Education World

Archive for May, 2010

The Guangzhou Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (GAPGOC) has just concluded a very successful two-day Chefs de Mission Seminar for the 2010 Asian Para Games with the President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin, giving the Chinese organizers “two thumbs way up and let’s Go! Go! Go!”

The Asian Para Games will be held in Guangzhou from December 12 to 19, 2010, two weeks after the conclusion of The 16th Asian Games, featuring 3,000 athletes from 41 Asian countries and regions competing in 19 sports.

It is the first time the two Games have been be held in one city.

Chef de Mission attendees agreed with Abu Zarin that the 2010 Asian Para Games will strongly promote the development of sport in Asia; create all new opportunities for athletes with a disability across China and throughout Asia and that it would also have a lasting impact on the fostering of a more civilized society in Guangzhou.

The 2010 Asian Para Games will feature 19 sports, including 17 Paralympic sports and two non-Paralympic sports. There will be 26 venues for the Games, including 19 competition venues and seven training venues, clustered in four major areas: The Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, Tianhe Sports Center, Higher Education Mega Center and Asian Games Town.

Diabetes is rapidly becoming one of the biggest dangers to teenagers and even young children in China due to a serious lack of nutritional education, warn health experts.

It was confirmed last week that the country has the highest population of diabetics in the world, with more than 92 million sufferers.

According to figures from the Chinese Medical Doctors’ Association, children make up about 5 percent of that figure. The number of juveniles with the potentially fatal condition is rising by 10 percent every year, a report by the association said.

But it is not just the impact on a child’s health doctors are concerned about.

Discrimination toward diabetes can also seriously affect a sufferer’s chances of finding a job or even getting accepted into college.

“Although the proportion of juvenile diabetics still accounts for a low percentage of all diabetics, their numbers have increased very fast in recent years,” said Ji Linong, director of endocrinology at the People’s Hospital of Peking University.

“This is a situation that calls for urgent attention from society.”

One of the youngest patients ever to be diagnosed with the condition is a 3-year-old girl admitted to Shaoxing People’s Hospital in Zhejiang province in January. Staff said they have treated a dozen or so child diabetics under 10 years old in recent years.

The girl’s grandmother, who is in her late 50s and did not want to be named, took the youngster to get help after noticing she was losing a lot of weight. “She loves fizzy drinks and she always seemed anxious to eat,” she said. “But the more she ate, the thinner she got.”

Tests showed the patient’s blood-sugar level was more than 11 millimoles per liter (the standard unit of measurement), far higher than the normal 3.9 to 6.1 mmol/L.

“Diabetes is no longer just a problem among the elderly – the number of young sufferers is becoming very serious,” said Zhu Qiqian, director of Shaoxing Diabetes Prevention Center. “The (3-year-old) patient is probably looking at a lifetime of treatment.”

With child obesity on the rise in China, Zhu warned that parents must be vigilant to spot the symptoms, such as excessive thirst, weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination and blurred vision.

In Cairo, a metropolis with some 8 million people and more than 2 million cars, it is not uncommon to come across a serious traffic jam during rush hours in the downtown.

As the problem of traffic jam grows in big cities worldwide, including the Egyptian capital, experts see the world becomes in dire need of smart solutions to this crisis.

The traffic problem plaguing big cities is solvable, said Yosri El-Robi, a UN traffic expert and Egypt’s former assistant interior minister for traffic affairs, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

“What it needs to end the traffic crisis in any city or country in the world is to put into effect practical solutions,” said the expert.

“Education, development of traffic engineering, promulgation of traffic laws and promotion of traffic economics and the use of developed technology are among the basics for the solution,” he said.

A recent report issued by Egypt’s Shoura Council (the upper house of parliament) attributed the shortcomings of traffic in Cairo to the lack of efficient urban planning, concentration of population in small areas, increase of private vehicles, which is disproportionate to the capacity of Cairo roads.

