Category: Education

Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), Emma Theofelus, launched the Namibia National Assessment on Internet Universality Indicators on Tuesday.

The assessment framework was developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and has been adopted by member states as an assessment tool for internet development at multiple levels.

“Namibia has embraced this opportunity to allow this voluntary assessment that will provide us with evidence as to where we are in our policy and development of our internet systems, particularly considering the human rights aspects, openness, accessibility, and the role and governance of multiple stakeholders,” Theofelus said in her remarks at the launch.

She also said that the framework recognises gender, disability, youth, and artificial intelligence as diverse intersectional issues that ought to be paid attention to in the selection, utilisation, and practice of technology.

The deputy minister further said ICT remains a key catalyst for development and is consequently reflected across various indicators and performance areas. She noted that only 51 per cent of Namibians have access to the internet, and that the MICT, along with other partners, is rolling out a national digital literacy programme aimed at empowering those without internet access with some digital skills.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Some teachers in Alou subdivision, Lebialem Division in the South West region, have said a move by some School Principals and the Divisional Officer, to sanction them for being absent from school, is a plot to punish those who never took part on May 20 national day celebration.

“Why we believe at a certain point that they seem to be doing their work, it’s surprising that they publish a list of recalcitrant teachers with names of teachers who have been in school doing their work throughout the year under the pretext that they never attended 20 May. This same thing was done after Youth Day,” a teacher narrated to CNA on the basis of anonymity.

Ngatchu Ephraim on June 22, 2023, published a list, which CNA obtained, of 22 teachers who allegedly were absent from ‘work and all celebrations of legal feasts,’ adding that they are awaiting a disciplinary hearing on June 27, 2023.

The whistle-blower said he thinks they are victims of circumstances because they live in a war zone, “We have not heard of names of punctual teachers in the Centre, West or Litoral regions, just to mention a few; published for punishment just because they didn’t attend 20 May or Youth Day.”

“I think the SDO of Lebialem and the Divisional Delegate for Secondary education for Lebialem should look into this. There are limits to how intimidation works. The worse thing is that the D O is convoking teachers during holidays and when some are moving already to Buea for GCE marking,” he cautioned.

Alou was once a hot spot in the ongoing armed conflict in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The entry into force of the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement–CFA would ensure the equitable and reasonable use of resources, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said.

Opening the 2nd Afri-run high-level conference held in Addis Ababa today, Demeke said it has been stated repeatedly that the Nile River Basin continues to suffer from natural and man-made challenges.

Climate change, population growth and unsustainable use of resources are mentioned among the natural challenges.

The man-made challenges including lack of political will, and tendencies of hegemonic use over the shared resource continue to hinder cooperation, it was indicated. “These challenges if not addressed properly, will continue to stand against our aspirations of ensuring sustainable development,” he pointed out.

The determination for cooperation resulted in the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and its outcome Cooperative Framework Agreement–CFA.

“It is high time that we redouble our efforts to deal with the challenges building on the great strides we have made in the past to ensure equitable use.”

Calling for the finalization of the ratification of the CFA and realize the wish of the people, he said “The entry into force of the CFA would ensure the equitable and reasonable use of our resources and enhance our cooperation through joint projects.”

The overall purpose of the conference remains to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of the transboundary water resources through promotion and exchange of experiences and scientific researches, it was learnt.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Government of Ethiopia has been taking bold steps to mitigate climate change and its impacts by incorporating the issue as an integral part of the 10-year perspective development plan, Global Green Growth Institute Country Representative Okechukwu Ogbonnaya said.

The country representative told ENA that when Ethiopia is implementing its Green Legacy Initiative, the ten-year development plan, the Nationally Determined Contribution, it is all doing it as an integral part of fulfilling its commitment, whether at national and regional levels or at the global level.

According to Ogbonnaya, Ethiopia has done fairly well withstanding the challenges of climate change in comparison to may be other countries at the same level as the country.

Most of our projects are aligned with the Green Legacy Initiative, he said, adding that the reason why it is important to align is for the country to transition to a green growth pathway which it needs to not only mainstream green growth and climate actions into its policies and actions, but also to do this holistically in an integrated manner so as to get the results.

The Global Green Growth Institute provides technical advisory for the Ministry of Planning and Development to coordinate the development of Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy ( LT-LEDS), it was learned.

“Our role is not only to provide technical advisory but also to bring our lessons or the networks we have because we have also supported other member states to develop LT-LEDS,” the country representative stated.

Ogbonnaya further said that “it is our belief that the lessons we have learned from a country like Ethiopia as vast as it is would be utilized to support other members in the similar situation, but also globally so that the aim and vision of government to transition from a business as usual approach to a green growth pathway would be achieved.”

Recall that Ethiopia embarked on its Green Legacy Initiative to plant some 25 billion seedlings, including trees, fruits, and cattle feeds by mobilizing over 20 million people during the span of four years.

Following a successful first phase of the planting, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the second phase to of planting another 25 billion seedlings early this month.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was called upon to lead efforts in creating an African media fund, to finance and enhance media sustainability and viability.

According to the press release sent to ENA, the African Union (AU) said that the economic bottlenecks are facing the media sector in the African continent.

This was disclosed at the second continent-wide media conference of African media stakeholders in partnership with the African Union and UNESCO, being underway in Lusaka Zambia, from the 11-13th May 2023.

The annual event brought together over 300 delegates from journalists’ associations, civil society, the academia, representatives from four AU organs and bodies, African governments, the UN and other media development partners, the release indicated.

