Teacher Charlie's news and adventures from the world; Korea to Germany and all points in between!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Panel: Art can fight trauma, injustice

History professor Edward Miller speaks about Cambodian history at a panel discussion titled “Art In Crisis.”

History professor Edward Miller speaks about Cambodian history at a panel discussion titled “Art In Crisis.”

By John Biberman

Published on Tuesday, September 28, 2010

After losing her only two brothers and father and being forced to leave her home, Sophiline Cheam Shapiro used art to confront her past and become a world-renowned Cambodian classical choreographer, she told students Monday. Shapiro spoke as part of a panel discussion about the role of art in addressing trauma, injustice, history and the past at an event at the Haldeman Center, “Arts In Crisis: Healing a Nation’s Wounds.”

Shapiro, who choreographs for the Khmer Arts Ensemble and was a 2009 National Heritage Fellowship recipient, discussed her life as a refugee during the rule of the Khmer Rouge, a communist movement in Cambodia that led to the deaths of around two million people.

“We can only move into the future when we resolve ourselves with the past and find peace within ourselves,” she said.

Shapiro described her work both as a means of preserving a Cambodian dance tradition nearly lost during the Khmer Rouge and as a way to address the trauma she faced in the past.

As she spoke, a clip of a performance she choreographed played in the background to illustrate how she incorporated this theme into her work.

History professor Edward Miller, another panelist, put Shapiro’s story into a historical context, attributing Cambodia’s mass killings during the 1970s to both existing racism from French colonialism and American involvement in Vietnam. He also discussed art’s role in healing the Cambodian people’s wounds.

“Art can be a way to establish deeper historical truths,” he said.

Miller told the story of Chea Samy, a famous Cambodian dancer who narrowly escaped death when the Khmer Rouge began targeting artists. After the regime fell, Samy pushed to reopen the Cambodian School of Fine Arts and trained Shapiro as one of her students.

Theater professor Laura Edmondson shifted the panel’s discussion from Cambodia to east Africa. Edmondson also discussed the role of theater and dance in dealing with tragedy, loss and human rights violations, while elaborating on art’s ability to create new “truths.”

She remembers watching the dances of the Acholi people in their refugee camps during the Ugandan civil war, she said, adding that the powerful physical symbolism of their dances helped them to maintain their sense of community in the face of great adversity.

Panelist Aimee Le ’12 summarized the role of art and poetry in overcoming trauma.

“Trauma is an event that can’t be explained, so it can’t be healed until you understand what to heal and how to heal it,” she said. “In the world of rational concepts, poetry is a lie. Yet in this same world, trauma is also a lie.”

Poetry and art can be the best means of approaching and understanding trauma and can be a powerful tool for addressing injustice in society, Le said.

The panel, which was cosponsored by the Dickey Center for International Understanding and the Hopkins Center, was part of the Dartmouth Centers Forum’s series “Speak Out! Listen Up!” The event was held in conjunction with performances by the Khmer Arts Ensemble on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

China looks to attract more foreign students

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Self-funding foreign students are set to become the largest overseas group in China, as the country plans to attract 500,000 of them in 2020, a senior official of the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Monday.

The ministry is due to unveil a comprehensive document on Tuesday to encourage more overseas students to study in China.

"It is an attempt to implement China's 10-year national education outline and an important part of the county's diplomatic work to show Chinese culture to the global community," said Zhang Xiuqin, director-general of the ministry's department of international cooperation and exchange.

The government published the National Outline for Medium and Long-Term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020) on July 29, which included expanding international cooperation and exchanges in higher education.

The number of international students in China has risen dramatically, hitting a record high last year of 240,000, according to statistics released by the MOE on Monday.

The students were from 190 countries and regions around the world, which is a stark contrast to 60 years ago, when China had fewer than 20 international students from three countries in Eastern Europe, Zhang said.

"The country's booming economic development, stable social environment and cultural charm have contributed to the increasing number of international students, of which 93 percent are self-funding this year," Zhang said.

Mutual recognition of academic degrees between the Chinese mainland and 34 countries and regions throughout the world has also helped promote job opportunities for overseas students, according to the MOE.

"Though the majority of the almost 240,000 foreign students last year was still from Asia, the number of students from western countries also increased," Zhang said.

The Chinese central government provided 800 million yuan ($117 million) in scholarships to international students this year and the provincial governments offered about 110 million yuan in scholarships, according to Zhang.

Countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Norway are encouraging students to study in China under government scholarship programs.

"I became interested in Peking Opera after traveling around the country and it has led me to stay in China for a year and a half," Aurora Foss, a Norwegian student, told China Daily on Monday.

The Norwegian government finances her studies at Peking University, where she is learning Chinese.

Figures from the MOE show that the most popular universities in China for foreign students are the Beijing Language and Culture University, Peking University, Fudan University, Tsinghua University and the University of International Business and Economics.

Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin attract the largest number of foreign students, according to the MOE.

The education ministry also said South Korea, the United States and Japan are the top three countries for sending students to study in China this year.

Chinese universities have increasingly begun to promote diversity on campus by teaching courses in English.

"We have 407 foreign postgraduates this year in 12 departments and all the courses are taught in English," said Wu Yunxin, chief of the international cooperation and exchange department at Tsinghua University.

(Source: China Daily)

Teachers Take Sleepy Hollow Education to Cambodia

Two months off is typically a much-welcomed perk for teachers, but two of Sleepy Hollow High School's social studies instructors took their skills abroad this past summer.

Lisa Graham and Claire Heskestad left behind the newly-renovated high school to help rejuvenate the school system in Cambodia through the non-profit organization Teachers Without Borders.

The colleagues took on the challenge of spending two-and-a-half weeks in Cambodia, a nation whose people, buildings and education system were demolished during the genocide and rule of the Khmer Rouge during the 1970s.

"This country is still suffering," said Graham. "They threw away all of the talent—lawyers, architects, engineers, teachers."

Graham heard about the opportunity to volunteer in Cambodia through a list serve and jumped at the opportunity, inviting Heskestad, a friend and co-worker, to join.

After months of paperwork and administrative procedures, the duo fronted their own funds to pay for the trip and left on June 30 to teach at a workshop created for Cambodia's educators, who generally make around $40 a month.

Heskestad and Graham designed their own curriculum and provided materials for the program designed to teach Cambodian teachers new techniques and lesson ideas.

The two taught teachers, who ranged in education from middle school to college graduates, in a Cambodian school, while enduring 100-plus degree weather with 100 percent humidity. The school did not have electricity, which is typical for the struggling nation.

