Education – KMAUPDATES

Sep82020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Nigeria: Lives Resumed by Education – The Second-Chance Education for Women and Girls in Nigeria

Uncategorized

PARIS, France, September 7, 2020/ -- Aqsa Dajani (alias for confidentiality) just finished listening to a radio session on literacy in her home compound at Yola South, Adamawa State of Nigeria; she is a beneficiary of the second-change education activity organized by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative: Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls. The rape experience of her elder sister left a crushing influence on Aqsa, leaving her to believe that women neither have rights nor access to instruments to protect those rights. "Sincerely, listening to this radio program plays a vital role especially to us – women and girls who stay at home idly. [Thanks to this programme,] I was able to read and write and also [sic] it educates me to know my rights as a woman which I did not know before." Aqs...

Sep42020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: Education in Ethiopia Gets Boost from the Global Partnership for Education with $15 million for COVID-19 Response

AFRICA

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Ethiopia has received a US $14.85 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to boost its response to disruptions in education caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The World Bank will be the grant agent for Ethiopia: COVID-19 Education Response Project, which aims to maintain student learning while schools are closed, support safe reopening of schools, and strengthen the resilience of the education system. The COVID-19 pandemic and temporary school closures have left 26 million Ethiopian students out of school, which may have long-term impacts on their health, development, and future earning potential. Temporary school closures may also lead some children from vulnerable households, especially girls and students in rural areas, to permanen...

Sep22020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Gulu university gets a new secretary

AFRICA

Gulu , Uganda --- Gulu University council has appointed David Obol Otori, the undersecretary Uganda Law Reforms Commission as its new secretary. Otori, 51, will now replace Asaf Adebua who has been in acting capacity as the University Secretary for the past two years. Otori was selected among six other candidates who applied and were shortlisted for the University job. They included the outgoing University secretary Adebua, Geoffrey Okaka, the former Nebbi Chief Administrative Officer, Christopher Mpora Mutwale, Christopher Obalim, the Gulu University Deputy secretary, Joses Tegyeza and Stephen Oloya. Mr. David Obol Otori Gulu University Deputy Public Relations Officer James Ojok Onono told URN in an interview on Tuesday that Otori’s appointment was endorsed by a resolution of t...

Aug182020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Shs98B reportedly needed if schools are to reopen

Uncategorized

The Ministry of Education has said it needs Shs98 b to reopen all institutions of learning across the country. The above money is slated to be used to support all education institutions, both private and public at all levels with the requirements under Special operations procedures This to ensure the schools provide additional classrooms required to meet the SOPs, latrines, desks and provide salaries for all additional teachers and support staff including schools nurses. Meanwhile, the Director of Basic Education Ismail Mulindwa who heads the Ministry of education Task force says the amount is not attainable given the current situation in the country. He however says they have proposed the second alternative that requires Shs1.7bn for only candidate classes and final yea...

Aug122020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Makerere University in preparations for online classes

AFRICA, UGANDA

Makerere University has started preparations to initiate online learning for all students. The Vice Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe says they are training lecturers to appreciate the new system to upload study material. Nawangwe confirmed to have carried out a survey with students and they welcomed this new system where they will be getting study material online.

Aug72020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

ENTERTAINMENT: Ykee Benda named Victoria University ambassador

Entertainment, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) acting president Ykee Benda aka Wycliffe Tugume has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the City Mogul owned Victoria University. Tugume who is also the Mpaka Records boss said he is happy and excited to announce that he is the new face of the prestigious University. “Before I even go ahead to congratulate myself, let me tell you that Victoria University has made a 50% discount on all courses. I have achieved a lot because of the education I got and it has always been a dream to work with an education institution and see how lucky I have got to work with such a caring University, God is really amazing,” he said. The singer added that this has come in handy especially for the youth and he rallied them to utilize the opportunity t...

Aug62020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Private school owners defect from government school inspection

AFRICA, UGANDA

Private school owners are protesting government’s move to inspect their institutions without prior information.Under their umbrella National Private Educational Institutions Association (NPEIA), the school proprietors are questioning the Ministry of Education intensions of going to their institutions without notifying them. Mr Hassadu Kirabira, the secretary to the ministry’s Covid-19 committee, representing the private sector, yesterday said while they were still waiting for the ministry’s guidelines (which they hadn’t received) they learnt from sources that the ministry had sent teams to their schools. “Even today, I was in a meeting with the Ministry of Education officials. They didn’t say anything. Our schools are still closed. What are they inspecting? What are they not telling...