The report said other reasons that aggravated the crisis included the introduction of more investment and credit facilities and the increase of loans for car purchases.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Redesign Summit kicked off Sunday in the Qatari capital of Doha with the participation of representatives from 90 countries.

Bringing together business, political, and civil society leaders, the two-day event would focus on examining gaps in international cooperation, building sustained economic growth, enhancing global security and strengthening the international monetary system.

Local Qatari Gulf Times newspaper reported Sunday that the participants would discuss a number of proposals developed by the WEF to address shortcomings in tackling and managing global crises.

The summit is designed to touch on four general tracks, namely development, economics, security and sustainability. Each track would feature a set of topics for which proposals were prepared over the course of last year, the report said.

Among these topics are the empowerment of a global systematic financial risk watchdog and the introduction of new mechanisms to make a dimensional step change in capital investment for low- carbon infrastructure in developed and developing countries, it added.

The summit is being held under the patronage of the governments of Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland and Tanzania.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Sunday described disaster risk reduction as a crucial factor in countering the challenges of climate change and attaining the ambitious goals of moving developing states out of poverty.

“With the earthquake in Haiti and other disasters, this year began with tragic reminders of the vulnerability of societies and the complexities inherent in any response,” he said in a message to the International Disaster and Risk Conference in Davos, Switzerland.

The secretary-general noted that he will convene a summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the UN Headquarters in New York in September to advance the ambitious targets of slashing hunger and poverty, infant and maternal mortality, and lack of access to health care and education — all by 2015. Meanwhile, governments will gather for a climate change meeting in Cancun, Mexico in December.

“Disaster risk reduction can help to advance progress across this agenda,” he said in the message. “By focusing on the linkages, we can achieve a triple win by reducing the impact of disasters, adapting to climate change and safeguarding our development gains. ”

Ban commended the conference participants for working towards the harmonization and integration of risk reduction with sustainable development, climate change and disaster management.

He also praised the UN campaign to boost the resiliency of urban areas launched on Sunday in Bonn, Germany. The two-year scheme, called Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready, urges leaders and local governments to commit to a 10-point checklist, seeking to bring more than 1,000 local government leaders around the world to step up investment in urban planning; infrastructure and building safety; reinforcing drainage systems to reduce flooding; and installing early warning systems, among other measures.

“I encourage all cities to join, following the examples of Bonn, Mexico City, Saint-Louis in Senegal, Larreynaga-Malpaisillo in Nicaragua, Albay in the Philippines, Baofeng in China, and Karlstad in Sweden,” he added.

While the Afghan government is going to hold a national conference — the National Consultative Peace Jirga, or assembly, as a part of efforts next week amid tight security to bring the armed oppositions into negotiating table and end the protracted conflict, Taliban militants have pushed for war.

In the latest wave of violent attacks against government interests, the stubborn outfit set on fire six oil tankers of a private company supplying fuel to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the southern Ghazni province Sunday.

On Saturday night, the Taliban militants set ablaze a school in the eastern Khost province depriving 1,300 children from getting education, according to officials.

As the main armed opposition group in Afghanistan, the Taliban outfit that has often opposed dialogue with Afghan administration in the presence of NATO-led troops had announced spring offensive early this month.

In a blatant sign of countering the peace efforts, Taliban in a statement released to the media on May 8, announced launching spring offensive and intensifying war against more than 120,000- strong NATO-led forces with majority of whom Americans based in Afghanistan.

According to the statement, the much propagated operation dubbed as Al-Faath, which means victory, carried out in the shape of suicide attacks, roadside bombings and laying ambush on Afghan and security forces; a move downplayed by officials as mere propaganda.

Increasing militancy ahead of the government-backed Consultative Peace Jirga demonstrates Taliban determination to push for war, according to analysts.

Taliban militants who are one side of the war in Afghanistan have not been invited, according to Gul Aqa Ahmadi, spokesman for the Peace Jirga.

Some 1,600 people including tribal chieftains, lawmakers, social figures and government officials would attend the three-day jirga to discuss the ways and means on how to find amicable solution to the crisis, to boost reconciliation process, to end the protracted war and to ensure durable peace.