"They mostly just [have students] copy off of the board," said Graham. "We modeled interactive methods in terms of what students could do together. That's really new to the teachers."

Graham added having the teachers move desks around into groups was "sort of a big deal," as was raising their hands and coming up to the front of the classroom.

"We realized the teachers needed to make supplies for their classrooms," said Heskestad. "We had them make their own world maps they could take home and use."

Both Graham and Heskestad said the language barrier proved to be a challenge, but they compensated with their experience working with ESL students. Graham, who is fluent in Spanish and Heskestad who is a native of France, used two translators and minimal writing to make the lessons as clear as possible.

"Having a second language helped in terms of being careful with language," said Graham. "It's hard when you have a translator, but they were so sweet and really patient."

Graham said the teachers especially enjoyed the use of a jeopardy game to relay important facts in the social sciences, a universally-understood and effective teaching method.

By the end of the workshop, Heskestad and Graham felt they had provided the teachers with the necessary tools to become better educators in their own classrooms, as well as the leadership skills to help other Cambodian teachers adopt new methods in the future.

The 20 teachers in their class made traditional Cambodian skirts for Graham and Heskestad as a thank you.

"They were really thrilled," said Heskestad. "They were all very receptive and did enjoy themselves."

Upon returning, but not before spending a few additional weeks in Vietnam, the two shared their experience with the Tarrytown Teacher's Association, hoping to garner additional interest in the program.

"We're thinking of going back next year and bringing some other teachers," said Heskestad. "A lot of the time teachers don't realize the need for their expertise."

Journalism in the Age of Data

How journalists are coping with a flood of information by borrowing data visualization techniques from computer scientists, researchers and artists.

Full Stanford University project info here.

>

Journalism in the Age of Data from geoff mcghee on Vimeo.

>

Hat tip Flowing Data

Monday, September 27, 2010

Saturn's Northern Lights: Incredible new Nasa images show planet's glowing poles

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:19 PM on 24th September 2010

Glowing like a mysterious planet from an episode of Star Trek, this is actually Saturn's aurora as it shimmers green light.

These new images show Saturn's aurora over a two-day period and are helping scientists understand what drives some of the solar system's most impressive light shows.

The false-colour image was composed from 65 single shots taken by the spacecraft Cassini on 11 November 2008.

Scientists hope studying Saturn's aurora will give them more information about our own Northern and Southern Lights.

This image is composed from 65 single shots taken by the spectrometer on Cassini on 11th November 2008. The green glow around the south pole is an aurora like on Earth

This image is composed from 65 single shots taken by the spectrometer on Cassini on 11th November 2008. The green glow around the south pole is an aurora like on Earth

A video and images are part of a new study that, for the first time, extracts information about Saturn’s aurora from the entire catalogue of images taken by the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer instrument (VIMS) aboard Cassini.

The new, false-colour images show Saturn's aurora glowing in green around the planet's south pole over a 20 hour period, about two days on Saturn.

‘Detailed studies like this of Saturn's aurora help us understand how they are generated on Earth and the nature of the interactions between the magnetosphere and the uppermost regions of Saturn's atmosphere,’ said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist, based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Auroras on Saturn occur in a process similar to Earth's northern and southern lights.

A composite of four single shots which shows how polar lights on planet Saturn

A composite of four single shots which shows how polar lights on planet Saturn change of time

Particles from the solar wind are channeled by Saturn's magnetic field toward the planet's poles, where they interact with electrically charged gas in the upper atmosphere and emit light.

On Saturn, however, auroral features can also be caused by electromagnetic waves generated when the planet's moons move through the plasma that fills its magnetosphere.

Cassini's data will be presented at the Europlanet conference in Rome today.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1314897/Saturns-Northern-Lights-Incredible-new-Nasa-images-planets-glowing-poles.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz10iN2ScWD

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Inclusive Education Advisor needed in Battambang Camodia

Closing date: 15 Oct 2010
Location: Cambodia - Battambang

Handicap International is looking for an Inclusive Education Advisor
COUNTRY : Cambodia CITY : Battambang
Starting date: ASAP Length of the assignment : 2 years
Closing date for application : 15/10/10 Advertisement reference : KL/Cambodia/EI

Handicap International is an independent and impartial international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.
Handicap International is a not-for-profit organisation with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation made up of a network of associations that provide it with human and financial resources, manage its projects and implement its actions and social mission.
For more details on the association: http://www.handicap-international.fr/en/s/index.html

JOB CONTEXT:
The Kingdom of Cambodia (181,040 sq km) with a total population of 13,995,904 faces major challenges to consolidate its development despite the fact that in the last decade the national economy of Cambodia has experienced a rapid growth reaching an average of 7,1%.

Handicap International (HI) has been present in Cambodia since 1992. According to the new strategy 2008 - 2012, our teams (100 people with 3 coordinators and 5 Project Managers) will develop a range of actions within the fields of Health, Inclusion and Rights. One major issue the team needs to ameliorate is the understanding and level of expertise on disability. In this context HI has decided to create this Inclusive Education Advisor position in order to work on the project “Promoting a replicable pilot model of inclusive education for disabled children in Cambodia.”

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Challenges and goals:
The position is in direct coordination with the Inclusion & Rights Coordinator. You will consolidate and develop the inclusive education skills of the team and support activities by offering your technical expertise on key aspects of including children with all types of disabilities in the primary education area.

Activities:
You are responsible for the quality of the pilot model on inclusive education which will be developed throughout the project. You will advise and develop tools together with partners and:
- Develop and facilitate training sessions depending on needs.
- Document good practise, provide coaching and capacity development to the team and the partners from the District Office of Education.
- Implement an assessment on special education and the advantages for the linkages with inclusive education.
- Support the set up of a community strategy and the community based support provision and process of capacity development of community partners.
- You will ensure that disability knowledge is maintained in HI Cambodia after the initial insertion training
- Contribute to the disability training and knowledge skills for continuous knowledge development within Handicap International through coaching on disability focal points.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

Mandatory:
- Degree in education, with specific focus on disability.
- Experience in inclusive education and communicating with relevant partners.
- A minimum of 4 years of experience in the field of inclusive education and practical aspects of inclusive education in developing countries with at least 2 years in capacity development (training and tool development) .

Complementary:
- Knowledge and experience in a rights based approach, mainstreaming, advising and management.
- Teaching experience in inclusive education.
- Experience in mobilizing community networks, awareness raising and knowledge in community based support services (life skills, etc.)

