training
training
African Youth Day Conference 2011
The Organisation of African Youth (OAYouth) is the youth platform for information exchange, forum for debate on African issues and a network of future political, corporate, academic, literary, religious and traditional leaders in all African contexts.
The African Youth Day was declared and adopted by the African Union (AU) in 2006 to be commemorated on 1 November each year. It has since evolved as the most powerful platform of young people of Africa.
OAYouth, in collaboration with Phelps Stokes and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is hosting the ‘African Youth Day Conference 2011 (AYDAC'11)’ on 1 November 2011 in Johannesburg.
The youth of Africa will convene at AYDAC’11 to celebrate the African Youth Day. The conference will pave way for youth to examine workable methods to improve youth unity as well as strengthen youth economic empowerment through leadership development, entrepreneurship support and agricultural transformation.
Conference Objectives:- Echo the voice of ordinary young people of Africa;
- Share information and best practices in promoting opportunities for youth encouraging youth to start new entrepreneurship initiatives;
- Establish suitable structures for meeting the unique needs for youth business start-ups in developing economies in Africa;
- Build lasting relationships between youth and business institutions;
- Infuse a gender perspective and rights-based approach to policies and programs for youth;
- Cultivate in the youth the spirit of accountability, transparency and integrity (ATI).
Cost: R2 430 per delegate.
For sponsorships, exhibitions and applications, write to: info@oayouth.org.
Enquiries: Tel: +27 73 445 4355.
For more about The Organisation of African Youth, refer to www.oayouth.org.Event type:ConferenceEvent venue:Ingwenya Country Escape, Lanseria, JohannesburgEvent start date:01/11/2011Project Literacy Forced to Retrench Staff
Project Literacy, the largest provider of adult basic education and training (ABET) in South Africa, has been forced to shut down its provincial offices and retrench more than half its staff after the government withdrew a major contract.
Project Literacy chief executive, Andrew Miller, points out that the former director-general of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Mary Metcalfe, had awarded the contract, on behalf of the National Skills Fund (NSF), in September but that it had been withdrawn three weeks later.
Miller, who states that the organisation trained 35 000 people in literacy and numeracy skills in the 2009 financial year, says that 47 out of the 78 staff members will be retrenched and that all seven regional offices will be closed.
Meanwhile, acting national director for the Read Educational Trust, Bertus Matthee, describes the loss of Project Literacy national structure as a disaster for literacy in the country.
To read the article titled, “Project Literacy forced to fire staff,” click here.Source:Independent OnlineGDE to Shut and Merge Rural Schools
The Gauteng Department of Education has announced that six rural schools in Merafong, south-west of Johannesburg will be shut down and merged with other schools.
In a press statement, the department says that, “All these schools are on privately-owned land and have inconsistent water supply, some without electricity, have multi-grade teaching and many other challenges relating to the provision of quality education and the well-being of learners.”
It further says that, “Some schools have insufficient teaching staff, with one school having only two staff members - a principal and a teacher. Content coverage in all these schools is compromised because of these challenges.”
To read the article titled, “Gauteng to shut down six rural schools,” click here.Source:Business DayRefugee Student Graduates, Starts NGO
Kasifa Kakai, a former primary school teacher who fled her home country of Uganda in 1998 due to political problems, says funding for refugees who want to study at higher education institutions in South Africa needs attention.
Kakai graduated from the University of the Western Cape with an honours degree in development studies and started a NGO, ‘Unity for Tertiary Refugee Students (UTRS)’.
"It was a very hard time for me. I survived because of my friends and the assistance of the South African National Zakah Fund. Financial aid was not available to students who were refugees," explains Kakai.
UTRS will help students to obtain funding from organisations and will also negotiate with the management of institutions to allow refugee students to pay their fees in instalments.
To read the article titled, “Refugee student earns honours degree,” click here.Source:Independent OnlineForum to Assess Kids’ Learning Skills
The Uganda National NGO Forum will this month start assessing children’s learning skills.
The forum’s country coordinator, Richard Ssewakiryanga, points out that the assessment will determine children’s competencies in reading and numerical skills.
Ssewakiryanga argues that the project, codenamed Uwezo Uganda, assessment will also enable parents, leaders and the public to participate and promote children’s learning.
The organisation says the first phase of the assessment for children aged between 6-16 years will be conducted in 27 districts.
To read the article titled, “NGO body to assess kids' learning skills,” click here.Source:New VisionArticle link:NFSAS Struggles to Recover Funds
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has to date recovered just over a quarter of the R12-billion it has loaned to poor students.
In its latest report releasing in Cape Town, NSFAS has recovered only R3.2 billion [26 percent] of the total R12 billion in funds it has loaned -- the second-lowest recovery ratio globally among student financial aid schemes.
Some of the key findings of the review committee show that the amount of NSFAS funding available falls far short of demand and that there are significant gaps between the NSFAS award and the full cost of study for many students.
To read the article titled, “Poor students owe government billions,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianCall for More Grants for Poor Students
Students qualifying for state funding could get R43 000 a year from the National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) if a proposal made to the Department of Higher Education is accepted by the Cabinet.
Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, says he accepted the recommendations of a report into higher education funding, adding that this is a matter for the Cabinet to debate when his department submit its final proposal, probably by August.
The report recommends amongst others, a higher education student financial aid model including full state subsidisation of poor students and those from working class backgrounds, to be progressively realised over a specific period.
If approved, the plan will cost the taxpayers an estimated R5.2 billion a year.
To read the article titled, “Report moots R43 000 grant for poor students,” click here.Source:Business DayFAWE Welcomes Student Loan Scheme
The Forum for African Women Educationalists in Uganda (FAWE) says the stiff competition in education has led to many students who obtain reasonably good marks failing to get admitted at university on Ugandan government sponsorship.
Speaking at the graduation of 27 girls who were sponsored by FAWE during their secondary school, the organisation’s coordinator, Martha Muhwezi, welcomed the proposed student's loan scheme, which she said is likely to help many needy students.
Muhwezi explained that FAWE has been implementing scholarship programmes funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Irish Aid, the Canadian Kenny Family and Busitema University Mvule Trust since 1999.
To read the article titled, “NGO welcomes university student loan scheme,” click here.Source:All AfricaArticle link:SAIRR Backs Free Education Call
The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) says the demand for free education by students at higher education institutions is justifiable considering the high number of students who dropped out because they could not afford higher education.
SAIRR deputy CEO, Frans Cronje, says the students’ protests raised questions about how the government prioritised its programmes.
Cronje points out that, “The country has a high number of students (30 -40 percent) who drop out every year, partly because they cannot afford fees, and the government is spending billions of rands on less prioritised things.”
To read the article titled, “Institute backs free varsity call,” click here.Source:Business DayDepartment Focuses on Pupils’ Performances
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced that it will this year focus on pupil’s performances in schools.
MEC Barbara Creecy says that, “Our president and our premier have made it clear that by 2014 we need to ensure that learners leave primary schools able to read, write and achieve in basic mathematics.”
Creecy states that the province’s matric pass rate needs to improve, with a higher percentage of young people achieving a university entrance.
To read the article titled, “GDE focuses on performances,” click here.
Source:SowetanArticle link:
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