Jul312020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Sierra Leone: COVID-19 Hinders Sierra Leone’s Growth and Girls’ Education Prospects as Government Implements Quick Response Program

AFRICA

The study recommends as immediate priorities support to students and families to cope with the crisis and ensure that learning continues while they stay at homeFREETOWN, Sierra Leone, July 31, 2020/ -- According to the new World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Update launched in Freetown, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the country’s medium-term growth prospects and the economy is projected to contract by 2.3 to 4.0 percent in 2020 due to disruption in global trade, travel restrictions and domestic restrictions on mobility. The fiscal and current account deficits are expected to increase due to increased crisis-related spending while inflation is also expected to rise.The report recommends in the short term ramping up investments in public health, protecting the most vu...

Jul292020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

AFRICA: Nigeria to Boost Support for Keeping Adolescent Girls in School

AFRICA

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, July 29, 2020/ -- The World Bank Board of Directors approved today a $500 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA)* for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), whose goal is to improve secondary education opportunities among girls in targeted areas.Adolescent girls face many constraints in accessing and completing secondary education. In northern Nigeria, the lack of secondary schools is significantly greater with up to ten primary schools for every secondary school. Poor condition of infrastructure and a lack of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities makes it difficult for girls to stay in school. In addition, close to 80 percent of poor households are in the north, which makes it ...

Jul282020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: The Ministry of Education, private schools owners discuss reopening

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA- The Ministry of Education leadership on Friday met proprietors of private schools to discuss the reopening of education institutions. Mr Hassadu Kirabira, the secretary of private schools Covid-19 committee, told Daily Monitor yesterday that although they did not achieve much from the meeting, the ministry showed willingness to hear their grievances. He said the meeting observed that while children have not been safe at schools, the situation hasn’t been any different in home during the lockdown. Mr Kirabira said reports of early pregnancies and incest are on the rise, which is worrying parents and other stakeholders. The meeting at State House Entebbe was attended by Education Minister and First Lady Janet Museveni, all her deputies Dr Chrysostom Muyingo, Ms Rosemary Se...

Jul282020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Kampala International University scoops third-best position in Uganda.

AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Kampala International University (KIU) has been listed among the top three universities in Uganda, according to the July 2020 Ranking Web, Webometrics, the largest academic ranking of higher education institutions in the world. According to the rankings released late this month, Kampala International University is also the best private university in Uganda after beating Uganda Christian University (UCU) and Uganda Martyrs University. The varsity’s only rivals are public institutions; Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Kampala International University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, says the ranking is proof of significant quality enhancements and great innovation in the delivery of university education. “KIU is always very ...

Jul272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: First lady appeals to parents to ensure safety of their children as government plans to re-open schools.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs. Janet Museveni hasappealed to parents and the communities to care for their children and ensuretheir safety and security at home, while Government continues to plan for the re-opening of all education institutions in the country.She said that it is sad and a terrible problem for us as people and the country forone to say that children are not safe at home and are being married off, rapedand getting pregnant, and yet Government closed schools at the onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic thinking that children will be safer with their families athome.“I can understand the proprietors and teachers wanting to open up schoolsbecause that is their means of livelihood and the parents’ concern for theirchildren to go back to learn, but this problem...

Jul272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Niger: 1.2 million children and young people were out of school because of COVID-19

Uncategorized

Children in Niger run the highest risk in the world of not returning to school after COVID-19 lockdown measures are liftedLONDON, United Kingdom, July 27, 2020/ -- An additional 1.2 million children and young people were pushed out of school in Niger at the peak of the restrictive COVID-19 measures in the country, bringing the total number who were not receiving an education to 3.8 million[i].Although schools have now reopened, many of these pupils may never go back into education, Save the Children warned today. The organisation said the barriers in some parts of the country included insecurity and attacks on education, poverty, child marriage and child labour.Children in Niger run the highest risk in the world of not returning to school after COVID-19 lockdown measures are lif...