REQUIRED LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Fluency in written and spoken English is obligatory
French language knowledge would be a plus.

JOB ENVIRONMENT:
The position is based for majority of the time in the Battambang area, the second largest town of the country. The town is rural (5 hours from the capital by bus). Living conditions in Cambodia are fairly good for international staff. There are no major security problems. The country is calm and accessible. The main risk however remains road safety. The position is based in Battambang, will require short travels to districts and the capital Phnom Penh for meetings or networking. The position is open to couples and/or families.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:
Volunteer: 750 or 850 Euros monthly indemnity + living allowance paid on the field + accommodation + 100% medical cover + repatriation insurance
Salary: salary bracket: 2150-2400euros gross salary + 457 Euros expatriation allowance + 100% medical cover + repatriation insurance + family policy
How to apply
Please send resume and covering letter with the reference KL/Cambodia/EI to:
HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL - 14, avenue Berthelot - 69361 LYON CEDEX 07
by Email : recrut05@handicap-international.org
or by our website : www.handicap-international.fr
Please do not telephone
Reference Code: RW_89HHL7-47


With the exception of public UN sources, reproduction or redistribution of the above text, in whole, part or in any form, requires the prior consent of the original source. The opinions expressed in the documents carried by this site are those of the authors and are not necessarily shared by UN OCHA or ReliefWeb.

Vientiane International School Laos Primary Principal

Vientiane International School (VIS) was established in 1991. It is an independent, non-profit day school which offers a quality international-standard curriculum from Early Years (3-4 year olds) through Grade 12 for qualified students of all nationalities. The school has grown over recent years and expects to reflect the continuing development of Vientiane and Laos.

VIS faculty consists of 42 teachers, all of whom are certified in their home countries and bring with them a wealth of teaching knowledge and experience. Teachers are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States, France, The Philippines, South Africa and the U.K. Lao teacher assistants are employed to assist in Preschool through Grade 5 classrooms and some specialty courses.

VIS is an authorized IBO World School and expects to complete MYP authorization in the next 12 months to complete authorization for all three programs. Our curriculum is designed to help students move on to their next International School, to return to a similar English-medium school in their home country, or to prepare them for acceptance into a college or university.

While designed to meet the academic and social needs of college-bound international students, our program welcomes the enrolment of all expatriate children and qualified Lao National students. Currently there are 36 countries represented in the student body of 350 students where no nationality has greater than 15% of the total enrolment.

The School received accreditation in 2001 from both the US-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Council of International Schools (CIS). VIS is the only accredited school in Lao PDR. VIS is also a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS), and the Mekong River International Schools Association (MRISA)

VIS Mission

At Vientiane International School our mission is to challenge, inspire and prepare learners for life.

Objectives and Outcomes

We provide a safe, respectful, collaborative and sustainable learning environment

  • Students have a sense of identity and feeling of belonging, within the VIS community.
  • VIS has a respectful, caring and supportive learning environment.
  • VIS is a healthy and safe school.
  • An environment of collaboration exists.
  • Students have an awareness of human rights.
  • Sustainable growth and development practices and understandings are followed.
  • Parents, teachers and students are actively involved in the process of learning.

We provide a high quality holistic educational

  • The VIS community demonstrates the IB Learner Profile characteristics and attitudes.
  • Students experience a balanced and holistic education.
  • VIS delivers the International Baccalaureate, an internationally recognised curriculum.
  • Students are challenged and motivated to reach their potential.
  • Students are creative and critical independent thinkers with life-long learning skills.
  • Students demonstrate intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

We empower learners to be internationally minded global citizens

  • The VIS community is committed to and engaged in community service and action.
  • Students are confident and creative builders of the future.
  • The VIS community demonstrates intercultural awareness and internationalism.
  • Students are able to communicate effectively in more than one language.

We enrich learning experiences through interaction with the Lao community and our international communities

  • Students are aware of, understand and appreciate the culture of Lao PDR.
  • The VIS community collaborates with the international and Lao communities.

The Position The contract is an Administrative Contract with an initial 2 year contract with subsequent annual renewal. The Principal reports to and is evaluated by the Director.

Job Description Primary Principal:

The Key Responsibility of the primary principal is to ensure the delivery of a high quality educational program in line with school policy for the students of EY3 to grade 5. Through collaboration as a part of the senior administrative team, the primary principal will contribute to the formation of policy and procedure, the development and implementation of school wide plans and programs, and support the professional development of staff. The primary principal will be responsible for organizing and communicating the primary educational program to all members of the VIS community.

Major Duties and Tasks are:

  • Foster the continuous improvement of the school’s programs and performance
    • Oversee, with PYP Coordinator, the IB PYP curriculum delivery and review, including program changes and reauthorizations
    • Support and advise the school staff in the effective provision of student support services
    • Evaluate the performance of students, programs and curriculum against the expected school standards and policies.

  • Supervise, evaluate and support teaching staff to enhance their delivery of the school’s programs.
    • Foster growth, goal setting and professional development through the school professional growth program
    • Support the Director in the recruitment and hiring of faculty
    • Motivate employees to improve performance and contribute to a positive culture

  • Ensure effective distribution and use of resources
    • Prepare and manage the academic budget for the primary program
    • Facilitate ordering of school supplies and equipment

  • Ensure all students work and learn within a safe and respectful environment
    • Implement a positive and effective discipline policy

  • Communicate effectively in writing and orally with students, parents and faculty
    • Promote a positive attitude in the school community
    • Engage parents in the educational process
    • Ensure understanding of school programs, decisions, plans & information

  • Contribute to the development of the whole school through involvement in planning, policy development, and procedural documentation.

Position Requirements:

  • Principal Certification or equivalent

  • Advanced degree in educational administration or equivalent

  • Skilled and effective communicator

  • Leadership experience in development of programs and/or pedagogy

  • Experience in PYP will be highly regarded

Salary and Benefits:

The salary and benefits package will be competitive and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Details of the package will be made available to short-listed candidates.

Application Procedure:

Suitably qualified candidates should email their application no later than 31 October 2010 to the Director, Greg Smith director@vislao.com (Applications will be reviewed as they are received).

The application should meet the following requirements:

  • a cover letter explaining why you would be the ideal candidate for the position and school context not exceeding 2 pages.

  • a current resume/CV with a recent photograph; and

  • contact details for at least three current referees and contact details for your supervisors in your previous school.

