Latest news with #educación
South China Morning Post
16-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Lecturer in Hong Kong sues over ‘hostile' response to harassment complaint
A Spanish language lecturer at a university in Hong Kong is suing her boss and the tertiary education institution after her contract renewal was allegedly rejected due to her complaints about workplace harassment. A writ filed to the District Court showed Ana Alias Martinez was seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress, reputational harm and financial losses. She accused her supervisor of becoming hostile and opting against renewing her employment contract after she made a harassment complaint last year. The plaintiff joined the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2004 as a part-time Spanish language instructor at the institution's centre for language education. She became a full-time lecturer in 2021. Martinez said she had no 'disciplinary warnings, complaints or negative performance reviews' during her time at the university. According to the writ filed on Friday last week, the dispute could be traced back to September 2024, when the lecturer lodged a workplace harassment complaint against a male colleague.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Tourism could be behind rise in students learning Spanish
Spanish has overtaken French as the most popular foreign language at GCSE level, with entries increasing by 1.6 per cent. French entries have decreased by 1.9 per cent and German entries declined by 7.6 per cent. At A-level, French and German entries have also decreased, by 8.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively, while Spanish A-level entries have increased by 1.4 per cent. Pepe Di'Iasio from the Association of School and College Leaders suggests the rise in the popularity of the Spanish language is due to students' familiarity with Spain as a holiday destination. Vicky Gough of the British Council says the Spanish language is of growing importance for the UK in business and tourism.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- The Independent
Spanish overtakes French as most popular foreign language GCSE, figures suggest
Spanish has overtaken French as the most popular foreign language at GCSE, figures suggest. Provisional data for England shows exam entries for French GCSE this summer are down by 1.9%, from 130,650 last summer to 128,155 this year. GCSE entries for German have also fallen by 7.6% over the past year, from 35,110 to 32,430. But GCSE entries for Spanish have increased by 1.6%, from 129,935 in summer 2024 to 131,985 this summer, according to the latest Ofqual figures. The rising popularity of Spanish could be because pupils are more familiar with the language because of the popularity of Spain, the Balearics, and Canary Islands as holiday destinations, a school leaders' union has suggested. At A-level, entries for French and German are also down (by 8.3% and 6.8%), but entries for Spanish A-level are up by 1.4%. The overall number of entries for this summer's exams for both GCSEs and A-levels has decreased, according to the data published on Thursday. GCSE provisional entries have fallen by 0.6% from 5,811,595 in summer 2024 to 5,777,020 this summer. Meanwhile, A-level entries have decreased by 0.4% from 825,355 last summer to 821,875 this summer. The decrease for GCSE entries this summer is because of a drop in entries for subjects in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) measure as well as non- EBacc subjects, England's exams regulator Ofqual said. The EBacc is a performance measure which aims to ensure pupils take English, maths, science, a humanities subject and a language at GCSE. GCSE entries for computing – an EBacc subject – have decreased by 4.7% on last year, while entries for history are down by 5.9% on last summer. In March, the interim report of the independent curriculum and assessment review said it will consider whether the EBacc remains 'effective'. The review suggested that the EBacc may 'constrain the choice of students' in school, and it could limit their access to vocational and arts subjects. The provisional figures also show GCSE entries for art and design subjects are down by 1.7% on last year, and GCSE entries for drama are down 1.5%. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'The rising popularity of Spanish as a choice for GCSE probably reflects the fact that many young people may be more familiar with the Spanish language, because of the popularity of Spain, the Balearics and Canary Islands as holiday destinations, than they are with French and German. 'That then tends to be reinforced by what friends and siblings are studying. 'The growing popularity of Spanish is really good news as there has been a long-term decline in modern foreign languages, but we do need to do more at a national level to boost language learning more generally.' Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'It is hard to know for sure why entries have dropped in certain subjects – there is always some variability year on year. 'But one possibility is that with recruitment challenges really biting in schools, some simply don't have the teachers they need to offer courses in certain subjects. 'Teacher recruitment targets were missed in computing, chemistry, physics and modern foreign languages in the last couple of years, and these are among the subjects which experienced a fall in entries. 'This underlines the need for the Government to address head on the fundamental causes of the recruitment and retention crisis gripping schools, which ultimately affects students as well as increasingly stretched leaders and teachers.'
National Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Mineros S.A. Contributed More Than US$12 Million to the Bajo Cauca Region of Antioquia Through Works for Taxes
Article content MEDELLÍN, Colombia — Mineros S.A. (TSX: MSA, MINEROS: CB) ('Mineros' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that over the past seven years, Mineros has invested more than US$12 million (COP $50.000M) in social impact projects, benefiting more than 80,000 people in Bajo Cauca, Antioquia. This was accomplished through the Works for Taxes program, through which individuals and legal entity taxpayers may pay income and other taxes by investing in public works or projects of social importance that meet the legal requirements in Zones Most Affected by Armed Conflict (ZOMAC). Article content Projects completed and close to completion: Article content Beneficiaries: Improved connectivity between towns for close to 80,000 inhabitants of Zaragoza and El Bagre which strengthened the social and economic environment in these communities. Article content Implemented new technologies in urban and rural educational centers in El Bagre, Nechí and Zaragoza with the dual objectives of improving both teaching and learning processes, and promoting the educational development of children and young people in the Bajo Cauca region of Antioquia. Article content Beneficiaries: 151 educational centers, wherein 492 teachers were trained and 5,869 computers delivered. Article content Thanks to the Works for Taxes program, Mineros has consolidated its position as a pioneer in the use of this mechanism, working jointly with the Government of Antioquia and Proantioquia. In addition, this work has been carried out in coordination with local, departmental and national governments, as well as with the National Planning Department and the Land Renewal Agency. Article content David Londoño, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mineros said: 'At Mineros, we are convinced that our growth must go hand in hand with the well-being and economic and social progress of our host communities. Works for Taxes allow us, as a Company, to allocate a portion of our taxes to the direct construction of priority infrastructure and the implementation of social development projects. Our participation in Works for Taxes ensures that investment reaches communities efficiently and transparently. It is our way to accelerate closing social gaps and to build a future with more opportunities for all, especially for children and young people who are the future of our society.' Article content As part of its ongoing commitment to the comprehensive development of the regions where it operates, Mineros is currently advancing eight new projects with a total investment of over US$48.2 million (COP $200,000 million). Mineros itself has contributed nearly 45% of this amount, equivalent to US$22.06 million (COP $91,621 million), alongside contributions from partner companies such as Empresas Púplicas de Medellín, Grupo Nutresa S.A., and Grupo Argos S.A., among others. Article content These projects include the improvement of rural and urban roads, the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Cauca River, and the development of an educational institution in El Bagre. They also involve the distribution of books and sports equipment to local communities. Article content In Nicaragua, Mineros' wholly owned subsidiary, HEMCO Mineros Nicaragua S.A., has received the necessary Forest Harvesting Permit to begin construction of its underground mine at the Porvenir Project. The project is located in the community of Vesubio, within the municipality of Bonanza, in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCN) of Nicaragua—a region with a rich mining tradition. Article content * Figures are based on the closing COP/USD exchange rate of $4,149 as of May 31, 2025. Article content ABOUT MINEROS S.A. Article content Mineros is a Latin American gold mining company headquartered in Medellin, Colombia. The Company has a diversified asset base, with mines in Colombia and Nicaragua, and a pipeline of development and exploration projects. Article content The board of directors and management of Mineros have extensive experience in mining, corporate development, finance, and sustainability. Mineros has a long track record of maximizing shareholder value and delivering solid annual dividends. For 50 years Mineros has operated with a focus on safety and sustainability at all its operations. Article content Mineros' common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'MSA', and on the Colombia Stock Exchange under the symbol 'MINEROS'. Article content Election of Directors – Electoral Quotient System Article content The Company has been granted an exemption from the individual voting and majority voting requirements applicable to listed issuers under Toronto Stock Exchange policies, on grounds that compliance with such requirements would constitute a breach of Colombian laws and regulations which require the directors to be elected on the basis of a slate of nominees proposed for election pursuant to an electoral quotient system. For further information, please see the Company's most recent annual information form, available on the Company's website at and from SEDAR+ at Article content This news release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as 'may', 'could', 'would', 'will', 'should', 'intend', 'target', 'plan', 'expect', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'continue', 'potential', 'view' or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements with respect to expected applications for and receipt of regulatory approvals, the expected sufficiency of such regulatory approvals to support construction activities at the Porvenir Project, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to the future development of the Porvenir Project and the timing therefor. Article content Forward-looking information is based upon estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release including, without limitation, assumptions about: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the production and development of the Porvenir Project; future prices of gold and other metal prices; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs, and technical and economic studies; the development of the Porvenir Project; completion of its drilling programs; the accuracy of any Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates; the geology of the Porvenir Project being as described in the applicable technical report; operating conditions being favourable such that the Company is able to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; obtaining required renewals for existing approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; requirements under applicable laws; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital goods markets; inflation rates; availability of labour and equipment; and positive relations with local groups. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, the assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking information. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For further information, please contact:
