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Regional

Poverty Project Unites East African, UK Universities

Ten universities have embarked on a multimillion-dollar campaign to end poverty in the communities around the Lake Victoria basin, one of the poorest regions in East Africa.

Five universities from the region and five from the United Kingdom will work with local communities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to improve technical and financial conditions.

The program will be spearheaded by the Eastern African Regional Universities Program (EARUP) and will especially target fishing communities. It will strive to evaluate indigenous coping strategies, create intervention packages and enhance income generation and marketing opportunities.

“The mission of EARUP is to carry out applied research appraisals and develop poverty-alleviating innovations, strengthen the capacity [and] enhance community awareness of the natural resource benefits,” an EARUP spokesperson said.

— East African Standard
March 11, 2002

Botswana

University Reopens After Student Boycott

The University of Botswana reopened in March after a three-week closure, the second shutdown in recent months. The university first closed in February after a student boycott demanded an increase in allowances from the Ministry of Education and a reduction in the cost of food on campus. When the school re-opened (the first time), all students had to sign a document forcing them to abide by new school procedures and guidelines aimed at maintaining peace, order and government at the university.

Students submitted a petition requesting more funds, but the Education Ministry quickly turned it down, citing lack of money. Student demonstrations turned violent, then militants chased the students with weapons. The university closed until staff devised sound procedures for re-opening.

New procedures and guidelines were put in place to guard against future student uprisings, disturbing the peace and organizing meetings during school. More than 5,000 out of 12,000 students re-registered on the first day. Some 100 have not re-registered, however.

— The Times Higher Education Supplement
March 22, 2002

The Central African Republic

Japan Gives US$6.4 Million to Build Schools

The government of Japan has contributed US$6.4 million to the Central African Republic (CAR) for the construction of 11 primary schools in the capital, Bangui, and surrounding suburbs.

The money will also be used for the rehabilitation of old buildings and classrooms, and for the training of local staff in the maintenance of these structures, Centrafrique-Presse reported in March.

According to Centrafrique-Presse, Japanese Ambassador to the CAR Nobuyoshi Takabe said he hoped “the process of democratization and national dialogue continues to move forward in the CAR in order to earn the confidence of Central Africans and the international community.” For his part, CAR Economic and International Cooperation Minister Alexis Ngomba noted his government “greatly appreciated [Japan’s] support and would be especially vigilant in ensuring an efficient use of these funds and upkeep of these schools.”

According to Centrafrique-Presse, Japan is one of the CAR’s largest contributors, and often provides support in the building of hospitals, roads and water systems.

— United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks
March 07, 2002

Ghana

Polytechnic Student Boycott Losing Steam

In January, the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) went on strike against education authorities and refused to attend classes until its grievances were resolved. The union protest concerned four things: the lack of academic and staffing progression, poor infrastructure and facilities, an overly demanding grading system and difficulties with job placements due to level of diploma granted.

Recently, a group of “concerned Polytechnic students” announced that despite previous GNUPS statements, most Polytechnic students no longer desire to boycott classes. Students say they haven’t been able to convene because students live away from school, and there is little central organization among them. They doubt the effectiveness of their boycott. Infighting among boycotting students has grown considerably since the strike began. The government says it will resolve the issues in a democratic manner, provided the students return to school. Parliament has agreed to help reforms. As of this writing, the boycott continues.

— Accra Mail
March 25, 2002

Kenya

Government Aims to Keep Students in Kenya

Growing worries about an increasing student migration to foreign institutions is spurring the Kenyan government to urge more university students to study within its borders. “We want to tap our own market,” said one university official of a planned education fair. “British and Australian universities have in the past three years eaten into our market.”

Roughly 17,000 Kenyan students study abroad annually. Nearly 3,000 of these are admitted to British institutions of higher education.

On April 15, President Daniel Arap Moi will open the three-day education fair in Nairobi. Medical, technology and engineering students will be the focus.