  • All documents submitted as a single pdf file

Olympic English contest launched in Saigon

Registration opened yesterday for the Olympic English Contest 2010 in HCM City for high school pupils who wish to practice English and gain essential skills

VnnNews – Registration opened yesterday, Sept 22, for the Olympic English Contest 2010 in HCM City for high school pupils who wish to practice English and gain essential skills for entering the workforce in the near future.

Poor English language skills, teaching hinder Vietnamese

British University Vietnam established in Hanoi

Forty university students win English-speaking contest


Students in class at the Apollo language centre in Ha Noi. (Photo: VNS)

The three-round contest, being held jointly by Apollo English and the Department of Education and Training of HCM City, is open to 10th and 11th grade pupils from all HCM City high schools.

The first round will be held on October 10 at a high school in HCM City. Contestants will take a 100-question multiple choice test with questions spanning across various topics, such as culture, history and society.

Second round contestants will be challenged with a 50-question multiple choice test and a 50-question listening test.

The final round will include two parts: a quick Q&A session and an oral presentation session.

Khalid Muhmood, chairman of Apollo English said: “This is the first time Apollo English is holding this contest in co-ordination with HCM City’s Department of Education and Training, and we are honoured to create a meaningful playground for pupils in this city. Organising this contest is one of our efforts to show our commitment to the development of Vietnamese students and to create a frequent academic playground that helps build confidence and winning results.”

Contest registration is open until October 4. Pupils can register at their schools or online at http://apollo.edu.vn/olympic.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Cambodia: Education Sector Support Project




Cambodia
Cambodia Education Sector Support Project‎
Improving Quality and Access

Overview

The Education Sector Support Project, which started in 2005, assists the government with its goal of expanding access to educational services by addressing constraints in supply, demand, quality and efficiency, and it has a special focus on poor and under-served communities. The project is expanding educational facilities in poor areas, delivering scholarship programs to poor children, providing training and capacity building at local levels to improve education services, and addressing specific implementation issues. More than 27,000 lower secondary school students (in grades 7-9) received scholarships to complete all nine years of their basic education and over 6,300 primary school teachers (grades 1-6) were trained to become basic education teachers (up to grade 9).

multimedia

Challenge

Keeping children—particularly poor children—in school beyond the first few years of school, enhancing the quality of teachers and reducing the large student:teacher ratio (49:1 in primary schools) are the most significant challenges facing the educational system in Cambodia. Children are expected to work to contribute to the livelihoods of households and this directly interferes with schooling. Household direct costs for schooling, such as pocket money, transportation costs, and supplementary tutoring, remain substantial for the majority of Cambodian families. Given these challenges, the Education Sector Support Project was designed to include measures to attract children to school at the proper enrollment age and at the same time, attract, retain, develop, and motivate teachers to reduce dropout rates and improve the quality of education. School incentive schemes that provide cash or in-kind subsidies to poor children, conditional on school attendance, are also included as part of the project design.


Approach

Together with development partners, the International Development Association (IDA) has been instrumental in supporting the government’s adoption of institutional reforms, such as the Education Strategic Plan, to achieve its education-related Millennium Development Goals. Detailed analysis and policy dialogue have been accompanied by projects funded by IDA and by a multi-donor trust fund (Fast-track Initiative Catalytic Fund).


The main objectives of the government’s approach to improving education include:

  • Ensuring equitable access to early childhood, primary (grades 1-6) and lower secondary (grades 7-9) educational services by reducing cost barriers to schooling and investing in facilities in targeted areas, the poorest rural areas with overcrowded schools.
  • Improving the quality and efficiency of services through greater decentralization of school management, enhanced teacher professional development, and provision of instructional materials.
  • Developing national assessment systems and teacher standards.
  • Developing higher education systems and capacity.
  • Strengthening the institutional capacity to administer educational services and to implement quality-control mechanisms.
With the scholarship that I’ve been given and my mom’s strong support for my studies, I believe I will reach my goal.

— Meas Sokhunthea, student/scholar,
Preah An Kosa secondary school


Results

So far, the project has had the following results:

  • A total of 27,502 lower secondary school students have received scholarships to complete all nine years of their basic education.
  • The primary education dropout rate was reduced from 10.8 to 8.8 percent between academic years 2006-7 and 2009-10.
  • A total of 6,343 primary school teachers were trained to become basic education teachers (up to grade 9).
  • A total of 908 school directors were trained in school leadership.
  • A total of 234 school buildings for lower secondary schools and 13 buildings for primary schools that had an insufficient number of classrooms were constructed. National assessment systems were developed. Tests were conducted for mathematics and Khmer language at grades 3, 6, and 9, and a second round of the testing has been started.
  • Higher education institution accreditation standards were formalized and assessment procedures are being formalized.
  • A higher education vision and strategy for 2020 was finalized.

The trust-funded portion of the project, the Education Sector Support Scale-Up Action Program (ESSUAP), has achieved the following:

  • A total of 5,161 primary school students received conditional cash transfers to support them to complete all six years of primary education.
  • A total of 159 primary schools received School Improvement Grants.
  • A total of 160 community preschool programs and 150 home-based care programs were established.
  • A total of 1,120 primary school directors were trained in school leadership.
I get a scholarship for three years, for grades 7, 8, 9. I get $60 a year. With this money, I have bought books, my uniforms, and a bicycle. And the rest I gave to my mom
to buy food.

— Pov Theary, student/scholar,
Borkeo secondary school


Bank Contribution

IDA is providing US$28 million of the total cost of US$30 million for the project. In addition, the Fast Track Initiative (FTI) multi-donor trust fund provides US$57.4 million to implement the ESSUAP.


Partners

Thirty development partners contribute funds to the FTI multi-donor trust fund, which is part of the global Education For All - Fast-track Initiative.


Moving Forward

The ESSUAP will continue until June 30, 2012, supporting the following components:

  • Early childhood education: establishing 650 new preschool classes, 150 home-based care programs, and 150 community preschool programs, and constructing 25 preschool buildings and one preschool teacher training center.
  • Primary education: constructing 650 school buildings; providing school improvement grants and supplementary learning materials to 650 schools; awarding primary education conditional cash transfers to 10,000 students; training 15,000 teachers in child-friendly school methodology and 1,500 principals in effective leadership and school management.

The World Bank is complementing these efforts by increasing its focus on higher education. It recently approved IDA finance for the Higher Education Quality and Capacity Improvement Project that aims to improve the governance and management of higher education, to support research and to provide scholarships for disadvantaged students.




For more information, please visit the Projects website.



