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Sudáfrica: Fees Commission to Start Hearings

Pretoria / 10 de agosto de 2016 / Fuente: http://allafrica.com/

The Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training will this week hold hearings about university fees for students.

The hearings will be held, in Pretoria, on Wednesday and Thursday as well as in Vanderbijlpark, on Friday.

The commission will also be hearing presentations from stakeholders in various areas around the country until September.

 The commission was established by President Jacob Zuma in January to investigate the feasibility of free higher education and training in South Africa.

The commission was expected to finish its work within eight months, but recently President Zuma amended the Terms of Reference of the commission and extended the period upon which the commission should complete its work.

Fuente noticia: http://allafrica.com/stories/201608081282.html

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South Africa: Angry parents close primary school

África/SouthAfrica/07 Agosto 2016/Fuente:groundup /Autor: Joseph Chirume

Resumen: Escuela Primaria Astra en Bethelsdorp cerca de Port Elizabeth cerró la semana pasada debido a que los  padres y representantes decidieron cerrarla por encontrarse inconformes en cuanto a la cantidad de maestros. Los padres enojados cerraron las puertas de la escuela, colocaron piquetes y quemaron neumáticos, exigiendo la provisión de diez profesores más. En la actualidad, la escuela cuenta con 1.128 estudiantes y 22 profesores, una proporción de más de 50 a una clase, asumiendo cada maestro enseña en cada período.

Far too few teachers for number of students

Astra Primary School in Bethelsdorp near Port Elizabeth was closed last week by angry parents who shut the school gates, picketed and burned tyres. They are demanding the provision of ten more teachers.

Currently, the school has 1,128 students and 22 teachers, a ratio of more than 50 to a class, assuming every teacher teaches in every period.

Acting principal Desmond Lewis said the school held a meeting with parents on 19 July to tell them they needed ten more teachers. «The parents then decided to close down the school until the situation is resolved … We had hired four teachers last year because as a school we felt we needed more teachers for slow learners. These were being paid [for] by the parents from donations and fundraising.»

Astra Primary has more than 50 students per class, assuming every teacher teaches in every period.

Astra Primary is a no-fees school. Lewis explained that because staff members retire and others go on maternity and sick leave, the school had six more vacancies that the department had approved.

«The school was paying for ten teachers. It was very painful to explain this to the parents. Now the school can no longer afford to pay these teachers. Our coffers are dry.

«The crisis started years ago, but this time it’s unfortunate that our funds got dry. We informed the concerned teachers in June that their contracts wouldn’t be renewed as the school had no money to pay them.»

A spokesperson for the Eastern Cape education department, Malibongwe Mtima, said the department was aware of the situation, but differed on the number of teachers needed.

«We are busy sorting out the problem at the school. There is a shortage of six teachers not ten. The school should have approached the department on time. Because of maternity leave, sick leave and retirement, schools always face such teacher crises.

«We have approved a grade R foundation phase teacher for the school. The outstanding salary for one teacher has been paid this week. We are in the process of finalising the post of head of department, and that of the deputy principal posts. We even gave the school the go-ahead to fill in the[se] vacancies. The problem is the school delayed to apply for substitute teachers.»

But Lewis says the department knew long ago about the critical staff shortage.

One parent, Alphus Wolmarans, said, «I have two stepchildren attending school there. We have had several meetings concerning this issue. The only thing is to close the school down. I don’t like that route, but there’s no option.»

On Monday morning, at a meeting between the principal and the parents, it was decided to keep the school shut.

Fuente de la noticia: http://www.groundup.org.za/article/angry-parents-close-primary-school/

Fuente de la imagen: http://www.groundup.org.za/media/_versions/images/photographers/Joseph%20Chirume/Astra-20160725-JosephChirume_large.JPG

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Sudáfrica: Upsurge in sexuality education seen in countries with high HIV rates

Africa/Sudáfrica/05 de Agosto de 2016/Fuente: FPNU

RESUMEN: En África oriental y meridional – la región más afectada por la epidemia de VIH – se ha producido un aumento masivo de la educación sexual integral y la atención de la salud reproductiva a los jóvenes.Las mujeres jóvenes son las más vulnerables al VIH. En el África subsahariana, las mujeres jóvenes de edades comprendidas entre 15 y 24 representaron el 56 por ciento de las nuevas infecciones por VIH entre los adultos, de acuerdo con el Informe sobre la disparidad de Prevención de 2016. Mientras tanto, sólo el 36 por ciento de los hombres jóvenes y el 30 por ciento de las mujeres jóvenes en el África subsahariana tienen suficiente conocimiento acerca de la prevención de la enfermedad. Los países de la África oriental y meridional Región han hecho enormes progresos en la oferta de la educación sexual integral, dijeron los ministros de salud y educación en una reunión organizada por el UNFPA y la UNESCO antes de la conferencia. Estos países también han experimentado un gran éxito en la ampliación del acceso de los jóvenes a los servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva.

