinforcement of the country’s foreign policy and international cooperation, agricultural development, resolving of environmental challenges, reinforcement of both health and national education sectors, judicial reforms and development of modern transport infrastructures.

Cote d’Ivoire’s Alassane Ouattara, who took the oath of office after the electoral commission declared him winner of the Nov. 28 presidential run-off, on Sunday announced the formation of his government headed by Guillaume Soro.

Ouattara is facing the challenge from Laurent Gbagbo, who was ruled as winner of the race by the West African country’s Constitutional Council.

During Sunday’s meeting with Thambo Mbeki, the former South African president who was in the country designated by the African Union as the mediator, Ouattara demanded that Gbagbo leave power.

The following is the lineup unveiled by Meite Sindou, the prime minister’s spokesman:

Prime Minister, head of government and Defense minister Guillaume Kigbafory Soro.

The Justice Minister Me Jeannot Kouadio Ahoussou.

Minister of state in the office of the president Amadou Gon Coulibaly

Minister of Planing and Development : Albert Mabri Toikesse.

Finance and Economy Minister : Charles Diby Koffi.

Foreign Minister Gervais Jean-Baptist Kouakou.

Interior Minister: Hamed Bakayoko.

Animal Production and Water resources minister : Remi Kouadio Achi.

Economic infrastructure and government spokesman : Patrick Achi.

Energy minister :Adama Toungara

National Education Minister : Kandia Camara

Youth and Sports minister : Dagobert Banzio

Public Service minister : Konan Gnamien.

Elsewhere, Marcel Amon Tanoh was appointed as the director in the office of the president while Ally Coulibaly was appointed as the diplomatic adviser.

The 20th Ibero- American Summit concluded here on Saturday with the issuance of a Declaration of Mar del Plata.

The declaration from the two-day summit, which started on Friday, included an ambitious education agreement with an investment of 100 billion U.S. dollars for the next 11 years.

During the summit with the theme of “education and social inclusion,” leaders from the region pledged to “promote the universal education with quality as a fundamental and inalienable human right.”

Education “will be reaffirmed as a public good, as tool to boost the daily exercise of integration and productivity,” they stressed.

The leaders also aimed to “reach full literacy in the region before 2015″ by strengthening alternative education.

The 57-point declaration establishes Ibero-American countries’ obligation for “the development of public policies of inter- sectorial character with equity and inclusion to allow reducing the education inequality regarding access and quality at all its levels.”

It also included a regional democratic clause, which will be enforced “when the constitutional government of a member state considers that there is a threat to break or alter the democratic order affecting it seriously” — for example a coup.

According to the clause, diplomatic actions should be taken by Ibero-American countries “in order to contribute to the restoration of the democratic institutional political process” in the affected state.

The participating heads of state and government also agreed to add a clause into the document to reject the “coup attempt carried out in Ecuador on Sept. 30.”

In the declaration, the summit participants also expressed their “deep sorrow” for the death of former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner on Oct. 27.

The leaders also issued a Special Statement on the Malvinas Islands, supporting Argentina’s call for dialogue and rejecting the unilateral actions of oil exploration in the Malvinas by Britain.

The Municipal Party School in Suzhou City, south China’s Jiangsu Province, received a special group of “students” Friday morning for a class on current economic development and future trend.

The 46 “students,” all freshly-appointed officials of deputy departmental level or departmental level from northeast China’s Jilin Province, would soon return home to take office after a two-day visit to local renowned enterprises.

They were survivors of one of the nation’s public selection campaigns for leading officials this year.

In China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, meanwhile, the fiercest-ever competition just entered its final phase. Out of 1134 candidates, only 103 contenders were left after the primary selection – using written exams and interviews, to head for the final 34 departmental level posts.

The selection campaigns starting throughout the nation this year were unprecedented in scale and in the number of posts offered, with nearly 400 above deputy departmental level positions open to the public in provinces of Beijing, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hainan, Guizhou, Jilin, Shandong and Xinjiang.

The move displayed the advantage of the public selection system for leading cadres (PSSLC), said Zhuang Yan, deputy head of the provincial Organization Department in Jilin.

He said the open selection created a stage for those competent persons, compared with the traditional way to appoint mid-to-top officials only by orders.

The province had broken down the identity restrictions by holding out an olive branch to managers from large enterprises, listed companies and financial institutes, as well as so-called “sea turtles,” Chinese returnees from overseas.

This sent 1,889 candidates from all parts of China, except Hong Kong, Macao and Tibetan Autonomous Region, to the province’s written tests.

“It is unimaginable in the past. Anyone eligible for the registration requirements can attend the departmental level selection exams,” said 40-year-old Shen Desheng, a former municipal taxation bureau head and now the newly-appointed deputy head of the provincial taxation bureau in Jilin.