Permanent URL for this page: http://go.worldbank.org/3GBQS9P110

Widespread Cheating Uncovered in Royal Thai Police Exams


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Revelations of widespread corruption and cheating in Royal Thai Police examinations have been uncovered in the Thai press this week. Reports stipulate that numerous non-commissioned officers taking the commissioned officer examinations were paying for their pass grade and using an unnamed telephone receiver/transmission device to assist in cheating on the exam.

Thailand, the 24th of September 2010: According to official press releases, investigations into the alleged cheating and possible bribery had been ongoing for several months, with some 27 offenders arrested from Region 4 and Region 8 examinations.

Initially reports of the corrupt practices were uncovered to the media by Deputy Commander of the Region 8 Police Training Center (Surat Thani), Colonel Saman Chainarong. Col. Chainarong uncovered and arrested 16 offenders cheating on the annual promotional exams, while a further 28 devices used to propagate the scam were found hidden around the campus. The offenders were caught as investigators used transmission detection and prevention equipment to locate the devices and block their signal.

Subsequent national investigations, have revealed the practice as an elaborate scam, whereby 1,000 positions as a commissioned police officer are offered for sale (Bt300-350,000 each), with students paying between Bt5-20,000 to receive the appropriate equipment to assist in cheating on the examination and attain their ‘stripes’. This year only 2,300 promotions were offered by the Royal Thai Police, the scam therefore equating to over 40% of the given positions.

Col. Chainarong expressed his compassion for those non-commissioned officers that had been inadvertently affected by corrupt superiors and colleagues. He stressed that continued damage to the image of the Royal Thai Police was unfortunate but inevitable, urging his colleague to assist in stamping out corruption at the lower ranks which is breeding corrupt practices amongst the future hierarchy of the Royal Thai Police.

Candidates such as Senior Sergeant Major Tanakrit Polket (Khon Kaen) have been hardest hit by this years crackdowns on examination corruption, with most of the exams involving arrested officers to resit the tests. “I had studied hard for this years exams and am sure that my answers were mostly correct, now I may have to resit the exams because other peoples cheating,” Snr Sgt. Polket exclaimed.

At present, two people involved with the propagation of the corrupt examinations have been arrested, but later posted Bt100,000 bail. Eleven other officers have been released as suspects in the investigations, without charge.

Editor’s note:
In total, there were 56,653 officers sitting the examinations nationwide, with 7,682 of those at Region 4’s training facility. In such an apparently widespread case, it is remarkable that only 11 candidates were found cheating in that region and only 27 overall.

The equipment used in the examination was a telephone transmission system, whereby the candidate communicated his questions to a third-party who then transmitted the answer via the same device back until a suitable result was attained.

Related News
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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Drink, drugs and orgies on the beach: Is THIS what your teenager is up to on their gap year?

By Laura Topham
Last updated at 1:00 PM on 25th September 2010

Were it not for the waves of green, clinking beer bottles, you’d think the hundreds of inert ­bodies strewn along the shore had washed up dead.

Behind them, many more youngsters are slumped, their heads between their knees, ­vomiting into the sand.

Then there are the men ­urinating in the sea and an array of naked couples bobbing up and down in the water. The sordid scene is lit by a beautiful, white full moon. But then this is the Full Moon Party on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island — the most renowned and revered experience on every backpacker’s itinerary.

Full moon party

Popular: The Full Moon Party on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island is a must for all backpackers

Every month, 10,000 youngsters gather here and many of them are British middle-class school leavers for whom a trip to Thailand — and the rich cultural experiences it has to offer — has become a rite of passage.

Well, that’s what their parents would hope as they wave their offspring off at the airport.

But the sad reality includes ­spectacles such as this on Haad Rin beach.

As the monthly event has grown, so too has the level of theft, violence and rape. Western youngsters regularly die here from drunken accidents.

So, with all these dangers, what exactly is the lure of this beach to teenagers who are, after all, meant to be Britain’s brightest?

I’m here for October’s Full Moon Party to find out.

Full moon party

Party: Every month over 10,000 youngsters descend on the beach

Privately-educated Mike Coe, 19, from Exeter, is the first reveller I encounter. ‘I’ve just come to ­Thailand for the party,’ he says, before adding sheepishly, ‘and a bit of culture, of course — although there’s none here.’

There is, however, plenty of what he and friend Roland Greenslade really want: sex and alcohol. ‘I’ve already slept with four girls this week,’ says Mike.

‘My friend had to sit outside on the step and wait.’ Roland, also 19, privately educated, and from ­Exeter, adds proudly: ‘I’ve had a threesome with two Aussie girls.’

So, what do their parents think? ‘They love the fact that I’m seeing the world,’ says Mike. ‘They don’t realise what it’s really like.

‘Mum thinks I’m sitting around having one glass of wine and a nice, healthy seafood dinner.’

Tonight, the two blond, bare-chested boys have, in fact, had a cheap curry, and are looking for girls. They have just drunk their first highly-potent and ubiquitous ‘bucket’ — a container holding a terrifying cocktail of spirits.

For if there’s one thing this party is about — and it is certainly not Thai culture or the stunning beach setting — it is these vats of ­alcohol.

Legendary among attendees, they contain a 35ml bottle of ­spirits such as vodka, whiskey or the local liqueur Samsong, along with a can of cola and a ­medicinal-looking bottle of super-strength Redbull.

Full moon party

Parents believe their children have gone looking for some culture in Thailand

The concoction is mixed in a plastic bucket, from which people drink through straws.

Containing seven large shots, they cost from just 200 baht (£4) and are sold at more than 50 stalls along the beach, all of which have obscene names such as ‘f*** my sex bucket’ or ‘Jesus f*** it’.

One female vendor even carries a sign saying ‘f*** me’.

This obscene word is ubiquitous; most signs contain swearwords and stalls sell T-shirts emblazoned with the words: ‘F*** you man’.

Hard drugs — illegal in Thailand — are also sold on the beach, both by Thai men, who approach offering ecstasy tablets for 500 baht (£10), and at Mellow Mountain and Kangaroo, two bars over­looking the beach which sell ‘Happy Shakes’.

These cocktails contain a heavy dose of magic mushrooms and also cost around £10.

Amphetamines are sold at some of the pharmacies on the main street. Though the ‘speed’ I am offered — from a special drawer behind the counter — is actually Phentermine, a prescription-only weight-loss drug. Tablets are 120 baht each (about £2).

Sitting on a rock below Mellow Mountain is Jess Bainbridge, 20, from Windsor, a bubbly brunette with ‘I love Winkers’ written in pink paint down both arms.

