| Schools to help with sex education
In earlier years, the subject of sex and other related issues, were never discussed openly in schools. In fact, it was considered taboo to do so. Similar perspectives also existed within the homes of many students, which left a vacuum filled by other students who themselves were misguided and uninformed on the issues and left to the whims of speculation and experimentation. The emergence of the Internet, and the exposure of other cultural practices, further exacerbated the situation. Our children became more exposed to sexually explicit material. With this came many problems, increase in teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Informing students It's primarily because of these revelations that the Ministry of Education had engaged in the process of informing students, within certain parameters, explicitly, about prevention and other precautionary measures to be taken and educating them about the consequences of being promiscuous.
HEC's Unconvincing Mega Projects
The on-going efforts at reforming higher education are turning into a disaster. Billions are being spent on mindless mega projects. The 15-fold increase in the funding of Pakistani universities over the last six years may have delivered a marginal improvement, but it is superficial and likely to be temporary. These facts are the subject of a researched article, "In Pakistan, the Problems That Money Can Bring", published in the January 2007 issue of the well-respected New York based Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle notes that in Pakistan the failure of the HEC (Higher Education
Commission) to create and adequately implement rules has caused an explosion of substandard universities, fake and substandard degrees, meaningless research publications and a massive wave of unpunished plagiarised academic papers.
Students as weather scientists
Students from across New York explored hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, blizzards, ice storms and lightning right in their classrooms through the JASON Project, offered in New York State by Nassau BOCES Outdoor and Environmental Education Program. The pilot program "Monster Storms" enabled students in grades four through eight to understand how the Earth, ocean, atmosphere and life interact. This interdisciplinary, multimedia experience featured hands-on activities, digital labs and real-world exploration using video, online resources and weather tools. Participants researched weather and climate by collecting data on the ground, using instruments in the sky, analyzing satellite images from space, measuring air pressure and predicting weather.
Local schools that participated were Central Boulevard Elementary School and John F.
Scores raise questions about state's test monitoring
DAYTON — How did a traditionally low-scoring charter school that ranked last in Ohio on one state math test in 2005 suddenly outperform perennial top-scorer Oakwood on a state math test in 2006? That would seem to be a logical question, but until the Dayton Daily News last week reported on the extraordinary test scores posted by the Dayton charter school in last year's state math tests, nobody at the state department of education office seemed to take notice. The episode raises questions about how well the state monitors school-to-school test practices, and if it is protecting the integrity of the tests given all public school students in Ohio starting at third grade. .
Loan cuts could hurt students
President Bush just released his 2008 budget proposal and, if it were to become law, it would greatly affect college students. The proposal includes $19 billion in cuts to the federal family education loan program.
Eighty percent of higher education institutions and students rely on this financial aid program, which is why concerns are rising.
Sallie Mae, a provider of student loans, has voiced its concerns about Bush's proposed cuts.
The cuts are going to impact the discounts on the loans they offer and the level of support Sallie Mae can give to private loans, Conwey Casillas, director of public affairs for Sallie Mae, said.
"The level of cuts in the president's budget would also impact service levels," Casillas said, while adding that face to face consultations dramatically help families when working with loans.
Fresh start to adult learning
Adult education has been given a new lease of life thanks to a new resource centre on the Belvedere Estate, Feltham. The Belvedere Resource Centre (BRC) has seen 20 people progress through its courses to become the first learners to gain their qualifications. At a special event, Councillor Robert Kinghorn, executive member for education and children, congratulated the successful students and presented them with their certificates. .
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