Zandile Simelane was just a teenager when her life was turned upside-down. “At the age of 17, I was diagnosed with HIV,” she told UNFPA at the recent International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa. The news was a shock.  Sexuality education had not been covered in her school, leaving her ill-equipped to protect herself.

But countries are now undertaking huge efforts to provide girls like Ms. Simelane with the information they need to avoid HIV. In Eastern and Southern Africa – the region most affected by the HIV epidemic – there has been a massive upsurge in comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly reproductive health care.

Young women at risk

Young women are among the most vulnerable to HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, young women aged 15 to 24 accounted for 56 per cent of new HIV infections among adults, according to the 2016 Prevention Gap Report. Meanwhile, only 36 per cent of young men and 30 per cent of young women in sub-Saharan Africa have sufficient knowledge about preventing the disease.

Today, Ms. Simelane, now 23, knows exactly how she was infected – and from whom. “I know exactly where I got it from,” she said. “It was from a blesser.”

“Blesser” is the term popularly used to describe an older man who “blesses” girls and young women with cell phones, school fees or other expensive gifts, often in exchange for sex. Among HIV prevention advocates, the term has become synonymous with the spread of the disease.

Ms. Simelane is now active in youth organizations, including the UNFPA-supported African Youth and Adolescents Network, “so that I can share my story with young people, for them to realize that HIV exists.”

In her work, she often encounters young people who are just like she was six years ago: “They tend to be ignorant as young people until they are faced with the issue of HIV.”

Upsurge in comprehensive sexuality education

Young people have a right to accurate information about their bodies, including how to protect themselves from disease, experts at the International AIDS Conference emphasized.

Comprehensive sexuality education provides this information in an age-appropriate, culturally sensitive way. It also incorporates information about human rights and gender equality, helping to empower young people to stand up for their health and rights.

Both girls and boys need access to such education. “We cannot forget about the boys, otherwise we face the danger of them being future blessers,” said incoming International AIDS Society President Linda-Gail Bekker.

Countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region have made enormous progress in offering comprehensive sexuality education, health and education ministers said at a meeting organized by UNFPA and UNESCO ahead of the conference. These countries have also seen great success in expanding young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services.

“All 21 countries [in the region] reported having comprehensive sexuality education training programmes for teachers,” said the ministerial progress report. “Fifteen out of 21 countries in the region reported providing comprehensive sexuality education in at least 40 per cent of primary schools and secondary schools.” Seventeen of the countries are providing training to health and social workers to help young people receive nonjudgmental sexual and reproductive health care.

“Now is the time to act”

These achievements follow commitments the ministers made in 2013 to “lead by bold actions to ensure quality comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.”

UNFPA works with governments to implement comprehensive sexuality education that meets internationally agreed standards, both in schools and through community-based training and outreach. UNFPA also works with partners and health ministries to help ensure access to youth-friendly care.

But there remain significant challenges to reaching young people with these services, including a widespread discomfort with talking about sexual health.

“Our parents never talked to us about sex,” said Jane Ruth Aceng, of Uganda’s health ministry. “Parents haven’t got the models to talk to their children about sexuality. The commitments we are making here will not trickle down unless we discuss how we are going to get the communities engaged.”

And with new HIV infections disproportionately affecting adolescents and youth, there is an urgent need to do more.

“It is time to act now,” said Phineas Magagula, Swaziland’s Minister of Education and Training. “No procrastination.”

Fuente: http://www.unfpa.org/news/upsurge-sexuality-education-seen-countries-high-hiv-rates

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Nueva alianza busca reforzar la seguridad alimentaria en África

África/04 agosto 2016/ Fuente: IPS Noticias

En un momento en que 20 millones de personas sufren la escasez de alimentos por la sequía que golpeó a África subsahariana y por problemas de desarrollo, representantes de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO) y del Parlamento Panafricano (PAP) se reunieron en Johannesburgo para crear una nueva alianza para la seguridad alimentaria.

La reunión del lunes 1 de este mes llevó varios años de preparación desde la segunda Conferencia Internacional sobre Nutrición, organizada por la FAO a fines de 2014.

“Tenemos 53 países en el PAP y la alianza será grande”, señaló Bernadette Lahai, cuarta vicepresidenta del Parlamento, en cuyas oficinas se realizó el taller.