‘It’s the local nightclub back home,’ she explains of the writing. ‘I want it in the photos for Facebook so my friends can see it.’

Full moon party

Cheap: The low prices of alcohol at the parties encourage binge drinking and partying to excess

After finishing her A-Levels, she worked for her local council to save for a gap year. After 12 days in Thailand, she’ll spend a year in Australia. ‘I just came here to go to the party and it’s brilliant,’ she declares. ‘Just like Malia and Magaluf. I’ve only really met Brits and Aussies. Mum didn’t want me to come, as things can be dangerous, but I’m not worried.’

By midnight, the beach has filled with thousands of revellers ­dancing in the sand, on wooden benches and specially erected stages. There are around 20 ­permanent pubs, hotels and restaurants on the beachfront. Each place belts out hardcore dance music at ear-bleeding levels.

The full moon parties were started in the Eighties by Sutti ­Kuasurkul, owner of The Rock bar, at the end of Sunrise Beach.

Initially, he held a gathering as a send-off for some Australians after a prolonged stay at the resort. It was such a success that they became a regular occurrence — but they have developed beyond recognition, as has the resort.

Sitting alone overlooking the messy bay, Sutti looks miserable and will only say ‘It’s ok’ when I ask if he likes the party.

When further pressed, he simply turns his hand in an ambivalent gesture. It is clear he feels — as many locals do — that he can’t complain because he lives off the money the party brings in.

‘People from Europe are not like us — they are out of control,’ says bar worker Bo, 27. ‘They have boom boom (sex) on the beach and don’t care who sees them. They are crazy.’

With the burgeoning popularity of the parties comes further destruction to the resort, which now only attracts young drinkers, rather than discerning holidaymakers.

The main street is a cramped, smelly, shabby mess of neon signs and cheap, run-down restaurants. It’s no secret which nationality the resorts are aiming at: restaurants sell ‘pies, bangers and branston pickles’, pubs show films such as Sex And The City and live football from England.

Internet café computers automatically load Facebook when started.

Store after store sells fluorescent Full Moon Party vests with slogans such as ‘I not drunk’ or ‘drunk drink drunk’ and feature pictures of buckets with straws — one even shows a naked boy urinating into a bucket.

Full moon party

Passed out: How many backpackers' evenings end

Other businesses booming as a result of all this include doctors’ clinics (there are three on the beach) and pharmacies. After all, 10,000 drunken youngsters demand a great deal of medical assistance.

‘People can’t control themselves,’ says one of the local doctors, ­Kritsada Wonghianchai.

‘They suffer acute alcohol intoxication and serious dehydration. It’s mainly young backpackers, aged 18 to 22.’

Pharmacist Miss Leck often treats people who have been fighting or wounded by cut glass.

‘People hurl bottles and they break on the beach,’ she says. ‘Most people are barefoot. Others fall and hit their head. Some fall asleep then come round with awful sunburn.’

She adds sadly: ‘Fifty years ago, it was a beautiful place to see the full moon, but not now.’

There are also lots of ­accidents from drunken driving after the party. One 21-year-old from ­Manchester University is covered in bloody scabs from a motorcycle crash; the driver — her travelling partner — is still in a coma.

But if that all sounds quite ­dangerous enough, then what about the burning skipping ropes? Many people are treated for burns because they’ve been encouraged to jump over huge, petrol-doused ropes that have been set alight and swung from stands by organisers.

Thailand

British teenagers travel to Thailand as part of their gap years after finishing school

Within a few swings, they trip and are lashed by flaming rope on their legs, chest or head; one man even has his clothes set on fire.

Later, a 2 ft wide ring is set alight and partygoers dive through it with varying success. The ­abundance of fire — even a slide that revellers speed down is alight — is astonishingly reckless given that I don’t meet a single sober person all night.

Another serious hazard is the sea, of course. Stories abound of ­drownings during intoxicated swims. On the shore at 1am, one man is unconscious in the shallow water, his head held in the air by his panicking friend. After a five-minute struggle, his friend finally lifts him from the water and carries him off. Around them, people are staggering out to taxi boats, occasionally falling over and being pulled out of the water by friends. The low safety level of this transport was highlighted in June, when 42 party-goers were injured, many seriously, after two boats collided. Five years ago, a boat sank, killing 18 people.

At 3am, thousands are still ­dancing, covered in fluorescent glow paint and wearing flashing devil horns. More and more are collapsing on the sand and remaining there.

One 19-year-old English girl on her gap year is lying on her back being comforted by a male friend. She has taken magic mushrooms and keeps covering her face with her hands and squealing with fear.

‘She’s not having a good time,’ says the boy. ‘Please keep away — she can’t handle being near people.’ Which might prove ­difficult in a party of 10,000.

A Full Moon Party at Koh Phangang in Thailand

A Full Moon Party at Koh Phangang in Thailand

A Full Moon Party at Koh Phangang in Thailand

Home time yet? Some struggle with the quantity of alcohol consumed

She isn’t the only girl suffering drug effects. Over in the ‘sleep’ section — a cordoned-off area now housing 12 inanimate bodies, plus one man sticking his fingers down his throat — a girl with a Union Jack painted on her leg is coiled in the foetal position, shaking and sobbing. ‘We only shared one Happy Shake between us,’ says her boyfriend. ‘I can’t believe how many mushrooms must have been in it.

‘They shouldn’t be selling something so strong, it’s not fair on travellers.’ He says she is suffering severe anxiety and depression, and the effects won’t wear off for hours.

Indeed, suicides after bad drug experiences here are common -—enough to warrant a warning in the Foreign Office advice.

According to the Rough Guide, two Westerners a month are hospitalised for ­psychiatric care after taking dodgy drugs here.

Despite pledges to crack down, ­little appears to have been done. ‘It’s too busy, too much work,’ says ­Sergeant Amon, head of police in Haad Rin. ‘Lots of theft and drugs and fighting.’

Despite which, he claims the 100 police drafted in from across the island for the parties usually make only five arrests.

By far the most sordid scene that I witness occurs at the waterside at 4am. Three couples are having sex in the sea.

A Full Moon Party at Koh Phangang in Thailand

Thousands drink until the sun comes up at 7am by which stage the beaches are littered with drunken bodies

One particularly indiscreet pairing attracts attention, and soon a crowd of more than 100 people surround them, taking photos and whooping — less than a metre away.

Undeterred, the couple continue. The spectacle lasts for more than ten minutes.

When at last the pair drag themselves out of the sea, I hear their well-spoken English accents. One can only imagine what their ­parents would think.

