The Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia was full of fanfare and jubilation at the event marking the 2nd graduation ceremony of the Christ Embassy Vocational School.
The school, run by the Christ Embassy Church in Liberia graduated almost 800 women following intensive training in basic life skills.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Williametta Saydee-Tarr lauded the Church for its contribution to national development by empowering the women.
Minister Saydee-Tarr also pledged the Government’s support through the Ministry of Gender’s commitment in working to empower women amid several challenges confronting them
She revealed that President George Weah has appropriated US$2 million as micro loan to support small businesses and called on the women to take advantage of the opportunity.
Also speaking at the event, ex-president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked the Church for doing what the nation longs for, and that it is “A longing to take all of our young women and give them a skill, to enable them and empower them to be the one that can stand up on their own, and be self-sufficient and hold a job, and be able to pursue their dreams.”
Addressing the graduates, she said “I want to congratulate you and want to say to you that what you have learned is not the end of the story, it is not the end of your road, it is not the end of your education. You just took the first step, now you got to go the other step. Get more education, prepare yourself even more.”
She said the decision taken by the graduates to become professional to learn skills was the best decision they could have ever made for their lives.
Earlier, she thanked the Church’s Pastor for the immense support to the women.
Also speaking, Pastor Alfred W. Mayson said the vocational school is the Church’s way of contributing to nation building.
He said this year, he was excited that the number of graduates doubled from 400 last year to almost 800 this year.
He said women are vulnerable people in the society, and the initiative launched is to empower them to support themselves and their families.
He added ” they look up to men for support. But I am glad to see many young women and the older lady empowered with the skills to make money. I see that it is good for the nation. And it is the way of buttressing government’s effort, to promote the nation. That is today, we are grateful to God.”
He announced that two additional branches of the school will be established in Gardnersville (all women) and the Borough of New Kru Town (all men).
The school is free of charge, and although it is expensive to operate, the “Church is blessed to be a blessing.”
Speaking at the event, some of the graduates thanked the Christ Embassy Church for the knowledge gained.
Miatta Molubah of the tailoring department called on her colleagues to take advantage in learning to do something to be a help to society.
Lewis Twah of the catering department expressed excitement over what she has acquired from the vocational school, and planned to establish her own business.
Eight Hundred Women In Liberia Graduate In Basic Life Skills From Christ Embassy Vocational School
500 Students to Benefit From Chamber of Commerce Employment Scheme
Over five hundred (500) college/university graduates are to benefit from an employment program through the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC).
Under the Special Employment Scheme, successful candidates shall be initially placed on a definite employment contract for six months to one year, with a probational period of three months in accordance with the Decent Work Act (DWA), reviewable biannually by the employer to ascertain performance to the satisfaction of the employer.
To kickstart the program the LCC, has concluded a Landmark Tripartite Agreement between the Government of Liberia (GOL), the Business Community and the LCC to create employment opportunities for deserving young Liberian men and women.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed on Tuesday 2nd June 2021 under the signature of the Minister of Labor, Hon. Charles H. Gibson and the President of the Chamber, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh; the Chamber, through its membership, will endeavor to create a minimum of five hundred (500) vacancies for qualified Liberian college/university graduates to be employed by members of the Chamber within sixty (60) days after the signing of this MOU.
This joint initiative is aimed at ensuring that qualified Liberians are given first preference to vacancies and employment opportunities by the business community.
Kenya Teachers Service Commission Backs Down On Plan To Scrap B.Ed Degree
The Teachers Service Commission in Kenya appears to have backed down from its earlier recommendation to scrap the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree programme from September this year.
The commission, in a presentation to deans of schools of education in universities, had recommended that teacher trainees undertake either a three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree, study three teaching subjects and later study for a post-graduate diploma in education.
Currently, B.Ed students specialise in two teaching subjects in addition to education units studied from the first year
Since information went out about the proposal, there has been heated debated from stakeholders in the education sector. It also caused concern among trained but jobless teachers that they could be left out of employment.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has already supported the recommendation to change teacher training.
However, the TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia now says that a decision has not been made yet and that if changes to teacher training will be effected, they will not disadvantage past or present holders of the B.Ed degree.
She added that the mandate of the TSC is limited to reviewing and advising on the standards of education and training of persons entering the teaching service in Kenya.
Macharia explained that the new entry grades for teachers had originated from a report by a task force on the implementation of the competence based curriculum (CBC).
She added that such reforms will be implemented in a methodical, systematic and phased manner that will not disadvantage any past or present graduate of a valid education degree.
Macharia said a date of implementation will clearly be spelt out in a manner that will ensure a seamless transition from the 8-4-4 education system to the new competence based curriculum.
It has been revealed that the recommendations contained in a document titled, Framework on Entry Requirements in the Teaching Service, prepared by the director, Quality Assurance and Standards, Dr Reuben Nthamburi, even have timelines for implementation.
