Sidon library reopens with new resources, including Internet access
Posted by don at
A ceremony was held Thursday to celebrate the reopening of Sidon’s public library after several years’ closure, after it received additional books, reference materials, computers and Internet access.
Wanted: internet workers earn $1500-2500/month working part time on internet.
Posted by don at
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Jordan: Telecom companies offer to provide free Internet to schools
Posted by don at
Telecommunication companies operating in the Kingdom on Monday expressed their readiness to provide schools with “free access” to the Internet as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Internet at all schools, accessible database on pupil progress
Posted by don at
Saudi Ministry of Education is to introduce soon its new Education Administration program entailing Internet services at all schools and a central database permitting children and parents to follow school pupil academic progress.
Kuwait signs two educational MoUs with Hong Kong
Posted by redrose64 at
30 June 2010
KUALA LUMPUR — Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two universities in Hong Kong, Kuwait Consul General to Hong Kong Bader Al-Tuneib said.
The treaties, aimed at boosting cooperation in the fields of research and scholarships, was signed by Al-Tuneib, representative of Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education Dr. Ahmad Al-Athari, and the deans of University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The agreements would prove fruitful as they will help exchange expertise with time-honored universities, Al-Tuneib told KUNA over the phone.
The MoUs are directed towards boosting visits between officials of the domain in both sides which will be reflected on scientific researches, studies and student activities, he said. Kuwaiti Consulate in Hong Kong presents Kuwaitis willing to persue their education in Hong Kong with the help needed, he added.
By Abdullah Boqus
© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2010
720 urban projects worth SR1.6 trillion under way
Posted by redrose64 at
01 July 2010
RIYADH – About 720 urban projects including residential and commercial buildings and projects in the sectors of education, health care and recreation are being executed in the Kingdom with a cost of more than SR1.6 trillion.
These projects constitute 25 percent of the construction and urban movement in the Arabian Gulf, which puts the country on top of region’s construction markets.
The increasing attention paid to the Saudi Construction Exhibition 2010 an international exhibition on construction technology and materials to be held from Oct. 18 to 21 and to the Saudi Exhibition for Stone Technology 2010, to be held at the same time, reflects the pioneering position of the Kingdom’s construction markets. The two exhibitions, to be organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company will be convened with the participation of 42 national pavilions. The international participation has recorded a 12 percent increase with the expected first-time participation of Belgium, Egypt, United Kingdom, France and Taiwan.
Shahid Bahti, Director of the two exhibitions at Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said several confirmations for participation have been received.
He said the local construction sector grew by 3.9 percent last year during the global economic crisis, adding that with positive expectations for the global economy this year, “we expect local and international investment in one of the strongest sectors in the Kingdom (construction and real estate development) to increase.”
By Nawwaf Afit
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
Secondary teachers to suspend boycott after compromise deal
Posted by redrose64 at
02 July 2010
BEIRUT: The Secondary Teachers Association (STA) will suspend boycotting the correction of Grade 12 official exams starting from Saturday, according to Education Minister Hassan Mneimneh.
He made the announcement on Thursday after attending a meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a delegation from the STA’s administrative committees headed by the body’s chief Hanna Gharib, a delegation from Vocational Training Teachers Association headed by George Qalosh along with members from Association of Private School Teachers led by Nehmeh Mahfoud.
Mneimneh said Hariri and the teachers has reached an agreement by which vocational and secondary teachers would be granted a 4.5- level promotion, adding that the settlement would be considered valid starting from January 1, 2010.
Mneimneh said the money payments required in accordance with the promotion would be paid over two installments per year.
The STA members have been demanding salary increases that would dramatically improve their professional ranking by seven levels, but the Cabinet has said it would only approve a limited pay increase matching a 4-level promotion.
The STA earlier reversed a decision to boycott the setting of standards for correcting, as well as the correction of Grade 9 official exams. It said it was ready to take a similar move with regard to Grade 12 official exams, should their demands be met soon. Teachers have also expressed their full readiness for dialogue with the Cabinet.
Earlier this week, talks were held between Mneimneh and Gharib with no positive results.
After the meeting, Gharib announced that the STA would boycott setting standards for correcting along with correcting Grade 12 official exams.
Delegations from parental committees have repeatedly visited Mneimenh’s office protesting STA’s escalatory move and expressing concern over the academic future of their children who had taken Grade 12 official exams.
In response, Gharib has always assured parents that teachers would devote extra hours to correct the exams once a solution was reached.
“We hope that teachers will fulfill their previous promise and accelerate the correction [of exams],” said Mneimneh.
Meanwhile, Gharib said the deal was a settlement “that enabled STA teachers to gain one-third of their demands.”
“But this agreement will not be put into effect if it does not receive the approval of testing committees, and correctors who will meet in a general assembly [tomorrow],” added Gharib.
Gharib said the STA’s executive committee had not suspended its decision to boycott setting standards for correcting along with correcting Grade 12 official exams, but would recommend that STA’s central council of delegates and correctors suspend the boycott starting from Saturday morning
“[STA’s] executive committee is called to meet tomorrow [Friday] to discuss this recommendation in light of the agreement that we will forward to it,” said Gharib.
Mahfoud said the solution was a compromise that pleased all sides, voicing his belief that teachers had not received all their rights.
“This solution guarantees part of the teachers’ rights, ensures that students will receive their [official] certificates as soon as possible, and takes into consideration the economic situation in the country,” he said.
Separately, Hariri received a delegation from the General Labor Confederation (GLC) headed by its Chief Ghassan Ghosn. The meeting was attended by the ministerial committee tasked with studying demands of the GLC.
The committee comprised Finance Minister Rayya Hassan, Economy Minister Mohammad Safadi, Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish, Labor Minister Butros Harb and ministers of state Youssef Saade and Adnan al-Qassar.
Earlier, the GLC revoked a call for a general strike that was to be held on June 17 in protest against the economic policy of the government, which the GLC said relied heavily on taxation.
The protest was cancelled after the formation of the ministerial committee by the Cabinet.
© Copyright The Daily Star 2010.