“A escala continental, una vez que hayamos lanzado la alianza formalmente, alentaremos a los parlamentos regionales para que toda África aúne esfuerzos”, apuntó la dirigente sierraleonesa. “Será una voz muy fuerte”, destacó.

Por su parte, la coordinadora especial para alianzas parlamentarias de FAO, Caroline Rodrigues Birkett, comentó que su tarea es asegurarse de que los parlamentarios pongan a la seguridad alimentaria en el centro de su agenda.

“Hacemos esto porque según la evidencia que tenemos en la FAO, una vez que se tienen las leyes y las políticas sobre seguridad alimentaria y nutrición, hay una correlación positiva con la mejora de los indicadores específicos”, explicó.

“El año pasado, facilitamos la participación de siete parlamentarios africanos en una reunión de América Latina y el Caribe, en Lima, y esos mismos siete nos pidieron un intercambio con otros parlamentarios africanos”, relató.

Y ahora, un pequeño grupo de legisladores de América Latina y el Caribe viajaron a Johannesburgo para aportar detalles de su propia experiencia con la FAO en una alianza dedicada a garantizar la seguridad alimentaria para las personas que pasan hambre en América del Sur y en las naciones insulares del Caribe.

María Augusta Calle, quien integró el grupo representando a Ecuador, contó a los aproximadamente 20 miembros del PAP que, según su experiencia, trabajar con funcionarios de la FAO contribuyó a la erradicación del hambre en gran parte de la región.

Nueva alianza busca reforzar la seguridad alimentaria en África

De izquierda a derecha: coordinadora especial de la FAO para alianzas parlamentarias, Caroline Rodrigues Birkett, Maria Augusta Calle, de Ecuador, y vicepresidenta del PAP, Bernadette Lahai. Crédito: Desmond Latham/IPS.

Por su parte, Caesar Saboto, de San Vicente y las Granadinas, fue claro sobre las oportunidades que para aliviar el hambre existen en el mundo en desarrollo.

“Es la primera vez que viajo a África y no es de vacaciones”, comenzó. “Es por una razón muy importante. No quiero regresar al Caribe y, por cierto que María Augusta Calle tampoco quiere, diciendo que vinimos a dar un discurso”, indicó.

“En 1995, 20 por ciento de los 110.000 habitantes de mi país estaban subalimentados. Más de 22.000 estaban en vulnerabilidad alimentaria”, indicó en su breve presentación.

“¿Pero saben qué? Trabajando con las comunidades y los gobiernos logramos reducir esos números a 5.000, en 2012, o 4,9 por ciento de la población. Y estoy encantado de anunciarles aquí, por primera vez, que en 2016, apuntamos a reducirlo a 3.500, o 3,2 por ciento”, alentó, lo que motivó aplausos de los delegados presentes.

Entre los miembros del PAP, había representantes de sectores como agricultura, transporte y justicia, además de salud y especialistas en género. Una de las interrogantes planteadas fue cómo se pueden aplicar los procesos de las pequeñas naciones insulares a las necesidades de vastas regiones africanas.

“Cualquier número se puede dividir”, prosiguió Saboto.

“Primero tiene que comenzar con la voluntad política; tanto el gobierno como la oposición deben aceptar la idea. Si tienes 20 millones de personas, las puede dividir en grupos de trabajo y asignar estructuras para la rendición de cuentas y la transparencia”, explicó.

Además, los delegados africanos se interesaron por los procesos que usaron las naciones latinoamericanas para crear su estructura. Lahai quería que los latinoamericanos ayudaran al Parlamento Africano a planificar la creación de sus propias estructuras.

“La seguridad alimentaria no es solo una cuestión política, sino de desarrollo”, precisó en entrevista con IPS.

“La primera instancia cuando hay problemas de seguridad alimentaria suele ser el parlamento. Debemos de encabezar los esfuerzos hacia lo que se conoce como el hambre cero”, subrayó.

Pero todavía quedan grandes desafíos por delante.

Tras una reunión de octubre de 2015, la FAO se alió con el PAP con el fin de luchar contra el hambre a través de una nueva alianza. Pero el Parlamento Africano es un grupo poco estructurado de naciones africanas cuyos miembros no pudieron lograr el respaldo de los gobernantes para esa iniciativa.

Lahai insistió en que el taller debía comenzar por atender las cuestiones de estructura.

También subrayó que había que considerar la coordinación entre el PAP, varios países y otras agrupaciones como la Comunidad Económica de los estados de África Occidental (Ecowas) y la Comunidad de Desarrollo de África Austral (SADC).