Deans of schools of education from 56 universities offering the B.Ed programme are finalising a joint response to the TSC proposal.
Last week, Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor, Paul Wainaina, strongly opposed the TSC recommendations.
In a response he presented to the Inter-Public University Council Consultative Forum and seen local media, he pokes holes into the plan to do away with the degree course, which has been taught in Kenyan universities since 1970.
Kenyatta University is the main trainer of secondary school teachers in the country.
The Ministry of Education last year phased out the training of certificate in primary teacher education (P1) and replaced it with a diploma in primary teacher education. The first intake was done last month, even though it attracted few applicants since most students did not meet the new entry requirements.
Macharia announced that TSC would advertise teaching jobs from next month, after the commission was allocated Sh2.5 billion for the recruitment of 5,000 teachers in the next financial year. 6,000 intern teachers will also be recruited at a cost of Sh1.2 billion.
Allowances and Benefits Policy : Teachers, Civil Servants In Kenya Reject Two-Year Pay Increase Freeze
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in Kenya have dannounced there would be no salary increments for all civil servants for two years beginning July
This announcement comes. amid admissions from the country’s National Treasury that it is struggling to get enough money to run government.
This decision sets the stage for a clash between the unions and the government, which may paralyse smooth running in key sectors. The suspension affects the workers’ basic salary, allowances and other benefits.
Civil servants, teachers and lecturers have rejected the government’s decision. Teachers and lecturers in public universities will also be affected by the decision.
The new move will hit public-sector workers hard, coming just months after the SRC directed all public institutions to ensure workers’ allowances do not exceed 40 per cent of their pay.
Implementation of the directive begins next month and will have the effect of reducing incomes earned by a majority of government workers who have been relying on allowances to make extra money
The SRC Thursday said the decision to suspend implementation of the third remuneration review cycle had been prompted by the difficult economic times the country finds itself in, largely due to the Covid-19 fiasco.
The commission said the government would save a substantial amount from the Sh82 billion it would have spent on implementation of the 2021/22 – 2024/25 remuneration review cycle.
SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich said the commission considered the government’s financial constraints, the current wage bill and the need to release resources for investment to jumpstart a Covid-19-ravaged economy.
In line with the new directive, no additional funding will be provided for implementation of job evaluation results in the financial year 2021-2022 and 2022/2023.
The commission also stated that public-sector institutions will be required to fully implement the Allowances and Benefits Policy beginning July, which now requires that all the allowances government workers earn should not exceed 40 per cent of their total pay.
Girl’s Education Project: UNICEF Enrols 500,000 Girls in Primary Schools in Katsina
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced the enrolment of over 500,000 girls in primary schools in Katsina State through its Girl’s Education Project (GEP 3) as part of efforts to reduce the spate of out-of-school children in the state.
The UNICEF Education Specialist, Kano Field Office, Muhammad Muntaqa, who disclosed this in Katsina at a one-day meeting with traditional institutions on establishing local community accountability system, said the organisation has surpassed its initial target of enrolling 207,000 girls in focus schools in the state.
GEP 3, funded by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, is being implemented by UNICEF in six northern states in the country; Katsina, Bauchi, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kano to support girls’ enrolment, retention and transition in school.
He said the target was to ensure that there are 207,000 children but as of now, over 500,000 girls have been enrolled through GEP 3 project in focus schools in Katsina State. UNICEF is giving priority to girl-child education, quality teaching and learning in the state.
He added that UNICEF, through its female teachers training scholarship, have sponsored 500 rural girls for a three-year NCE programme in colleges of education in the state who have graduated and qualified to teach any where in Nigeria.
Muntaqa reiterated that UNICEF also trained 210 head teachers on instructional leadership to enable them support their teachers by giving them technical instructions to deliver quality learning to children in the state.
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Lawal Buhari, applauded UNICEF for improving girl-child education in the state.
Buhari, represented by the Board Secretary, Isa Mohammed Musa, added that the organisation has significantly reduced the disparity in the ratio of enrolment of boys and girls in school.
He said: “UNICEF has improved the enrolment of girls in primary schools across the state. The organisation has greatly supported the state government in improving the standard of girl-child education. It constructed latrines and boreholes across primary schools in the state.”
He explained that the board, in collaboration with the state government and other relevant non-governmental organisations, would ensure the sustainability of the UNICEF’s school enrolment drive campaign to ensure that girls remain in school and improve their learning achievements.
Nadal Pulls Out Of Wimbledon And Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games
World number three Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this month’s Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who won the Wimbledon titles in 2008 and 2010, says he needs to “recuperate after a long clay-court season”.
“It’s never an easy decision but after listening to my body and discussing it with my team I understand that it is the right decision,” said the Spaniard.