Jul262020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

New Online Course from Harvard teaches Africans How to Build Scalable Businesses to Solve African Problems

INTERNATIONAL

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 26, 2020/ -- Africa has complex and unique business opportunities. Harvard Business School professors are launching a new online course to teach entrepreneurs how to build scalable businesses designed to solve core problems in Africa. Unlike other business courses, this one focuses on identifying points of opportunity for smart entrepreneurial efforts through live online lectures, peer-to-peer learning, and real-life lessons incorporated into participants’ own business plan. The online course starts on August 17, 2020. Taught by Harvard Business School Professors Tarun Khanna, Caroline Elkins, and Karim Lakhani, participants learn how Africa-specific trends impact the opportunities and challenges in undertaking entrepreneurship ventures on the continent. This cour...

Jul252020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: World Bank gives Uganda Shs554 billion to support ‘quality education’

AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $150 million (about Shs554 billion) to enable greater access to higher-quality secondary education among Ugandan children in safer and better-equipped learning environments that are also supportive of girls’ education.The World Bank says the project is financed by an International Development Association credit of $90 million (about Shs332 billion), and a grant of $60 million (about Shs221 billion) from the Window on Host Communities and Refugees, adding that the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP) will directly benefit about 2.5 million learners. USEEP complements other World Bank support to improve education in Uganda. As per the plan, a total of 116 new lower secondary day schools will reportedly be construc...

Jul242020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Parliament welcomes cabinet announcement on schools

AFRICA

Cape Town, Parliament, Friday, 24 July 2020 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, welcomes Cabinet decision of four weeks break for schools. Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said, Cabinet clearly applied its mind after careful consideration of all the inputs it received on the matter. “I am aware that the Minister of Basic Education and her team have been consulting with stakeholders in the sector. Furthermore, consultations also took place outside the sector as dealing with the pandemic requires a multi-sectoral approach.” Schooling commenced since June for several grades after the lockdown was announced in March this year. Minister Angie Motshekga has indicated that the break will allow schools to prepare for the return of more grades in school l...

Jul202020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Makerere staff appeals tribunal orders reinstatement of Dr. Okuku, several others

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA – The Makerere University staff tribunal has ordered for the reinstatement of Dr Juma Anthony Okuku and several others after being wrongfully dismissed from the University. Dr Okuku, a Senior Lecturer at Makerere’s Department of Political Science in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences –CHUSS disclosed he was dismissed for refusing to award irregular marks to students. Okuku is one of the 45 sacked staff by the institution in 2018 as he was sacked for alleged incompetence and inefficiency. On January 4,2019, Dr Okuku filed an appeal to the university staff tribunal in which he sought to quash the decision of the appointments board to dismiss him from employment. The application was made on grounds that University wrongfully removed Dr Okuku and several others ...

Jul202020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Teachers Sacco receives 5bnUGX

AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY

Government through Microfinance Support Centre has injected Shs5b into the Uganda Teachers’ Co-operative Savings and Credit Union as part of its commitment to better their welfare, especially during this pandemic. The Uganda Teachers’ Co-operative Savings and Credit Union is an umberella of several teachers’ saving groups across the country. Ms Joan Asiimwe, the chairperson of the Uganda Teachers’ Co-operative Savings and Credit Union, said: “We want teachers to save and invest, we all know that teachers have suffered a lot during the lockdown. The most affected ones are those in private schools so through our Union, we are looking at teachers, we don’t want them to go back to school and still start asking government to help them.” Ms Asiimwe made the remarks while visiting diffe...

Jul132020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

University professors fear returning to campus as coronavirus cases surge

HEALTH

Laura Crary, an art history professor at a liberal arts college in South Carolina, is anxious to return to the classroom, so much so that she was prescribed anti-anxiety medications for the first time in her life. “I am 62.5 years old, which means I’m four years from full retirement age, or I’d probably retire right now because I’m very nervous,” she said. While the final fall 2020 plans at her college are still pending, professors at her university were told that conducting solely online classes was not an option. Crary asked that NBC News not name the college. As coronavirus cases start to surge in more than 30 states across the U.S., some professors are pushing back when it comes to returning to campus for in-person teaching. More than 50% of colleges and univer...

Jul92020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: The Government has encouraged free learning to all students studying online.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The Ministry of Education and Sports, has instructed schools that offer the national curriculum and are currently teaching students online, not to charge parents for this service. According to a July 7, 2020 letter by Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, government is not opposed to online learning per se but having received complaints from some parents about schools that charge a fee to access this learning, it has set the record straight. “This has meant that a sizeable number of learners, whose parents are unable or unwilling to pay these high charges, are being left out,” Kakooza wrote in the letter. As for schools offering international curriculum, Kakooza said that parents of learners in those schools should discuss with the school management ...