Latest news with #EducationandSports
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Laos strengthens teacher development to boost education
- Representational photo. VIENTIANE: The Lao Ministry of Education and Sports continues its efforts to enhance professional development and improve teaching quality nationwide, aiming to drive educational progress and ensure equal access to learning opportunities for all. The ministry, in partnership with the Australian government, held a consultation meeting in Lao capital Vientiane from Tuesday (June 3) to Wednesday (June 4) to review the draft guidelines for continuing professional development (CPD) for primary school teachers, the local Pasaxon newspaper reported on Wednesday (June 4). During the meeting, participants offered constructive feedback to improve the draft guidelines and discussed strategies for effective implementation. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Dalavone Kittiphan highlighted the importance of enhancing teaching quality, stating that teachers are at the heart of education and that building their capacity remains a top priority for the ministry. The CPD guidelines aim to establish a national framework for school-based professional development, outlining the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders to support effective implementation. The Lao government has emphasised that education is essential for both individuals and communities, highlighting its vital role in shaping the nation's future. The Ministry of Education and Sports, along with other relevant sectors, remains committed to improving the quality of education and addressing ongoing challenges. - Xinhua
Morocco World
17-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
France, Morocco Seek to Strengthen Sports Cooperation
Rabat – Beyond diplomatic ties and trade, France and Morocco have pledged to strengthen sports cooperation. The two countries confirmed this interest on Friday during the 40th Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie, which marked the participation of French Minister of Sports Marie Barsacq. A statement on the French minister's visit from the French embassy said that the official met with Morocco's Minister of Culture Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid to discuss important areas to boost cooperation and bilateral ties between the two countries, particularly in regards to working with youth. During the visit, the French minister also met with Morocco's Minister of Education and Sports Saad Berrada, with whom she signed a joint declaration of intent regarding cooperation in the field of sports. The agreement covers international sporting events, high-level and elite sports performance, e-sports, as well as training. 'I welcome the signing of this cooperation in the field of sports, which formalizes the growing cooperation between France and Morocco on the topic,' she said, asserting the need to continue 'this privileged partnership' between the two countries that focuses on empowering youth through sports. France has long emphasized its commitment to continue to support Morocco in several projects in this area. France, Morocco Seek to Strengthen Sports Cooperation In April, the two countries discussed the 2030 World Cup preparatory campaign launched by Morocco, a co-host of the global tournament along with Spain and Portugal. France's Minister delegate in charge of Foreign Trade and French citizens abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin, during his visit to Morocco in April, announced the launch of the Franco-Moroccan Committee to support Morocco as hosts of the 2030 World Cup. Representatives from at least 10 French companies attended to promote French expertise in infrastructure for large international events. Beyond France, several other countries have also expressed interest in unlocking the opportunities Morocco holds as a co-host of the tournament, including the UK. Earlier this week, UK Minister of State for Investment Baroness Gustafsson announced that the Department for Business and Trade is 'committed to helping UK businesses export to Morocco.' This effort comes in line with the UK-Morocco Association Agreement the two countries signed in 2019 post-Brexit. 'Bilateral trade was worth £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6 billion in current prices from 2023,' the minister stated, stressing the importance of Morocco as a co-host of the World Cup. She concluded that this is an example of further avenues for growth for UK-Morocco business partnerships at the 2030 FIFA World Cup 'where opportunities are emerging for British businesses.' Tags: Morocco and Francesports
Zawya
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
President Museveni Hosts Iftar Dinner at State House, Praises Muslim Community for Ramadan Observance and Emphasizes Unity and Economic Empowerment
During the dinner, the President congratulated the Muslims for successfully fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. 'We are left with only a few days for Ramadan to end. We pray that God keeps us safe until the end,' he said. President Museveni also urged believers that as they worship God, they should also think about working towards improving their household incomes. 'You the religious leaders, I think you should begin helping your people to develop the thinking of worshipping and working as well,' he said. President Museveni further lauded the Muslims for finally embracing the Parish Development Model (PDM) initiative. 'I'm glad that you finally accepted my PDM money because some people had misinterpreted that money, saying that it has riba (interest). I'm not profiteering from you, the government of Uganda is our grandparent, and this grandparent gives you money every year per parish and this money is yours, it's not going back to the government so that's not profiteering,' he said. 'The five percent we are putting on the Shs1m for each year is in order to keep the value for that money so that it is able to maintain the purchasing power of a product.' Furthermore, the President commended Muslims for listening to the NRM message of unity. 'I want to thank you for listening to our message of unity. You can see how the world is in chaos because of misinterpreting religion. I don't think God said the Catholics and Protestants should fight Muslims or vice versa. I have never read it anywhere when God is saying that you must have sectarianism,' he noted. 'Those people who do discrimination are really greedy people. The way you have been introducing yourselves, the Sunnis, Shia, Ahmadiyas are all here. I think that's very good; that's the spirit of God in my view.' President Museveni also cautioned against interfering in the freedom of worship. 'Why do you interfere in the freedom of worship? Let them worship as long as they don't break the law.' President Museveni also contributed 10 tractors to the 10 Muslim regions in Uganda. The Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo thanked President Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni for their generosity in extending an invitation to the Muslim community to celebrate the State Iftar dinner annually. 'Your Excellency, Uganda is one of the countries where all religious denominations are respected, honoured, valued and given maximum freedom of worship,' she said. 'In fact, freedom of worship in Uganda is Constitutional and all this, Your Excellency, is due to your strategic and visionary leadership and the NRM good practice of non-discrimination. We thank you very much Your Excellency for permitting all the people of Uganda to worship where they feel comfortable.' The Vice President also thanked the Muslim community for supporting President Museveni and the NRM government. Representing the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje, the First Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Waiswa Muhammad Ali thanked President Museveni for hosting the Muslim community for an Iftar dinner annually. 'We do not take this for granted,' he said. Sheikh Waiswa also commended the President for standing with the Muslim community in fostering unity, patriotism, democracy and socio-economic transformation through various government programs. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.