“Necesitamos un marco adecuado”, observó.

“Es importante involucrar a nuestros gobernantes en el proceso. Con eso en mente, sugeriría que aprendamos mucho de nuestros visitantes, quienes tuvieron experiencias positivas trabajando en cuestiones de nutrición en América Latina”, subrayó.

El representante de la FAO en Sudáfrica, Lewis Hove, alertó que la mala nutrición creó una situación en la que las niños y los niños con retraso en el crecimiento corrían más peligro de ser obesos en el futuro.

La aparente contradicción surgió de estadísticas que muestran que países de bajos y medianos ingresos registraban una relación costo beneficio de 16 a uno.

El Cuadro Nutricional de África, publicado por la Nueva Alianza para el Desarrollo de África (Nepad) a fines de 2015, muestra que alrededor de 58 millones menores de cinco años en África subsahariana tienen baja estatura para su edad.

Además de que otros 163 millones de mujeres, niñas y niños tienen anemia por la mala nutrición.

El taller terminó con un llamado para que la FAO y el PAP impulsen una mayor capacitación y facilitación.

En ese contexto, la próxima reunión de estados de América Latina y el Caribe en México se fijó como plazo para comenzar el proceso de creación de una nueva secretaría. Se pensó que así los miembros del PAP se verían impulsados a promover el proceso, y se acordó que la sede del nuevo órgano tendría su sede en el Parlamento Panafricano, en Sudáfrica.

Lahai dijo que los delegados prepararán un informe técnico para firmarlo en la próxima ronda del PAP, prevista para fines de este año en Egipto.

Fuente: http://www.ipsnoticias.net/2016/08/nueva-alianza-busca-reforzar-la-seguridad-alimentaria-en-africa/

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South Africa: Basic Education On Inappropriate Content From Textbooks

South  África/Agosto de 2016/Allafrica

Resumen: El Departamento de Educación Básica ha tomado nota de las preocupaciones y quejas que emanan de una página en uno de los libros de texto del grado 10. El contenido se hace referencia a la historia sobre una chica que salió a una fiesta con amigos sin pedir permiso a sus padres,  y se narran acontecimientos de riesgo.

The Department of Basic Education has noted concerns and complaints emanating from a page in one of the Grade 10 textbooks. The content referred to is both unintended and unfortunate.

To summarise the matter, it is a story about a girl who went out to a party with friends without seeking permission from her parents, as they would have declined the request.

They drank and got drunk. While they were drunk, the friends pushed her into a room with an unknown male and locked the door where she was subsequently raped by the unknown male. Now she feels she can’t report the rape to her parents because they will know that she lied. She is so hurt and scared as there are possibilities of contracting HIV, pregnancy or both. She is also regretting going to the party.»

Three questions are posed to learners after this story. The problem is the first question, namely: List two ways in which Angie’s behaviour led to sexual intercourse.

This question raises very serious misconceptions and stereotypes about «rape» and the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, in that the victim might have played a role that led her to be raped. The department is fully aware of implications such scenarios have on the psyche of our children and the general public about the scourge of rape that the country is battling with.

Furthermore, the question refers to the incident as «intercourse» which may further confuse learners. The importance of mediation by teachers in this instance becomes important as should be the case in a classroom environment.

We also acknowledge such content may further perpetuate impunity and victim blaming. The objective in a subject as important as Life Orientation is to equip learners with skills to deal with and face life’s challenges; it is unfortunate that this particular section in the textbook is certainly not part of that.

The process of compiling such content includes a panel of experts who make inputs in line with set guidelines. This is followed by a review of the content by a subject specialist. The textbook in question, published and distributed in 2011 forms part of content that Minister Angie Motshekga has asked to be tested for inappropriate or contradictory content.

The evaluation process is conducted by subject specialists from provinces and districts, where in the textbooks are subjected to a rigorous screening process. «We cannot at this stage blame the subject specialists that evaluated the material, we can however remedy the situation as we have done in the past with other material that was later found to have inappropriate content, i.e. picture, misleading text, etc» said departmental spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.

The department has in this regard already written to the publisher in order to remedy this and ensure the material is no longer taught in our classrooms.

The department welcomes inputs made by parents, the public, civic organisations and other interested parties into what learners are taught and exposed to in their learning material, this is truly reflective of the societal importance and significance of education.

«We also encourage active, consistent critique of all teaching and learning material of all grades and subjects. It is through these engagements and contributions that we can achieve the best quality of content for the millions of children whose education we are entrusted with» Mhlanga added.