“The goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy.”
The 35-year-old added: “That is to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at the maximum level of competition.”
Nadal hinted at the decision after his defeat by Serbia’s world number one Novak Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals last week.
If defending champion Djokovic wins the title at the All England Club, it will move him level with the record shared by Nadal and Switzerland’s Roger Federer of 20 men’s major singles titles.
Nadal said the shorter turnaround between the French Open and Wimbledon – which starts at the All England Club on 28 June – was a key factor in his decision.
This year, there are only two weeks between the French Open finishing on the clay and Wimbledon starting on the grass. Usually, there are three weeks between the two majors.
The French Open was pushed back a week by Roland Garros organisers in order to start the tournament with fewer of the country’s coronavirus restrictions in place – including allowing fans in to watch.
“The fact that there has only been two weeks between Roland Garros and Wimbledon didn’t make it easier on my body to recuperate after the always demanding clay-court season,” Nadal said in a Twitter post announcing the news.
“They have been two months of great effort and the decision I take is focused looking at the mid and long term.”
Nadal struggled with a back injury earlier this year, playing only the Australian Open – where he lost in the quarter-finals – before the clay-court season started in mid-April.
On his favourite surface the Mallorcan left-hander won the titles in Barcelona and Rome before losing to Djokovic at Roland Garros.
“Sport prevention of any kind of excess in my body is a very important factor at this stage of my career in order to try to keep fighting for the highest level of competition and titles,” Nadal added.
The decision also means he will miss the delayed Olympics, which start in Tokyo on 23 July. Nadal has won two Olympic gold medals – in the singles at Beijing 2008 and the doubles at Rio 2016.
“The Olympic Games always meant a lot and they were always a priority as a sportsperson, I found the spirit that every sportsperson in the world wants to live,” Nadal said.
“I personally had the chance to live three of them and had the honour to be the flag bearer for my country.”
Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed Re-appointed As UN Dep. Secretary General
António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), has asked Amina Mohammed to serve as deputy secretary-general for a second term.
On Friday, Guterres was re-appointed as the secretary-general of the UN for a second term by the general assembly.
His second term starts on January 1, 2022, and will run for a period of five years.
Guterres succeeded Ban Ki-moon in January 2017 as the ninth secretary-general.
Speaking with journalists after taking the oath of office for a second term, Guterres said he had extended an offer to Mohammed to continue in office.
“After being elected, I have the pleasure to invite the deputy secretary-general to remain in my second mandate and I hope she will accept,” he said.
Mohammed, who was standing behind Guterres at the press briefing, responded with the comment “absolute honour”.
Before her appointment in 2017, she was Nigeria’s minister of environment under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
She had also served as the special adviser to Ban Ki-moon on post-2015 development planning, which focused on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals.
What President Buhari Said during His Borno State Visit
ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DURING HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES IN OPERATION HADIN KAI, 17 JUNE 2021
I am delighted to be with you this afternoon, to address you on this special occasion of my official visit to Borno State. I want to seize this opportunity to put it on record that our nation will forever be indebted to you, for your patriotic commitment to the defence of our fatherland against insurgency and criminality.
2. I therefore commend you and remember all the personnel who have paid the supreme sacrifice in ensuring that Nigeria remains an indivisible and secure entity.
3. As I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of our fallen heroes and pray for the souls of the departed, I want to assure you that this administration will spare no effort or resources to ensure that the widows and children of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme price in defence of our beloved country, are well cared for.
4. Furthermore, we will continue to ensure that our wounded comrades get the best medical attention towards their full recovery.
5. While acknowledging your collective efforts at decimating and degrading the terrorists and reaffirming the inviolable sovereignty of our nation, I also wish to extol your steadfastness and untiring efforts in the face of the difficulties you experience in the Theatres of Operation.
6. Your collective efforts have resulted in the relative peace being enjoyed in the region today. Under my watch, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been provided a firm strategy and clear sense of direction to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
7. We should not allow our adversaries the opportunity or breathing space to challenge or undermine our national interests and core values. The defence and security agencies should rest assured of the Federal Government’s unalloyed commitment to winning the battle against terror and criminality.
8. I am particularly happy to note the increasing understanding and cooperation within the military, as well as the inter-agency cooperation in the fight against the terrorists and other criminal elements in the North East.
9. The outcome of this synergy is evidenced by the successes recorded in the ongoing Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO which has so far degraded the insurgents’ capabilities in the Timbuktu Triangle, Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad Region. I am therefore pleased to acknowledge that the military and other security agencies including civilian stakeholders are adhering to the true spirit of Operation HADIN KAI which implies “jointness, synergy and cooperation.”
10. By pooling together, the collective resources and comparative advantages of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, we hope the enemy will now feel the ferocity of our firepower and the weight of our resolve.
