Zimbabwe: Leave for school-going mothers and fathers revoked

Contributor
Sep 21, 2010

Zimbabwe's education ministry has backtracked on a new policy, introduced in August 2010, to grant pregnant schoolgirls and the prospective fathers maternity and paternity leave from school, and has opted for disciplinary measures instead. "Learners in all schools may be suspended, excluded or expelled from school for various acts of misconduct of a serious nature," Stephen Mahere, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, said in a circular.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: No temporary teachers, less schooling

Contributor
Sep 17, 2010

A recent government directive forbidding unqualified teachers - estimated to comprise as much as 60 percent of the staff complement at rural schools - is causing severe disruptions to education. "It is surprising that the government has chosen to stop temporary teachers from resuming duty this [third] term, when it is well known that they form the bulk of teaching staff in rural areas," said Janet Chikawa, a teacher at a secondary school in Seke district, about 50 km south of the capital, Har...read more

Zimbabwe

Africa: Reflections on International Humanitarian Interventions in Africa

Contributor
Sep 17, 2010

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the recording of “We are the World”, United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa), in collaboration with Trust Africa, Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Humanitarian Action and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) will host a symposium entitled:
“Reflections on International Humanitarian Interventions in Africa” from 21-23 September 2010 at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Executive Director - Open Society Initiative for West Africa

Contributor
Sep 17, 2010

The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is pleased to announce an opening for the position of Executive Director.

Kenya: SAMOSA Festival 2010

Contributor
Sep 17, 2010

The SAMOSA Festival is the premier biennial festival for cross cultural interaction in Kenya. The festival showcases the best in African, Eastern and Western cultures in the region, and is a celebration of race, cultural and ethnic differences. This year's theme is different is exciting. Art, music, dance and poetry are some of the best ways for humanity to embrace diversity.

Kenya

DRC: Kidnapping spurs fresh call to end impunity

Contributor
Sep 17, 2010

Civil society is calling for an end to impunity for the harassment of human rights activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The renewed call comes as an activist kidnapped at the end of August have described their detention and torture by uniformed captors. Bwira Kyahi, president of civil society in Masisi, a town in the province of North Kivu, and another human rights advocate, Balisi Kapumba, who works as an organizer with the NGO Solidarity Action for Peace and Development, were kidn...read more

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lewis Nkosi: He brightened our lives and thoughts

Wangui wa Goro
Sep 16, 2010

The sorrow is long
But the sparrow must return
To the nest
He served well
And brightened our lives and our thoughts
I am sad still
And pray that we all find a dry eye
With which to remember our giants
As they fall
Go well Giant Friend
You touched our lives!

Kenya: Africa must rethink MDG approach

Contributor
Sep 16, 2010

Academies (private schools) are reported to be growing in popularity as Kenyan middle class parents shun free primary school education, writes James Shikwati. 'Parents are subliminally communicating to policy makers that they prefer quality over the mere quest to scale up Millennium Developing Goals (MDG) enrolment statistics.'

Kenya

Lewis Nkosi, writer and academic

Contributor
Sep 16, 2010

South African writer and academic Lewis Nkosi has died, writes Margaret von Klemperer. ‘He was a fearless critic, a clear analytical voice. He didn’t have to align himself with any group and spoke his mind on both literary and wider cultural issues.’ Nkosi is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Proposal – Queer African Reader

Pambazuka Press
Sep 16, 2010

We are writing to invite you to participate in the publication of an African LGBTI Reader to be published by Pambazuka Press in June 2011. The African LGBTI Reader is being published in response to the increasing homophobia and transphobia across the continent which aims to silence the voices of African Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex people.

The African LGBTI Reader [Working Title] seeks to make a timely intervention by bringing together a collection of writings and art...read more

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