Lastly, the Minister has appointed a Task Team to further evaluate textbooks to ensure they are free of bias in terms of race, sex, gender and other forms of discrimination, the task team will at a later stage make recommendations to the Minister.

The Task Team comprises of experts from Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). This Committee will look at a broad sample of textbooks, specifically for the development of a textbook policy on promoting content that fosters diversity going forward.

Issued by: Department of Basic Education

Fuente: http://allafrica.com/stories/201607281037.html

Fuente de la Imagen: https://www.google.co.ve/search?q=fiestas+de+j%C3%B3venes&biw=1024&bih=489&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwih1eDPtZ7OAhVDzSYKHRNPAokQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1#imgrc=qbL5RTe6e-wdoM%3A

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South Africa: Condoms in schools – it’s a human right

África/Southáfrica/31 Julio 2016/Fuente:Groundup /Autor: Lisa Draga

Resumen: De acuerdo con Stats SA, 99.000 niñas de la escuela quedaron embarazadas en 2013. Las estadísticas también muestran que en 2013 casi el 20% de las mujeres embarazadas en el país entre las edades de 15 y 24 eran seropositivas. Estas estadísticas alarmantes muestran la apremiante necesidad de abordar la susceptibilidad de los jóvenes estudiantes son a contraer el VIH. La semana pasada, los jóvenes activistas interrumpieron la conferencia sobre el SIDA de Durban. Ministro Aaron Motsoaledi estaba a punto de introducir un orador cuando los alumnos se levantaron de sus asientos, el canto y exigiendo que el gobierno vele por la distribución gratuita de preservativos en las escuelas.

If we are to curb high rates of HIV infections and pregnancy in schools, condoms must be accessible

According to Stats SA, 99,000 school girls fell pregnant in 2013. Statistics also show that in 2013 almost 20% of pregnant women in the country between the ages of 15 and 24 were HIV-positive. These shocking statistics display the pressing need to address how susceptible young learners are to contracting HIV. Last week, young activists disrupted the Durban Aids Conference. Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was on the verge of introducing a speaker when learners rose from their seats, singing and demanding that government ensure the distribution of free condoms in schools. The Minister reportedly responded, «No, no, no – this session is not about this.»

The question around addressing the high rates of HIV and learner pregnancy in South Africa was recently put to government by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. In response, the government lauded its soon to be introduced Department of Basic Education Draft Policy on HIV, STIs and TB as a mechanism for positive change.

While the potential of the proposed policy is significant, it suffers from a fundamental flaw: government’s failure to frame the policy in a way that recognises that effective access to condoms in schools is a basic human right.

The Draft Policy does not make clear if all learners will have access to condoms in schools or how condoms are to be distributed. This is important, as attempts to restrict the age at which learners can access condoms may be detrimental to combatting the spread of HIV.

According to a 2012 National Survey on HIV, 37.5% of all learners reported having had sex, with 12.6% indicating that their first sexual encounter occurred before age 14.

Young females are vulnerable to sexual assault and the unequal power relations between genders. They are especially in need of access to protection.

The manner in which condoms will be distributed at schools will have a significant effect on learner uptake. The Draft Policy contemplates that certain learners could make use of mobile clinics where a nurse administers condoms. But research shows the reluctance of learners to obtain condoms when issued by an authority figure. The Draft Policy should be amended to allow learners easy and discreet access without having to interact with an intermediary to obtain condoms. Unmonitored condom dispensers placed in male and female bathrooms could make a significant impact.

Many object to condom distribution policies, claiming they cause learners to be more sexually active or enable learners, who would not otherwise consider becoming sexually active, to engage in sex earlier than they would have.

There are no studies to support these claims and plenty of studies to prove the opposite. Comparative research shows that condom availability programmes actually increased learners’ use of condoms when they were already engaging in sexual intercourse.

Adults often lecture children about being responsible. But parents, teachers and those elected to make vital decisions for our nation and our children also bear much responsibility. They are responsible for examining the research, engaging with the studies, digesting the statistics – however unpalatable they may be – and moving beyond morality rhetoric.

If we are to curb the high rates of HIV infections and pregnancy amongst learners in South Africa, condoms must be distributed in schools. And this must be done in an easy, discreet and accessible way. This should be coupled with comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education. Access to condoms in schools is learners’ right and ensuring this is our responsibility.

Lisa Eaves Draga is an attorney at the Equal Education Law Centre.

Fuente de la noticia: http://www.groundup.org.za/article/condoms-schools-its-human-right/

Fuente de la imagen: http://www.groundup.org.za/media/_versions/images/photographers/Nathan%20Geffen/Condoms_large.jpg

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