Spokesman for Presidential Palace Wahid Omar also said last week that Taliban outfit had not sent any peace plan to the Peace Jirga.

Observers are of the view that discussing peace talks unilaterally and in the absence of Taliban would not deliver.

Since declaring the spring offensive Al-Faath, Taliban outfit has organized series of attacks elsewhere in the country but the dreadful ones are conducting suicide bombing in Kabul on May 18 that left 18 people including six foreign soldiers dead and injured 47 others.

A day later on May 19, Taliban outfit stormed Bagram airfield the largest U.S. army base in Afghanistan killing at least one contractor and injuring nine service members while losing 12 suicide bombers.

Escalation in militancy is taking place amid the government’s call on Taliban militants to lay down arm and join the peace process; an effort has always been rebuffed by the insurgents.

The Taliban elusive leadership has time and again ruled out any talks with the Afghan government, saying there will be no negotiations unless the foreign troops leave the country.

Furthermore, families of the victims who have lost the nears and dears in the conflicts have voiced concern over possible reconciliation and pardoning the alleged war criminals, demanding punishing those committed crimes.

The hardliner Taliban militants who had outlawed education for girls and confined women to their houses during their six-year rule collapsed in late 2001 would not compromise to accept Afghan constitution that guarantees the right for work and education to women and as well elections.

In addition to Taliban opposition, the political coalition Hope and Change under President Karzai’s major rival in last year’ s presidential elections, Abdullah Abdullah announced not to attend the Peace Jirga.

With this perspective, it appears difficult that the Peace Jirga to deliver the desired outcome and eventually lead to the durable peace in the war-shattered nation.

More than 100,000 Chinese college graduates have applied to join the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as of Friday since this year’s military pre-recruitment campaign was launched in mid-April, according to the Ministry of Education.

There was a remarkable increase in the number of applicants with a Bachelor’s degree or above over the same period last year, said a notice issued Sunday on the ministry’s official website, without giving details.

All the applicants should register online by June 15.

China initiated large-scale military pre-recruitment for college and university graduates last year as part of plans to uplift the quality of servicemen while grappling with job crisis.

The notice said college and university graduates had shown great enthusiasm for the pre-recruitment this year despite the fact that the job market was performing better.

A series of recruitment-themed lectures and activities have been held in colleges and universities across the country, according to the notice.

In 2009, about 130,000 college and university graduates applied to join the army and more than 100,000 of them were recruited. The PLA planned to recruit around 150,000 this year, according to earlier reports.

Growth in China’s consumer price index (CPI) is likely to see a reverse “V” shape this year and the possibility of a serious inflation is easing, said Ha Jiming, chief economist at the China International Capital Corp. (CICC).

Speaking at an investor education activity in Beijing Saturday, Ha expected China’s CPI to increase 3.2 percent in May from a year earlier, and said the CPI annual growth rate would even peak at 4 percent in June and July.

The country’s CPI rose 2.4 percent year on year in March and the growth for April accelerated to 2.8 percent, according to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The pick-up in CPI growth was a result of lower comparison base last year and the risk for a serious inflation in short term was defusing because both the global commodity prices and domestic meat and vegetable prices were falling, he said.

In China, food prices accounted for one third of the CPI weight.

The CICC has cut its estimate for China’s economic growth this year to 9.5 percent from 10.5 percent, he said.

Interest rate hikes would be unlikely this year as growth in consumer prices was expected to fall in the second half, he said.

At Arabisc cafe in Kasr El-Ani Street, on the same street of the Shura Council (the upper house) in Cairo, sat Azza Mohammed and her friends talking about the upcoming elections.

Egypt’s Shura Council mid-term elections will be held on Tuesday with around 30 million voters to elect 88 candidates in the 264-member council.

“I used to go to elect the one I think appropriate and suitable for the position,” said Azza Mohammed, a 55-year-old housewife.