The beach is now difficult to ­navigate due to leering men with ­groping hands. In the dim light, it’s impossible not to step on people, though they don’t stir if you do.

Most have been decorated with buckets and bottles by passers-by. Party-goers who are still conscious pose, arms in air, next to those who aren’t: presumably to testify that they survived unscathed where ­thousands didn’t.

The stench is overwhelming; a­ ­nauseating blend of alcohol, sweat, urine and vomit.

Not that the revellers notice. When the sun finally rises at 7am, ­thousands are still drinking and dancing.

Among the litter, lost belongings and lost people, it’s hard to recognise the beautiful white-sand beach from yesterday.

But nobody here cares — after all, they didn’t come for the scenery.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315038/Is-THIS-teenager-gap-year-Graphic-dispatch-reveals-dangerous-reality.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz10Xz0NuDP

Chiang Rai aims to be one of top 10 Thai destinations

By Augustine Anthuvan | Posted: 25 September 2010 0020 hrs

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Chiang Rai aims to be one of top 10 Thai destinations

CHIANG RAI - Come 2012, Thailand's Chiang Rai province will celebrate the 750th anniversary of its founding.

Plans are underway to transform the whole region into one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Thailand.

Located at the northern tip of Thailand, this part of Chiang Rai province used to be part of the Golden Triangle - an area where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge - once infamous for its poppy fields, drug smugglers and opium warlords.

Ethnic hill minorities used to grow opium because it was their singular means of survival.

Witchudakorn Wongprasit, project officer, Doi Tung Tourism, said: "This area, as you see behind me, was in the past barren mountain. It was used to grow opium. When this Royal-initiated project came along, it changed from opium to plants of economic value to the villagers. So they gained some income."

However, change did not come easy. The Mae Fah Luang Foundation - established by Princess Srinagarindra, the late Princess Mother of Thailand's King Bhumibhol - paved the way for Sustainable Alternative Livelihood Development, designed to help the people to help themselves.

Witchudakorn Wongprasit said: "(This project) has tried to help the villagers by understanding the roots of the problems, which are health issues, poverty, and illiteracy.

"So the project's purpose at the time was to alleviate these problems. When the villagers realized that this was a form of help, they then trusted them. Later, they became open-minded to this project."

After the passing away of the Princess Mother, the King took the foundation under his patronage and appointed his daughter, Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as its honorary chairperson.

Today, the people of Doi Tung have choices - to work on the project's macadamia economic forests or in coffee roasting plants.

Alternative development means giving farmers an economically viable, legal alternative.

They can also work in tourist destinations - like the award winning Mae Fah Luang garden.

The people of Thailand have made Doi Tung one of the country's top travel destinations.

Today, the Sustainable Alternative Livelihood Development model being practiced here has become internationally recognized, with its best practices being introduced in Myanmar, Aceh and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, back at the city centre, several projects are underway - including a 'historical park' that tells the story of Chiang Rai through wood carvings.

Viroon Kumpilo who heads Chiang Rai's Chamber of Commerce, speaking through translator Chittra Bunchandranon, explained: "Chiang Rai has very good artistes and we want them to come and promote their paintings.

"And one of the things that the Chamber of Commerce is doing is to create 700 tree sculptures which will tell the history of Chiang Rai and we want people to see the importance of the city."

When completed, the wooden pillars with their carvings will become yet another symbol, transforming Chiang Rai into a must-visit destination.

- CNA/al

Friday, September 24, 2010

Was Huxley right and Orwell wrong?

Fish farming forum underway in Phuket



A Thai fisherman feeds his stock at a fish farm in Yala. AFP photo by Muhammad Sabri.
A Thai fisherman feeds his stock at a fish farm in Yala. AFP photo by Muhammad Sabri.

PHUKET: The world's leading experts on aquaculture convened in Phuket yesterday for a four-day seminar on the future development of the industry.

Phuket's selection as venue for the “Global Conference On Aquaculture 2010” can be seen as an acknowledgment of the Andaman region's importance to the industry.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA) and the Thai Department of Fisheries jointly organized the event, which kicked off at 9am at the Moevenpick Resort and Spa on Karon Beach.

Thammarat Wanglee, advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, chaired the seminar. It was attended by Fisheries Department Director-General Dr Somying Piumsomboon, as well as academic and business leaders in aquaculture from Thailand and around the world.

The seminar aimed to assess the current situation in world aquaculture, identify trends for the future and formulate development strategies for the next decade.

Among the specific goals was to evaluate the success in implementing the “Bangkok Declaration and Strategy for Aquaculture Development Beyond 2000”, which set out strategies to ensure sustainability and competitiveness on a global level over the past decade.

The seminar also aimed to identify emerging issues and new opportunities in aquaculture.

In an address to the conference, Dr Somying said the aquaculture industry was growing rapidly, particularly in Asia and South America, where it had grown by more than 33% since 2000.

More than 40% of seafood consumed globally, including fish, crabs, shrimp and shellfish, is now farmed, she said.

Thailand was the fifth-largest producer of farmed seafood in the world, producing 1.38 million tons worth more than 78 billion baht every year, she said.

Nevertheless, Dr Somying warned that the industry faces obstacles to future development including environmental degradation, disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

In order for the industry to remain stable and continue to serve as a reliable global food source, there must be an appropriate framework for sustainable development, she said.

Education Under Attack in Thailand



Education Under Attack in Thailand, HRW's Bede Sheppard explains how students, schools and teachers are caught between the rebels and the government in southern Thailand.

HRW's Bede Sheppard explains how students, schools and teachers are caught between the rebels and the government in southern Thailand. Photography by David Hogsholt/Reportage by Getty Images and Human Rights Watch.

Separatist attacks on teachers and schools and the government's use of schools as military bases are greatly harming the education of children in Thailand's southern border provinces, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The insurgents have also used Islamic schools to indoctrinate and recruit students into their movement. At the same time, Thai army and paramilitary forces are disrupting education and placing students at unnecessary risk of insurgent attack by occupying schools for long periods as bases for their counterinsurgency operations.

"The insurgents' practice of shooting teachers and burning schools shows incredible depravity," said Bede Sheppard, senior Asia researcher for children's rights at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "It's cruel and immoral and robs children of their education and their future."

Life-changing trip to Thailand

A MUSSELBURGH headteacher has told of the life-changing trip she and three of her staff took during the summer break to visit Burmese refugees.

Sheila Laing and teachers Hannah Alcock, Alicia MacFarlane and Katherine Macnaughton travelled to the Child Development Centre School on the Thai-Burmese border following a link-up with their school, Campie Primary.