Zawya
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Improved school infrastructure key for new curriculum
Government is urged to invest in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and science laboratories to improve student output and performance under the new lower secondary school curriculum. While responding to a statement by the Minister for Education and Sports on the new grading system for the new curriculum, the Shadow Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu said that lack of ICT infrastructure constrained the ability of schools to timely submit credit assessment scores to UNEB. Ssewungu presented his statement to the House chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. Ssewungu alluded to a statement from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Director which indicated the challenges of shortages of school laboratories. 'The new curriculum, being skills-based, requires that science labaratories and workshops are well-equipped to give the learners enough chance to create new knowledge through self-learning. Unfortunately, many rural and private schools lack these and are also short of science teachers,' Ssewungu said. He added that the new curriculum's emphasis on practical application raised questions about the relevance of theoretical subjects like history, C.R.E and geography to real-life problem-solving. Ssewungu urged UNEB to improve on supervision of the assessment of the 20 per cent awarded to learners, noting that project work is not supervised, which raises questions about the credibility of the results. Ssewungu urged government to prioritise teacher training and recruitment especially in languages like Kiswahili. Hon. Robert Migadde (NRM, Buvuma Islands County) said schools in villages did not compete favourably in the first assessment under the new curriculum in 2024, citing lack of access to key facilities to support project work. 'Seed schools lack computer labaratories and many of them to do not have access to stable electricity, yet these are examinable courses,' said Migadde. Speaker Anita Among, emphasised the need to improve necessary infrastructure in schools to enable project-work assignments under the new lower secondary school curriculum. 'Most of these problems are in government-aided schools. The issue of infrastructure is very crucial. It may not be under ICT or laboratories alone, but the ministry must also consider libraries,' Among said. The Speaker tasked the Minister for Finance to provide funding for extension of electricity across the country. 'What would it cost us if we handled the Rural Electricity Authority (REA) projects that were not completed, in a similar manner like we handled roads, by giving each district Shs1 billion to finalise the electricity projects? This should be in the corrigenda for the coming budget,' Among said. The State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi promised to provide feedback when he presents a report on the implementation of the National Development Plan IV within the proposed budget. Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho (FDC, Jonathan County) made a proposal that topics on project work done by students should be based on day-to-day skills training, adding that the new curriculum should have been initiated from primary level, to enable students acclimatise easily. Katikamu County South MP, Hon. Hassan Kirumira urged the Ministry of Education to sensitise parents on the new lower secondary school curriculum. 'Our parents are more inclined to knowing marks and how their children have performed after school which drives them away from the whole point of the new curriculum that is based on learner assessment,' said Kirumira. Nwoya East County MP, Hon. Geofrey Okello observed that many teachers are not conversant with the curriculum's competence based model of teaching. 'There were regional trainings for trainers of teachers however, they were never facilitated to extend the knowledge. Many teachers are not knowledgeable about what is being examined,' Okello said. Luuka District Woman Representative, Hon. Esther Mbayo urged the Ministry of Finance to expedite the process of releasing money to facilitate the training of teachers under the new curriculum. 'A new term has started and we have many teachers who are not well versed with the new curriculum. Making the funds for training available will enable the trainers of teachers to help those supposed to implement the curriculum, to do their work well,' Mbayo said. Hon. Stella Atyang noted that students have lost confidence in their teachers, and she stressed the need for adequate training in giving lessons under the new curriculum. 'Learners have expressed that teachers do not know what they are translating to them. Students are asked to buy textbooks but teachers are teaching and explaining different things from those expected in the curriculum,' Atyang said. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi tasked the Ministry of Education and Sports to give continuous updates to Parliament on the progress of the new lower secondary school curriculum, and implementation of the proposed new A-Level curriculum. The State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku appreciated proposals made by MPs adding that the reviewed curriculum produce a competitive generation Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