Counselor Intisar Nessim, head of the Higher Election Commission, said 452 candidates, including 11 women, will contend in the polls in 55 constituencies.

In order to attract voters’ attention and gain their support, Cairo’s streets are full of banners with the names and electoral slogans of candidates.

However, many people show little interest in these banners, as they prefer to see their candidates on TV through talk show programs to review electoral programs.

They also prefer to see them debate on the small screen and discuss how they will deal with the country’s domestic and foreign issues such as education and the Nile water problem.

“I prefer watching the candidates on TV while they are reviewing their electoral programs,” said Salama Ahmed, a 38-year- old civilian engineer.

To gain more votes, the candidates hold conferences in every governorate with their supporters.

The ruling National Democratic Party held a public conference in Cairo Friday to lobby for support from its candidates.

PARTICIPATION

Many Egyptians are reluctant to participate in the election process, especially among the youths, as they see it useless.

“I hope the election will bring some positive changes,” said Waleed saad, a 27-year-old accountant.

Only 15 percent of voters participated in the previous mid-term Shura Council elections, according to the higher election commission.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has urged Egyptians on Friday to participate in the elections.

Meanwhile, the formal TV channels launched a media campaign to persuade voters to participate positively in making the country’s policies.

The campaign, in which some famous actors took part, contained enthusiastic expressions such as “Be positive and participate with your vote”, ” If you want to change, do it through the poll boxes” and “Participate making your country’s decisions”.

“Unfortunately, in every round of elections, the candidates come to us promising many services and advantages, which will evaporate after one of them wins the elections,” said Ismael Sayyed, a 48-year-old teacher.

GAME RULES

The higher election commission said that all candidates should abide by the maximum expenditure limit of 200,000 Egyptian pounds (about 36,000 U.S. dollars) for campaigning.

On Wednesday, the commission said it will take necessary legal actions against any one who violates the instructions.

The country’s law stipulates that the candidate should not use state-owned buildings, facilities and means of transportation in the election propaganda in any form.

The law also bans the use of public utilities, place of worship, schools, universities and other public or private educational institutions for the election propaganda purposes.

“The elections will be monitored by the higher election committee, which has a number of senior judges,” Shura Council Speaker Safwat el Sherif said.

The higher election commission has also allowed some of non- governmental organization representatives to follow up the elections.

The commission has decided to hire 175,000 staffers to supervise 35,000 sub-committees that have been formed for the Shura Council’s mid-term elections. “I will go this time and cast my vote trying to change the future of my children,” said Azza Mohammed.

A public hearing on a proposed price hike for tickets to a complex devoted to the memory of Chinese philosopher Confucius was held Sunday, triggering debate and concern similar venues will also raise ticket prices.

The complex of monuments including the Confucius Temple, the Kong Family Mansion and the Confucius Cemetery in Qufu City, Shandong Province, are listed as World Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Altogether 27 representatives of consumers, the complex’s management, scholars and government officials attended the hearing in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius (551 B.C.-479 B.C.).

Confucius established the first private school in China and had 3,000 disciples, of whom 72 became accomplished in their own right.

According to the proposed plan by the Provincial Price Bureau, the ticket price for the Confucius Temple will rise from 90 yuan (13.2 U.S. dollars) to 110 yuan. Prices for the Kong Family Mansion and the Confucius Cemetery will also be raised, to 75 yuan and 50 yuan, respectively, compared with the previous 60 yuan and 40 yuan.

The price hikes will pay for preserving the heritage and promote tourism, said Chen Peng, deputy head of the Cultural Relics Protection Bureau of Qufu.

“One fourth of the buildings in the Confucius Temple and one third of the Kong Family Mansion are closed to the public because we don’t have enough money to repair them,” he said.

Ticket revenue has to cover most of the operational costs at the sites as governmental allocations are limited, he said.

The Confucius relics earn 150 million yuan from ticket sales every year, of which 20 million goes toward repair work. The preservation of ancient trees, stone tablets, cultural artifacts also require funds.