Broadband revolutionizes education on remote Maldives atolls

Maldives, 26 November 2007 – In a historical event for the Maldives today, the country is launching 20 broadband-enabled, child-friendly learning centres, which link 20 of the country's atolls.

Supported by UNICEF, the connected Teacher Resource Centres (TRCs) will create a virtual learning environment accessible throughout the Maldives.

Because this Indian Ocean archipelago is made of 1,200 small islands – 200 of which are inhabited – up to 80 per cent of teacher-training costs are related to transportation. As a result, many teachers remain untrained. The TRCs will greatly alleviate these logistical problems, reaching teachers and children that are otherwise hard to reach.

"It's down to basics. Transport is costly, making it expensive and often dangerous for children to travel between islands to get a better education and for teachers to upgrade their skills," said UNICEF Representative in the Maldives Ken Maskall.

‘A child-friendly teacher’

On remote Rashdoo Island, teacher Asina Ahmed connects to the Internet and uses a ‘smart board’ with a touch-sensitive screen to liven up a math class. The teacher invites Aishath Zayba Ismail, 8, to count the number of cherries in a fruit basket. Ismail approaches, places her hand over the images and glides each cherry across the white board. With a special pen she writes the words 'four cherries' on the screen.

Before the Internet and smart board arrived, there was no interactive learning in Rashdoo Island. Now, broadband connectivity across the atolls has enabled new learning methods to take off, making classrooms fun while fostering children's communications skills.

"The Internet and smart board have made me a child-friendly teacher," said Asina Ahmed. "The lessons are e-mailed each day and I can use the Internet to show children simple things – like what a cherry tree farm looks like – unlike a photograph in a text book."

Connecting remotely

Literacy rates in the Maldives exceed 90 per cent, with nearly all children receiving some form of primary education. However, the enrolment rate in secondary school drops sharply. UNICEF estimates that more than 30 per cent of Maldivian teachers are untrained; many islands have up to 100 pupils per trained primary-school teacher.

Even though some 70 per cent of the population live on islands far from the capital, the TRCs will make it possible for them to connect remotely. Rashdoo is just 1 of the 20 islands to be connected so far.

Rashdoo Island's chief, Mohamed Shafi, is a former teacher himself and believes that the new technology has reduced the frustration of learning for many students. "The smart board has brought the world to our children's feet," Mr. Shafi said.

Source: UNICEF

4th UNESCO regional conference begins Thursday

UNESCO Regional Conference on Global Literacy begins in New Delhi on Thursday.

It is being organised by the India's Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education and Literacy with UNESCO begins Thursday at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi with the participation of Ali Bagherzadeh Faroji, Vice Minister for General Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Education and Finance Ministers of the 14 countries of the region namely, Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are among the other dignitaries expected to attend the two day conference which will be inaugurated by M A A Fatmi, Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development of India.

The First Ladies from 10 countries namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have been invited to participate in the conference. As Goodwill Ambassadors, the First Ladies would play a vital role to promote literacy in the entire region.

UPA chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi will be the Chief Guest of the inaugural session of the two day conference, whereas Ms Mahashweta Devi, Jnanapeeth award winner and recipient of Saraswathi Samman, will be the keynote speaker.

The Conference is of utmost importance for UNESCO and its member States and partners in their effort to achieve the goals of Education for All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to fulfill their commitments to the United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD) and the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD).

The Delhi Conference is important for the Indian sub-continent because 3 highly populated countries among E-9 countries namely, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan continue to face major literacy challenges, including the sheer number of illiterates.

In addition to a serious gender gap, there is a high urban-rural disparity. As a key instrument for lifelong learning, indispensable for effective participation in social and economic life and essential for peace, literacy is a crucial issue in the region.

The countries of South and South West Asia have the highest number of illiterates in the world, and out of the 388 million adults in this region who cannot read and write 63.5 per cent are women.

The Conference will organize Five Roundtable presentations on main challenges, trends, gaps, achievements and innovations in the region and make recommendations on how to promote literacy.

The five main issues to be addressed in the conference are:
"Literacy and Gender", "Literacy Policies and Strategies, Costs & Financing", "Programme Content and Delivery", "Monitoring & Evaluation of Literacy" and "Coalition and Partnership-Building for Literacy and Non Formal Education (NFE)".

Source: IRNA

Delegation from Maldives visits Salem Child Line centre

SALEM: Child is defenceless and hence needs to be protected. And Child Line in Salem in coordination with law enforcing agencies and district administration is taking efforts to preserve the rights of children in this part of the State.

This message, being underscored at the interactive session here on Monday with the senior police officials, was also shared with the members of a delegation from Maldives, who had come to `study and understand' the functioning and experiences of the Salem Child Line, which has a good track record of rescuing and rehabilitating the abandoned children.

Led by Leen Decadt, Programme Officer of Child Helpline International, a five-member team from Maldives, including officers from its Ministry of Gender and Family, would stay in the city for four days from Monday and get `sensitised' on the issues especially related to abandoned and abused children and the rehabilitation.

The Ministry's Project Officer, Munzir Ismail, said that child trafficking in his island nation was not alarming. But child abuse was a serious issue of concern. Ms. Leen pointed out that children needed to be protected, as they were the future of any country. Initiating the interaction Police Commissioner K. Gopalakrishnan said that Tamil Nadu police had been doing wonderful job in the area of child protection, launching sustained action against child and women traffickers. The nexus between gangsters and brokers had been broken and the city was free from such evils today, he said.

The Commissioner also assured all assistance to the Child Line functionaries and its nodal organisations of YWCA and Don Bosco Anbu Illam. The Maldives delegation, included Zeenath Shakir, Aishadh Shoojah, Nazeeb, and Fazna Iyasha. Later Police commissioner formed the anti-trafficking committee. The delegation attended the City Advisory Board meeting chaired by Collector N. Mathivanan.

Source: The Hindu New

UNICEF Launch a report on children in South Asia

Featuring new health index with country-by-country data

Who:

• Dr. Nafis Sadik, former Executive-Director, UNFPA, current member of Board of Governors, MH Human Development Center;
• Mrs. Khadija Haq, President, Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre;
• Dr. Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF;Dr. Cecilia Ugaz, Senior Policy Advisor, Human Development Report Office, UNDP
• Dr. Ronald Waldman, Professor, Columbia University; recognized Expert in Child Health in developing countries
• Co-coordinator of the UN Millennium Project's Task Force on Child Health and Maternal Health

Where: UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall, Three UN Plaza, on 44th Street, between First and Second Avenues.

When: Wednesday, 27 July 2005 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

What: The Report presents the condition of health in South Asia and its link to poverty reduction and economic growth. In-depth analysis of the experience of seven South Asian countries: India, Bangladesh Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Critical issues in the report addresses are equity and economic growth in the context of attaining and sustaining human development; the role of the government in providing and ensuring quality healthcare, and policies needed for improving productivity and quality of life to all.

The Report also introduces a new index, Health Index, as a proxy for overall health status of a country.

Source: unicef