The key outcome of this convention is the African Media Convention (AMC) declaration which among other things draws the attention of governments in Africa, to pursue equitable sharing of revenues by tech giants to ensure journalism and media sustainability and viability.

Highlight of this year’s convention was the training of the AU media fellows, through a partnership between AU Information and Communication Directorate, UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison office to AU, GIZ Liaison Office to the AU and WAN-IFRA Women in News.

The press release added this joint effort was hailed by the participants as a timely and much needed programme by journalists at the conference, as it enhanced their capacity in the use of technology and artificial intelligence, especially in data journalism.

The participants further applauded the AU for establishing the AU Media Fellowship Programme, as a cross-border collaborative platform contributing to the Agenda 2063 aspirations.

The AU, its bodies and Regional Economic Communities, were welcomed as co-hosts and requested to provide support for the Annual African Media Convention.

In addition, the delegates also welcomed the AU and its bodies to partner with the Africa media stakeholders, in carrying out the annual assessment of the status of press freedom, access to information and safety of journalists in AU Member States.

“Noting the economic challenges facing the media sector, UNESCO was called upon to lead efforts in creating an African media fund, to finance and enhance media sustainability and viability. This was deemed necessary in protecting the media from political and economic pressures and thus consolidates freedom of the media in Africa.”

Furthermore, following the consultations held during this convention on the proposed guidelines for regulating the digital platforms by UNESCO, the organization was called upon to include in the next version of the Internet for Trust guidelines.

UNESCO also urged to discharge a set of obligations for technological platforms to safeguard, support and advance public interest news and journalism as a public good in society.

To ensure the recommendations emanating from this annual convention are implemented, a steering committee of nine members was established, it was indicated.

This will guide the strategic evolution of the annual African Media Convention and also spearhead the development of an annual Africa Media Review Journal, to provide in-depth documentation of media developments and the African Media Convention.

More importantly, the African Media Convention steering committee will establish follow-up mechanisms for the implementation of all past, present and future recommendations on press freedom, access to information and safety of journalists on the African continent.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Cameroon Teachers Trade Union, CATTU in collaboration with the Cameroon Education For All Network, CEFAN have begun initiatives for effective school resumption in the North West region for the coming academic year.

The initiative started recently with the engagement of some stakeholders in Bamenda on back-to-school campaigns and how the population can be convinced of the importance of education.

During a focus group discussion in Bamenda chaired by the regional coordinator of CATTU, Semma Valentine, in the presence of personalities like representatives from state institutions, entrepreneurs, quarter heads, media personalities, and others.

The come together according to them, is a follow-up to a survey carried out by CEFAN in 2021 on the impact of the crisis on education in the region.

During the event, the various stakeholders discussed the various techniques and advocacy strategies that can be delivered to increase the awareness campaign for back-to-school in the crisis-hit region.

Participants were grouped and back-to-school messages were crafted. They also proposed better ways how to protect education in the region.

According to Semma Valentine, the project is also aimed at shaping government policy and increasing the number of children who will go back to school by September.

“We came here today to brainstorm and see how we can build our capacity in terms of advocacy and accountability for quality education and massive back to school,” Semma Valentine said.

Semma added that the proposals will be made as a report and sent to the government for study and implementation.

While revealing the shocking statistics of children who dropped out of school as a result of the crisis, the Regional Coordinator also challenged parents in the region to send their children to school.

“We are crying out loud to parents that we cannot continue holding back the education of our children. While the crisis is on, I don’t think we should continue standing in the same spot. Education cannot wait, we must send our children to school,” Semma added.

In the end, participants endorsed the initiative to yield results come September. Gambo Rekeatu just like many others promised to take the message back to their communities.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A Chinese proficiency competition for Ethiopian university and secondary school students with the view to enhancing cultural relationship between the two countries has taken place here in Addis Ababa today.

Some 16 university and 6 secondary school students participated in the final round competition.

The talent show included singing Chinese songs, Chinese dancing, poetry recitation, cross talk, tongue twisters, Huangmei Opera, and martial arts performance.

Special prizes, first to third prizes, and excellence awards were given to the twenty two contestants.

The winners in the university and the secondary school group categories will go to China to participate in the finals, it was learned.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhiyuan said that he is very confident that those Chinese learners in Ethiopia and Amharic learners in China will become ambassadors of friendship in the near future.

“I am very confident that those Chinese learners in Ethiopia and Amharic learners in China will become Sino-Ethiopia ambassadors of friendship in the near future, contributing to the consolidation of the bridge of brotherly relationship between our two countries, to the building of the bridge of a community with a shared future for our two people.”

He added that the competition is an important platform to promote exchanges and friendship between Chinese and foreign students, and an important bridge to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Since the first round competition in 2002, more than 1.4 million non-native Chinese language learners from more than 150 countries have participated in the Chinese proficiency competitions, Ambassador Zhiyuan stated.

Representing the Internationalization and Scholarship Desk of the Ministry of Education, Terefe Belay said that the two countries have a long-standing relationship.

According to him, strengthening cultural ties between the peoples of the countries will further consolidate the cultural relationship.

‘The relationship between Ethiopia and China is long standing. It has been around for long. Both countries have great cultural and ancient heritages. Therefore, in order to strengthen the brotherly relationship between the two countries, it will make them more effective if people learn each other’s culture, languages through academic exchange.’

Source: Ethiopian News Agency