11. Side by side with the efforts of the Armed Forces and security agencies, this Administration is developing a strategy for post-war reconstruction and peace-building. Concerted efforts are being made to fast-track re-construction and development programmes in the affected communities in the North East.
12. I am hopeful that this will lead to the speedy resettlement of displaced persons, as well as the restoration of bubbling community life as the people return to their homes.
13. Alongside investment in development and reconstruction, we will sustain our investment in the Armed Forces in a manner that balances the “carrot and stick”.
14. Several interventions by this government have led to the procurement and delivery of large consignments of critical combat enablers, including high calibre weapons and ammunition.
15. Many have been injected into the Theatre and soon other equipment that have just arrived the country would also be deployed to the Theatre of operations. Much more equipment will be procured for the Armed Forces to cater for both the short and long-term requirements.
16. I would like, at this point to also commend the hierarchy of our Armed Forces for their strategic foresight in ensuring that some of our critical military equipment are fabricated locally.
17. The repairs and maintenance of some of these vital weapons are now being carried out in the country thereby saving the nation a lot of foreign exchange and also creating jobs for our teeming population.
18. As personnel of our Armed Forces and security agencies, you must understand that these items of equipment must be put to good use against the terrorists and other criminal elements. There is no room for complacency, and no need to be less than 100 per cent alert at all times.
19. As your Commander-in-Chief, I want to assure you that this government will continue to work towards the provision of timely funding and procurement of equipment for the Armed Forces and other security agencies. This is intended to boost the prosecution of the ongoing war to a logical conclusion and also to serve our collective interests and well-being.
20. In addition, your welfare is of utmost importance and concern to this government. I am glad that the gradual rotation of the troops in the field has commenced, as I directed. I am sure that this will minimize and possibly eliminate battle fatigue, as well as enhance troops’ morale.
21. I now wish to thank you for your unalloyed loyalty and selfless sacrifices towards the defence of our country. Your courage and gallantry will continue to inspire others, as they echo into the future.
22. While I commend your resilience, let me remind you that there is still a lot of work to be done, to completely restore peace to the North East, stem the activities of armed bandits in the North West and North Central, as well as deal with other security challenges across the country.
23. You must therefore remain steadfast and see this war to a conclusive end. In doing so, you must rely on interagency cooperation, strengthen your cohesion with the troops of neighboring Republics of Cameroon, Chad and Niger in our collective fight against the terrorists, under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force. This will consolidate our efforts and facilitate the speedy return of peace and stability to the region.
24.Once again I salute your courage and wish you the best, as you continue to make Nigeria proud.
God bless you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
UK PM Johnson’s Party Loses Out At Election
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered an embarrassing defeat in a election on the outskirts of London on Friday, when his governing Conservative Party lost a previously safe parliamentary seat to the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives had comfortably held Chesham and Amersham constituency in southern England since its creation in 1974, capturing more than 50% of the vote on every occasion.
At the last poll in 2019, Conservative Cheryl Gillan, who died this year, won by a majority of 16,223 votes.
Since a divisive referendum in 2016, Brexit has helped reshape Britain’s political landscape, with people switching party loyalties in a way not seen for generations. Support for the Conservatives has surged in northern England.
On Wednesday, Sarah Green, the candidate for the Liberal Democrats won a majority of 8,028 votes over the Conservative candidate. The main opposition Labour Party came fourth, with 1.6% of the vote, its worst showing in decades.
Johnson said it was a “disappointing result”, suggesting there were “particular circumstances” in the area and “it was a bit bizarre” to suggest his party were on the back foot.
But Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said it was a sign of things to come, with his party ousting the Conservatives from traditional strongholds in England’s affluent south.
The result may cause some nervousness in the Conservative Party, which has targeted traditional Labour-supporting voters in northern England but, according to some of its lawmakers, has increasingly ignored its strongholds in the south.
UN Calls For Halt Of Flow Of Weapons To Myanmar
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The General Assembly adopted a resolution with the support of 119 countries some four months after the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in a coup.
Belarus requested the text be put to a vote and was the only country to oppose it, while 36 abstained, including China and Russia. The remaining 37 General Assembly members did not vote.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier on Friday pushed the General Assembly to act, stating that one cannot live in a world where military coups become a norm.
The military cited the government’s refusal to address what it said was fraud in a November election as the reason for the coup even though International observers have said the ballot was fair.
An initial draft UN resolution included stronger language calling for an arms embargo on Myanmar. According to a proposal seen by Reuters last month, nine Southeast Asian countries wanted that language removed.
General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but carry political weight. Unlike the 15-member Security Council, no country has veto power in the General Assembly.
The junta’s forces have killed more than 860 people since the February 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The junta claims the number is much lower.
The UN resolution calls on the Myanmar military to “immediately stop all violence against peaceful protesters” and end restrictions on the internet and social media.
