Ministry

Nicosia: ‘No light at the end of the tunnel’ in education crisis (Updated)

Noticias

By: cyprus-mail.com/ 08-08-2018

The education ministry on Monday said it has given teaching unions all the measures decided by the cabinet earlier in the month over the streamlining of state schools, but the unions said the ongoing negotiations between the two sides were going nowhere.

The boards of the unions – Oelmek, Poed, Oltek – will meet on Tuesday to continue discussions, first separately and then together. Further action will depend on the ministry’s response on Wednesday.

According to the head of the Oelmek secondary teachers’ union, Yiannos Socratous, initial, oral replies from the education minister, “leave no room for a positive outcome.”

The discussion so far concerned procedural matters and not substantive ones, Socratous said.

Since July 2, the unions and the ministry have been at loggerheads over a decision by the ministry to end the reduction in teaching hours according to length of service and an attempt by the government to streamline teachers’ duties. The two sides have agreed on an intensive dialogue – launched last week – in a bid to reach a consensus to ensure the smooth opening of schools in September.

Socratous said on Sunday after a meeting of the three unions with the ministry, that there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

In a statement he had made in the presence of other union officials, he said a dialogue which cannot lead to solutions obviously cannot continue.

“After four days of intensive consultations, we are at a stage where you can see that there is no progress, at least not as much as we would like,” he said.

He said the unions put their contributions in writing on Friday.

Socratous said the minister has made an initial statement and will send a letter of reply by Wednesday.

“what really worries us is that we are 25 days before the start of the new school year, 25 days before September 1, and in fact there do not seem to be signs that there is an end to all,” he said.

*Fuente: https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/08/06/no-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-in-education-crisis/

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Malaysia: The needs of students always a priority for Education Ministry

Noticias

Malaysia/ February 13, 2018/By Awaina Arbee/Source: https://www.nst.com.my

The Education Ministry has allocated a total of RM2.9 billion to aid more than 5.2 million students for this year.

Education Director-General Datuk Dr Amin Senin said the ministry had always prioritised students’ needs, and that was why the allocation for education aid goes up every year.

«People should understand that the ministry spends about RM8,000 yearly on a student by providing numerous aid to help them during their schooling sessions.

«Sometimes, the public do not know these things. The purpose of the Education Tour (Jelajah Pendidikan) is to explain to the people that there are no compromises when it comes to education,» he said.

Amin said the government, through the ministry has always been consistent in helping students in school.

«In fact, for this year, more than 5.2 million students benefitted from an allocation of RM2.9 billion in Selangor. We have allocated RM221.4 million involving three categories; General Aid RM133.5 million; Special Aid RM45.7 million, and One Off aid RM42.3 million.

«To compare, education expenses in Malaysia is twice the amount of education expenses in other Asean countries,» told reporters after officiating the tour at the Hulu Langat Education District office today.

Amin said the tour was a form of interaction between the ministry and the public.

«With the National Blue Ocean Strategy as its theme, the programme is aimed at providing explanations about the services and opportunities in the education system in the country.

«This programme showcases the ministry’s efforts in developing students to meet global challenges, where we have provided them with holistic assessments, quality teachers and administrators and also an access to various 21-century education routes,» he said.

More than 6,000 visitors attended the Education Tour at the Hulu Langat Education District office from Feb 10-11.

The tour will continue at five other locations which include Langkawi, Kedah from Feb 22-24; Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (March 8-10); Parit Buntar, Perak (March 30 – April 1); Temerloh, Pahang (April 13-15) and Tawau, Sabah (April 20-22).

Among the schools that participated in the Education Tour here from Feb 10-11 were SK Jalan Empat; SK Saujana Impian; SK Sungai Kantan; SK Bandar Teknologi Kajang; SMK Jalan Empat; SMK Tinggi Kajang; SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long; SMK Jalan Bukit and SK Jalan Semenyih.

Source:

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/334528/needs-students-always-priority-education-ministry

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