— The Times Higher Education Supplement
March 15, 2002

Three Top Secondary Schools May Close

Three secondary schools in the Kilifi District may be shut down due to acute water shortage problems. Prolonged drought has depleted reservoirs, upon which the schools rely.
The three schools, which led in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, have been operating under difficult conditions, and administrators have appealed to the education sector for a permanent solution. One suggestion was to deepen the reservoirs, thereby increasing available water for the dry season.

— The East African Standard
March 6, 2002

Lesotho

China Assists in Free Primary Education

The Lesotho-China Bochabela Friendship Primary School recently opened in Lesotho. The Chinese Embassy and China State Construction QL Corp. provided most of the funding and equipment.

The new school includes five classrooms, desks, chairs and a staff room.

An embassy statement said giving priority to education is the key for the development of any country and that it hopes the new school will cultivate useful talents for Lesotho. The statement said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the educational cooperation between China and Lesotho.

“This project is another one after the donation of the computer lab to NUL [National University of Lesotho] last year and more cooperation will carry on. We deeply believe that the educational cooperation will not only push forward the existing Sino-Lesotho friendship but also enhance the understanding between the two peoples,” concluded the statement.

— Mopheme/The Survivor
March 27, 2002

Liberia

Faculty Demands Keep University Closed

The reopening of the University of Liberia for the current academic year remains uncertain as more than 300 faculty members are demanding an additional four months of back-pay and two months of research allowances.

A spokesman for the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) said teachers at the University of Liberia – the nation’s highest institution of learning – would not resume normal academic activities until their demands are met. March 11 would have marked the normal date for resuming class.

The economic crisis at the university prompted a recent national conference about the future of the university. A proposal to increase tuition was highly criticized by the student community. The debate continues.

— The NEWS (Monrovia)
March 5, 2002

Nigeria

Academics Gather to Create Programs before NOU Relaunch

In March, a one-month course materials development meeting was held in Lokoja, Nigeria, to plan the reopening of National Open University (NOU). Several international experts from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) joined forces with more than 100 academics to, according to one NOU professor, “write 183 courses and adapt 235 others in 54 programs carefully chosen to kick-start the re-establishment of the National Open University in Lagos.”

Meeting participants focused on writing courses, editing content and preparing audio, video, television, CD-ROM and web-based materials.

Student admission will likely begin in September. Another NOU official said the university “will take off with over 46 postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma and certificate programs in many areas determined by national needs, popularity with the Nigerian public, employer preferences and individual professional and academic development.”

Among the programs included will be: peace studies and conflict resolution, e-banking, e-commerce, e-learning, education and mobile communication technology, among many others.

— This Day
March 11, 2002

Three More Private Universities Granted License

The Nigerian government recently granted operation licenses to three private universities, bringing the total number of private universities to seven. The three universities are: Covenant University, Ota; Pan-African University (formerly Lagos Business School) and Benson Idahosa University.

Education Minister Babalola Borishade said the government would continue to monitor the universities to ensure that academic standards are upheld. A major selling point of private universities in Nigeria, he said, is the absence of strikes.

The other four private institutions are: Igbinedion University, Okada; Babcock University, Ilishan Remo; Madonna University, Okija; Bowen University, Imo.

— This Day
Feb. 13, 2002

NUC Starts Review of University Curriculums

The National Universities Commission (NUC) recently began a curriculum review of all undergraduate programs at Nigerian universities. The goal of the review, in which benchmarks will be created, is to further incorporate information, communication, management, entrepreneurial and lifelong learning into the various curriculums.

Based on comments given by the commission’s executive secretary, the review appears to be largely inspired by the desire to have legal education receive more attention. There was no speculation as to which universities may be affected.

— This Day
Jan. 31, 2002

South Africa

U.S. Group Accredits University

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has received formal accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council of the United States (DETC). The accreditation is valid for five years, after which time the institution will be re-evaluated.

A UNISA spokesman cited a number of reasons for seeking accreditation, including “benefits to its graduates of having a degree from a university accredited in the United States and the possibility of attracting U.S. students.”

