New Research Paper Claims Academic Selection Traumatic For Children

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March 23, 2021

According to a briefing paper from Ulster University’s (UU) Unesco Education Centre, academic selection is traumatic for many children, creating damage which often endures into adulthood.

The paper argues that academic selection benefits a few generally already privileged pupils while damaging the life-chances of a large proportion of the school population.

Most Northern Ireland grammar schools use tests run by the AQE and PPTC to select pupils.

However, the tests were cancelled in 2021 due to disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.

One Belfast grammar school, St Mary’s Christian Brothers, recently said it would not use academic selection to admit pupils in 2022.

Researchers from the Unesco Centre of Education at UU have produced a number of briefing papers which examine aspects of Northern Ireland’s education system.

They trace the origins of the current form of academic selection back to the Northern Ireland Education Act of 1947.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin Says Constant Votes Very Troubling

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Elizabeth Williams

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March 23, 2021

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Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday urged the public not to be disheartened by the fourth round of elections in just two years, and called on citizens to exercise their right to try to break through the political deadlock.

For his part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped this would prove “the last election” of the two-year political crisis.

Rivlin, who voted at a balloting station set up in a school in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood of Jerusalem, stressed the importance of the democratic process.

“I am doing this for the last time as president, but also as a very concerned citizen,” he said. “Even in the midst of the great difficulties we are in, elections for the Knesset are the holy of holies of our democracy.”

The president lamented that four rounds of voting in relatively quick succession were “harming public faith in the democratic process, but the power to influence is only in your hands. There is no other way.”

Many party leaders and prominent politicians voted early and likewise urged the public to participate in the election, while some warned of the dire consequences of a failure to back their parties.

Other right-wing party leaders also cast their votes in the hours after polling booths opened at 7 a.m.

Religious Zionism’s Bezalel Smotrich, voting in the West Bank settlement of Kedumim, expressed optimism that a right-wing government headed by Netanyahu was within reach.

Harmonised Retirement Age: Basic School Non-Academic Staff Union Protest Non-inclusion

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Precious Obazee

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March 23, 2021

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Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, have commenced a three day nationwide protest to pressure the Federal Government to include non teaching staff in primary and post primary schools in the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill (2021).

The Bill is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment into law.

The Federal Government had excluded non teaching staff in a planned legislation to extend the retirement age of teachers to 65 years and the years of service to 40 years from the current 35 years as well as special salary scale and enhanced allowances.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari during the Teachers Day in 2020 announced the new incentives for teachers in public basic and secondary schools in Nigeria.

Addressing a protest at the National Assembly complex Abuja, Monday, the NASU FCT council chairman, Adebola Bamidele, said since the announcement by President Buhari the non teaching staff have been pushing for their inclusion in the new condition of service.

He said non teaching staff deserved to be included in the new condition of service as they are the engine room in schools.

He called on the Federal Government to include the Non-Teaching staff in the approved Special Teacher Pension Scheme to guarantee better welfare for them in retirement and also extend their retirement age to 65 years and length of service to 40 years.

The Union urged the federal and state governments to put an end to what it described as all discriminatory industrial relations practices against the Non-Teaching staff in the primary and post primary schools system.

Israelis In Another Round Of Polls For Fourth Time In Two Years

By

Elizabeth Williams

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March 23, 2021

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Israeli Prime Minister and head of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu casts his vote, together with his wife Sara Netanyahu at a voting station in Jerusalem, during the Knesset Elections, on March 23, 2021. Photo by Marc Israel Sellem/POOL *** Local Caption *** מצביע בחירות כנסת הצבעה קלפי ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו שרה

Israelis go to the polls Tuesday for the fourth time in two years. But while the main issue in each of these elections has been to decide the fate of a single man, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the political landscape has meanwhile been shifting significantly, primarily toward the right.

In each of the previous contests, Netanyahu’s main opposition was from a large centrist party, while he represented a fairly united coalition of right-wing and religious parties, but now the right itself is split, with several parties vowing never to join a coalition with him in it.

Less than two weeks before Israelis vote in their fourth election in two years, a poll released Wednesday shows no clear path to Knesset majority for either major bloc. Four parties are teetering on the verge of the 3.25-percent electoral threshold, and any one of them that eventually end up out of the Israeli parliament after March 23 could tip the balance.

Personal details of all Israeli voters again leaked online, day before election

Personal details of all voters were published online Monday, in another massive leak of Israelis’ personal information before Knesset elections.

The data breach was apparently linked to the Elector app, which was blamed for previous leaks when it was being used by the ruling Likud party to boost turnout.

The Haaretz daily reported that on Monday, a day before the fourth national elections in two years, some journalists received a link to the database on Ghostbin, a website that allows people to post anonymous messages.

The anonymous uploaders — identified as “The Israeli Autumn” — reportedly said they were “forced” to release the information due to the failure of authorities to deal with Elector. They did not provide evidence that the information originated from Elector.

Many party leaders and prominent politicians voted early and likewise urged the public to participate in the election, while some warned of the dire consequences of a failure to back their parties.

Netanyahu voted at another school polling station in Jerusalem, where he called on everyone to vote but refused to predict the results.

“This is a festival for democracy,” Netanyahu said alongside his wife, Sara. “This is a happy country. Israel is a country where people are smiling.”

“I hope this is the last election,” he added, referring to this being the fourth vote in two years.

