News, Information and Useful Links for Education from
the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
Effective literacy programmes: options for policy-makers has been issued by the International Institute for Education Planning, a centre for training and research created by UNESCO. The booklet (pdf)looks at different options available to to education policy-makers to improve the level of adult literacy in their own countries.
(Spotted on UN Pulse Alerts)
The Sociology of Education Research Network "aims at enhancing cooperation between sociologists of education in Europe". Entry to the site is by registration only. There is a discussion forum and news and events information.
(from Intute.ac.uk)
Google are inviting South African children and teenagers (4 - 17) to design their own interpretation of the Google homepage logo, a "Google doodle." This is around the theme "I love football".
The winning doodle will be featured on http://www.google.co.za for 24 hours during June 2010, and will be entered in the worldwide Doodle 4 Google - I love football contest.
Here are the full details (including the official rules.)
The Sunday Times (4 April 2010) reported that three million learners in public schools will have to write national exams in key subjects in an attempt to improve literacy and numeracy skills.
<snip>
All pupils in grades 3 and 6 will write tests in numeracy and literacy that will be externally set and independently moderated in November this year, while Grade 9s will be tested in maths, English and Afrikaans.
The new National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU) will be responsible for the administration of the tests.
<snip>
... her department would ensure that teachers spent enough time on reading lessons.
Her department was working with non-governmental organisations such as Read and Molteno to help re-skill teachers on methods of teaching reading and writing.