— South African Press Association
Feb. 11, 2002

Educators Benefit from E-Learning

SchoolNet SA (SNSA), a private South African education company, was established to create communities of educators who use information and communication technologies to enhance education. In March alone, roughly 30 SchoolNet instructors visited 40 schools to give nearly 500 educators face-to-face instruction and to introduce them to SNSA’s Educator’s Network, a unique distance learning-based collaborative.

The program has become a big hit among educators, especially in the country’s more rural areas, where access to infrastructure and technology is limited. The teachers no longer have to travel or be in the same location to brush up on their knowledge or skills; now they can do it on their own schedule, from remote locations.

— IT Web
March 11, 2002

Tanzania

Computer Education a Plus For Students, Nation

Tanzanians wanting a quality education in information and communications technology (ICT) can now earn an internationally recognized certificate locally. The program will help Tanzania increase the number of ICT professionals able to solve technical problems in the workplace, help make organizations more efficient and give students the knowledge to not only implement and manage computer networks, but also to learn more through the Internet.

The first group of 38 students has just graduated from the Cisco Networking Academy Program at the University of Dar-es-Salaam. Each student was awarded a Cisco Certified Network Associate certificate, the same one awarded to students at many U.S. universities and high schools. The program also includes computer job counseling to help graduates find positions managing computer networks for Tanzanian businesses and public institutions.

Cisco provides the training materials, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provides much of the funding . The four-month course normally costs approximately US$3,000 per student outside the United States, but the joint venture cuts that in half. A secondary education is required, but prior knowledge of computer networks is not.

— United Nations Development Program
March 05, 2002

Uganda

New University to Open in Toro Kingdom

It was recently announced that a new university is scheduled to open in the Toro Kingdom this October. According to Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports, the institution is to be named Mountains of the Moon University.

— New Vision
March 6, 2002

Nursing Program Begins

Aga Khan University, the third university in Uganda to offer a degree program in nursing, opened Feb. 13 to provide nursing courses to those who cannot afford to study abroad.

The university offers courses in advanced nursing studies and a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

— The Monitor
Feb. 13, 2002

Mbarara University to Expand

In an effort to attract and accommodate more medical students, President Yoweri Museveni announced plans to expand Mbarara University of Science and Technology. According to university Vice Chancellor Fredrick Kayanja, only 10 percent of qualified applicants were previously admitted.

Museveni, speaking at the university’s graduation ceremony in February, responded by saying, “We are going to build a school to absorb all the other 90 [percent]. This is not a problem, but an opportunity.” Museveni also laid a foundation stone at the Development Studies building now under construction.

— The Monitor
Feb. 4, 2002

Zimbabwe

M-Web to Offer Encyclopedia for Free

M-Web, a leading Internet service provider in Zimbabwe, has launched the New Schools Project, which will give students special access to Encyclopedia Britannica online, among other benefits. The exclusive educational content on the M-Web portal is seen as a major advantage to its users, especially schools and other educational institutions that have agreed to participate.

“Schools coming on board will obtain a free dial-up account or, if they are already M-Web members, they will be given a major discount,” an M-Web spokeswoman said. “Schools helping us source new subscribers will also be entered in the draw for a server.”

School children involved in the project will be able to use the M-Web learning zone and Encyclopedia Britannica for schoolwork purposes, she said. It is hoped the project opens educational doors for students and reduces the schools’ cost of providing online education.

— The Herald
March 14, 2002

Financial Company Builds New School in Guruve

Kingdom Financial Holdings has agreed to finance the construction of a new secondary school in Guruve.

The school is being built with technical support from World Vision Zimbabwe and the Scientific Industrial Research and Development Centre.

A Kingdom Financial spokeswoman said, “In addition to the immediate financial aid we supplied, we have come up with funds to rebuild destroyed or damaged clinics and other community structures and put up new structures such as this school.”

Construction of the school should be finished in December.

— The Herald
March 06, 2002