Bulgaria to Expel Two Russian Diplomats Accused of Espionage

By

Elizabeth Williams

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March 23, 2021

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Bulgaria’s foreign ministry announced Two Russian diplomats accused by Bulgarian prosecutors of espionage Monday will be expelled from the country .

The ministry said that the Russian Embassy in the capital, Sofia, has been notified that the diplomats have to leave Bulgaria within 72 hours.

Earlier on Monday, prosecutors said in a statement that a pre-trial investigation established that “two Russian citizens with diplomatic immunity have carried out illegal intelligence activities.”

The expulsions are linked to a raid last week that saw authorities detain six people and charge them with delivering classified NATO-linked information to the Russian embassy in Sofia. Later, one of them offered to cooperate with the authorities and was released on bail.

The Sofia Military Court on Monday extended the pretrial detention of the five suspects still in custody. All are current and former Bulgarian military officials.

Prosecution spokeswoman Siika Mileva said the alleged ringleader had graduated from the intelligence school in Moscow run by Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.

The operation sparked immediate reactions at home and abroad.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov called on Russia to stop spying on his country.

Last year, Bulgaria expelled five Russian diplomats whom prosecutors had accused of spying. Among them was Russia’s military attaché, who had allegedly been coordinating the military intelligence spy network in Bulgaria.

Nollywood Actress Omotola Celebrates 25th Marriage Anniversary, Husband On His Birthday

By

Koko Lawrence

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March 23, 2021

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Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has taken to her social media page to celebrate her husband, Capt. Matthew Ekeinde on their 25th wedding anniversary.

The super-talented personality and mother of four, who recently had her name trademarked, penned down a brief yet weighty message to mark their silver jubilee in marriage.

She also posted a fascinating picture to that effect captioned: “25 Years Strong! Happy Marriage Anniversary to us.”

Meanwhile, she has also posted lovely pictures to celebrate her husband’s 53rd birthday, which obviously coincides with their anniversary.

The award-winning actress wrote: “Happy birthday to a Rare kind of Man.

“You need to be studied.

“YOUR Type is probably One in a Century.

“Live Long King!

“Love you forever My Captain.”

Secrets Of 2,500-Year-Old Carpet’s Vivid Colors Revealed

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Angel Gimalo

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March 23, 2021

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Despite its intensive use and the fact that it was buried in harsh conditions for almost 2,500 years, Pazyryk carpet remaining strong colors have puzzled scientists since its discovery in 1949.

This intricate Pazyryk carpet dates back to the 3rd century BC.

But now, thanks to modern science the secrets of its vivid colors have been revealed.

Using hi-resolution x-ray microscopy, a team of researchers found out that its wool was fermented under special conditions that enabled the dye to stain the wool hair very deeply.

The discovery is groundbreaking as textile dyeing is not only one of the oldest crafts in human civilization, its also a combination of biotechnology and material science.

Tertiary Institutions: Nigerian Senate Expresses Commitment Towards Addressing infrastructure Decay

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Precious Obazee

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March 23, 2021

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The Senate in Nigeria has expressed commitment towards addressing infrastructure decay in tertiary institutions across the country.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund, Senator Ahmed Kaita, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a public hearing on four bills in the education sector.

The public hearing was organised by the Committee towards enriching the bills through inputs from stakeholders in the sector.

The bills include -A bill for an Act to abolish and prohibit discrimination between first decree and Higher National Diplomas (HND) holders for the purpose of employment in Nigeria.

A Bill for an Act to establish Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba, Kogi.

A Bill for an Act to establish the Steel University Ajaokuta and Other Matters Connected.

A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Education, Ankpa, to take over assets and liabilities including staff of Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa.

Kaita said the public hearing was designed to aggregate stakeholders’ opinion for legislations on the bills.

He said that the committee did not receive any opposing memorandum on the bill for an act to abolish and prohibit discrimination between first decree and HND holders.

He assured that the senate would do its best to ensure passage of the bill.

Sponsor of the bill for an act to establish federal university of agriculture, Kabba, Kogi, Sen. Smart Adeyemi (APC- Kogi) said the public hearing was to articulate the need to upgrade the Kabba College of Agriculture to a full-fledged University.

He said the college was established in 1964 to meet the man-power needs of the agricultural sector of the Northern Nigeria.

Adeyemi said there was need to diversify the economy by paying attention to the development of the agricultural sector.

North Korean Businessman Indicted On Six Counts Of Money Laundering

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Angel Gimalo

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March 23, 2021

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A North Korean businessman accused of money laundering appeared in a U.S. courtroom Monday after his extradition from Malaysia.

The Justice Department says Mun Chol-myong, the first North Korean ever extradited to the U.S. has been indicted on six counts of money laundering.

His court appearance comes a matter of days after North Korea severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia, protesting the Southeast Asian country’s decision to pack Mun off to the U.S.

American officials say Mun was aiming to evade both U.S. and UN sanctions with his actions.

Seoul Ready For Mayoral By-Election

By

Angel Gimalo

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March 23, 2021

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An early voting will be held for the Seoul mayoral election next Friday and Saturday April 2nd and 3rd.

If one is eligible as a Seoul resident, the individual can cast a ballot at one of the 424 polling stations throughout the country.

On election day, however, citizens can only vote at their designated site.

Those quarantined at home can vote by mail or, if asymptomatic, go to a polling station in their own car or on foot as long as they’re back home within 30 minutes.

If in a quarantine facility, there’ll be voting booths set up.