Online Classes

Kenya National Library Service embraces technology amidst Covid-19

Noticias

Africa/Kenya/27-08-2021/Author and Source: www.kbc.co.ke

Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) has created programmes aimed at ensuring the youths continue with their research and lessons during the pandemic period.

Eldoret branch Principal Librarian Ruth Jemo said the library has introduced computer literacy training programmes to equip youths with the necessary technological skills needed during the pandemic period.

“At the moment we have 16 trainees who started their training at the beginning of the month and we expect more as we continue,” she said.

Jemo indicated that the library has beefed up its cyber, WIFI, and LAN capabilities to ensure young people interested in research and learning enjoy uninterrupted services at the library.

She further said a partnership with the Uasin Gishu County government has enabled the library to set up a well-equipped cyber section to allow students to participate in online classes free of charge.

Entrance of Kenya National Library in Eldoret.

Data by The World Economic Forum stipulate that over 1.2 billion children from 186 countries were forced out of school by the coronavirus pandemic compelling schools to adopt online solutions to bridge the gap.

Apart from the cyber café, Jemo indicated that the library has made arrangements to accommodate more students by converting the children section into a makeshift study area for adults.

“We also have personal booths that can be used by both students and teachers engaged in online learning. These booths have internet facilities to ensure smooth services,” she said.

“Part of KNLS’ strategic plan is to enhance the availability of resources through the utilization of modern technologies,” she said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has furnished them with an opportunity of accommodating technology in their day-to-day services.

The library has also rolled out business skills programmes designed to educate youths on matters of online business and communication skills.

“We have book talks on topical issues where we invite speakers to cover issues affecting the youths in this country,” she said.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/kenya-national-library-service-embraces-technology-amidst-covid-19/

Comparte este contenido:
Leer más »

United States: California sues Trump over rules to deport foreign students home if colleges offer online-only classes

Noticias

North America/United States/12-05-2020/Author and Source: www.rt.com

California has joined several Ivy League schools in challenging immigration rules that would send foreign students back if they can’t attend classes in person, claiming such a requirement would only spread Covid-19.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced on Thursday that the state will file a legal challenge against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over their recent clarification of the rule that foreign exchange students would have to leave the US if their schools operate online-only classes.

“Today’s lawsuit rests on America’s enduring principle that everyone who works hard and plays by the rules can earn a chance to get ahead,” said Becerra, flanked by California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, and California State University Chancellor Timothy White.

Becerra’s move comes after Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) filed their own lawsuit in a federal court in Boston on Wednesday. Both petitions seek injunctions barring the federal government from enforcing the rule, in a tactic previously used to block the implementation of travel bans and visa restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump.

Earlier this week, the DHS and ICE published new guidance on foreign students’ status, clarifying that their visas will not be valid if the institutions they attend offer only virtual courses. Though the Trump administration ultimately prevailed, the cases went all the way up to the US Supreme Court and took years to resolve.

Asked about the rule, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany pointed out that visas weren’t being issued for online classes such as offered by the University of Phoenix, and that online-only classes from Harvard would be no different.

International students are a major cash cow for US universities, however, as they tend to pay full tuition rather than the discounted or loan-subsidized price most American students end up paying. California’s interest in maintaining this pipeline is understandable, since there were around 162,000 international students in the state last year.

This profit motive was pointed out by some advocates for “undocumented” students – illegal immigrants whom California treats like legal residents for the purpose of tuition – who say that it’s notable the colleges are protesting “xenophobia” only when it hits their affluent foreign students as opposed to “undocs.”

Source and Image: https://www.rt.com/usa/494325-california-lawsuit-international-students/

Comparte este contenido:
Leer más »

Students return to school in east China province as epidemic wanes

Noticias

Asia/China/19-04-2020/Author(a) and Source: xinhuanet.com

A staff member sanitizes a student’s hands at Hermann Gmeiner School of Yantai in Yantai City, east China’s Shandong Province, April 15, 2020. East China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday partially reopened schools, with third-graders at 804 senior high schools and secondary vocational schools resuming formal school classes as the COVID-19 epidemic waned. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)

East China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday partially reopened schools, with third-graders at 804 senior high schools and secondary vocational schools resuming formal school classes as the COVID-19 epidemic waned.

The opening of the spring semester was delayed by more than 60 days due to the epidemic. Earlier online classes offered an alternative to offset the impact on the study of the students who will sit the college entrance examination this summer.

Students wearing masks had body temperatures taken and presented their health QR codes before entering the campus while keeping a distance from each other.

«After waiting for such a long time, we are finally back to school,» said Li Qirui of the high school affiliated to Shandong Normal University.

Many schools began formulating school opening plans and storing up protective equipment starting from early March.

«We had more than 40,000 face masks in a stockpile, which can help ensure one mask per student per day,» said Dong Ya, the principal of Jinan Middle School in the provincial capital of Jinan.

Xing Shunfeng, an official with the provincial education bureau, said the seniors will be in small classes of around 30 students each, and the schools will be mostly under closed-off management in a bid to reduce infection risks.

Shandong, one of the most populous provinces across China, has a total of 37,700 schools, with more than 19 million students and a teaching staff of 1.5 million.

CHINA-SHANDONG-SCHOOLS-PARTIAL REOPENING (CN)

A student walks through special passage to enter the Experimental High School of Xihai’an (West Coast) New Area in Qingdao City, east China’s Shandong Province, April 15, 2020. East China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday partially reopened schools, with third-graders at 804 senior high schools and secondary vocational schools resuming formal school classes as the COVID-19 epidemic waned. (Photo by Wang Peike/Xinhua)

CHINA-SHANDONG-SCHOOLS-PARTIAL REOPENING (CN)

Students queue up while keeping a distance from each other to have body temperatures taken before entering Laishan No. 1 High School in Yantai City, east China’s Shandong Province, April 15, 2020. East China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday partially reopened schools, with third-graders at 804 senior high schools and secondary vocational schools resuming formal school classes as the COVID-19 epidemic waned. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

CHINA-SHANDONG-SCHOOLS-PARTIAL REOPENING (CN)

Students queue up while keeping a distance from each other to scan their health QR codes before entering No. 2 High School of Chiping District in Liaocheng City, east China’s Shandong Province, April 15, 2020. East China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday partially reopened schools, with third-graders at 804 senior high schools and secondary vocational schools resuming formal school classes as the COVID-19 epidemic waned. (Photo by Zhao Yuguo/Xinhua)

CHINA-SHANDONG-SCHOOLS-PARTIAL REOPENING (CN)

Aerial photo shows students lining up while keeping a distance from each other to have body temperatures taken before entering Tancheng No. 1 High School in Linyi City, east China’s Shandong Province, April 15, 2020. East China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday partially reopened schools, with third-graders at 804 senior high schools and secondary vocational schools resuming formal school classes as the COVID-19 epidemic waned. (Photo by Fang Dehua/Xinhua)

Source and Image: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-04/15/c_138978964.htm

Comparte este contenido:
Leer más »