There, the four women taught children – refugees from troubled Burma – about Scottish politics, the Scottish Parliament, democracy, held mock elections, and sang Scottish songs.

Sheila made a month-long visit, while her colleagues stayed for a fortnight.

She told the Courier the visit had “transformed” the lives of the other teachers, though it was her fourth visit to the country, having been involved in a similar project in her previous job in Edinburgh.

Through the Global Schools Partnership, the Thai school is now linked with Campie for at least four years.

It’s hoped the school can welcome a visitor from Thailand in November.

“Burma is run by a military junta,” she explained.

“Two million people have gone across the border and settled in Thailand, and most of them are illegal immigrants.

“The visit was to this Burmese refugees’ school, which is for 1,200 children.

“Five hundred of them are orphans and they’ve been orphaned through war. It was just an amazing experience. I think it really transformed the other teachers’ lives.

“They were overwhelmed at how these people live and how much they dedicate themselves to the children, and to educating the children.”

Campie’s classes have been linked with classes at the Thai school, with children writing to each other.

Sheila added: “The kids in Campie can learn about how other people live who aren’t as privileged as them.They have no concept of living in a country like this and it’s really opened their eyes.”

The teachers completed an internet blog during their visit to Thailand, which can be viewed at www.campie burma.blogspot.com

Chiang Rai aims to be regional education hub

By Augustine Anthuvan | Posted: 23 September 2010 1123 hrs

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Mae Fah Luang University
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Chiang Rai aims to be regional education hub

CHIANG RAI: Thailand's northernmost province of Chiang Rai is banking on becoming a regional education hub thanks to increased highway connectivity, the route 3 highway which is a north-south economic corridor that connects Kunming to Chiang Rai.

One of the Kingdom's fastest growing institutions, Mae Fah Luang University, is doing just that.

A key underlying concept that makes the Mae Fah Luang campus different from all others in Thailand is that the university is located inside a park.

With a large complex of modern, state-of-the-art buildings and set amid a spectacular setting of mountains and trees, it offers more than 10,000 students an environment and culture that's conducive to learning.

Mae Fah Luang University president Ted Tesprateep said: "(On a) government level, we have signed a kind of MOU that Kunming and Chiang Rai province is a sister province, (and) that we (will work closely together on) different levels.

"...We also have some MOU (involving) Mae Fah Luang University and Yunnan Normal University as well".

Apart from the Southern Chinese province of Yunnan, students also come from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

This makes the campus a regional research hub where education is fast becoming the medium for peace.

Incidentally Mae Fah Luang University is the only public university in Thailand that uses English as medium of instruction.

Lecturers and students are living in a region where the struggle is to balance the realities of economic incentives, development and conservation.

Mae Fah Luang University school of sciences lecturer David Morell said: "We are working with individual villagers on things like biochar to deal with green waste issues in Laos.

"We are (also) working with individual companies in Chiang Rai to build a sustainable green Chiang Rai and deal with climate change issues".

Mae Fah Luang University student Noutthong Alounthong, who is from Laos, said: "I hope that I can go back to work in the corridor area of the two national parks in the southern part of Laos.

"(I hope to) work with the community there, (and help) improve the livelihood and reduce the poverty (of the people there)".

With agriculture being the mainstay in Chiang Rai province, ensuring that on-campus research connects with the community has become a priority.

Natural Resources & Environmental Management director Hansa Sanguannoi said replacing insecticides with sustainable agriculture was one example how Mae Fah Luang University was making a difference in Northern Thailand.

"...vermi composting is (the use of a type of) earthworm to digest organic waste," Assoc prof Sanguannoi said, adding that Mae Fah Luang University would be setting up a demonstration to show how this is done.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

US university is a leader in online education

Glenda Gunter, an associate professor in the College of Education, developed her first online courses when the web was in its infancy. She has created and taught more than 70 fully or partially online courses.

Gunter will receive a prestigious award recognizing her accomplishments and service to the online learning community in November from the Sloan Consortium, a national leader in helping schools provide a first-class online education.

In his nomination letter, Joel Hartman, UCF’s vice provost for Information Technologies, called Gunter a “pioneer” in online education.

Gunter also has earned the respect and admiration of her students.

“Each time I turned something in, I would receive a paragraph full of specific compliments, constructive criticism and motivating words to carry me into the next assignment,” one former student said. “Her method of delivery and dedication to her students truly is a step above what many other teachers at the collegiate level offer their students.”

Gunter will be presented with her award at the Sloan Consortium International Conference in Orlando.

In the past seven years, UCF has received five awards from the Sloan Consortium. The other awards were:

2009 – Susan J. Wegmann, assistant professor, College of Education, Excellence in Online Teaching Award

2008 – UCF, Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education

2005 – Charles Dziuban, director, College of Education, Outstanding Achievement in Online Education by an Individual

2003 – UCF, Excellence in Faculty Development for Online Teaching Award

The Sloan Consortium is an institutional and professional leadership organization, dedicated to integrating online education into the mainstream of higher education and helping institutions and individual educators improve the quality, scale and breadth of education.

Vietnam’s average income per capita has reached an estimated USD 1,200 in 2010

VNEconomyNews.com - Vietnam’s average income per capita has reached an estimated USD 1,200 in 2010 and the country has moved from the list of poorest countries to the list of low and middle-income countries.

These facts were revealed in the report “Vietnam, the result of two-thirds of the road to achieving the millennium goals, toward 2015,” released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Permanent Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Cao Viet Sinh affirmed: “Over the past 10 years, Vietnam made significant achievements in economic growth and social development; the economy grows stably. The annual gross domestic products (GDP) reached 7.2% between 2001 and 2010.”

By 2010, Vietnam fulfilled some millennium goals: reaching the target of reducing poverty by half before 2020; accomplishing primary education universalization in 2000 and secondary education universalization in 2010 under Vietnam’s standard; and making encouraging results in enhancing gender equality and improving the status of women.

Children’s health continued to be a concern and improved significantly and the spread of HIV transmission was gradually curbed. The report showed that the rate of HIV transmission trended to rise in some localities, especially in northwestern provinces of Dien Bien and Lang Son.

Regarding the issue, John Hendra, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam said that HIV targets of the millennium goals can not be reached in 2015 if access to services are not enhanced, especially with the high-risk group.

“Therefore, to reach the set targets, the government’s commitment in the state budget for HIV prevention at national and local levels need to be promoted,” warned Mr. John Hendra.