Archives: November 2009

30 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Zimbabwe University Not Giving Certificates

Author: transcriptresearch

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has apparently misplaced an unknown number of its university certificates.  As a result, many students are unable to continue their studies or apply for permanent jobs because they don’t hold the degree certificate from the degree they completed. The university says that delays with printing and financial issues are temporary and will be resolved soon.  No date is given for the expected resolution, and no numbers are available to indicate how many students have been affected.

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=10782

27 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Philippines Nursing Schools in Manila

Author: transcriptresearch

Over 150 nursing schools in Manila have been told to increase licensing exam passing rates or face closure.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has issued preliminary warnings to roughly 1/3 of the existing 456 nursing schools whose passing  rates over the last five years have fallen below the minimum requirements of the Professional Regulatory Commission.  CHEd says this measure will allow students to choose the best schools while also eliminating financial burdens on the state by having unqualified graduates.  Schools whose last 3 years’ worth of passing rates that are above a 50% pass rate but below the national average will be downgraded while those with a 0% passing rate will be closed.  In a like manner, CHEd closed down several law schools last month that failed to meet standards in licensure exams.  The article concludes with a list of recently closed nursing programs and a list of the top 20 nursing schools in the country.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/231186/152-nursing-schools-told-improve-or-else

26 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

"Fake" Diplomas in China

Author: transcriptresearch

More than 12,000 primary and middle school teachers in Hubei Province, China, have received diplomas that are recognized only by Hubei Province.  It appears that the 2-year, online diploma program from Hubei Provincial College (now upgraded to Hubei University of Education) and sponsored by the Hubei Department of Education was not certified by the Ministry of Education.  Students were assured that their diplomas would be recognized, but the Ministry of Education will not verify diplomas earned from this program, which was canceled after being offered for only three years.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/25714/

25 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

South African Exam Fraud

Author: transcriptresearch

Twelve people have been arrested this week in a scandal related to the matriculation examination in South Africa.  Exam papers that were leaked – mathematics 1 and 2, accounting, and physical science 1 and 2 – have already been rewritten.  Most of those arrested are facing criminal charges, and an internal investigation is ongoing.  Among those arrested are an education specialist (who was the overseer for receiving & distributing exam papers), a typist in the examination authority’s office, a teacher, an internet cafe proprietor, a retail employee, and a couple of students.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1091138

24 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Canada Needs National Standards for HEIs

Author: transcriptresearch

The Canadian Council on Learning recently released a report indicating that Canadians need a uniform measurement by which they can judge and compare tertiary-level institutions.  Their study suggests that Canadians are unable to identify quality programs and institutions due to this lack of comparability; that same lack may hinder the country’s ability to attract international students while also decreasing mobility of Canadian tertiary students.  The article points out that each Canadian province handles education separately (and differently), citing specific examples such as transferability of vocational college credits and the uniqueness of CEGEPs.

It will be interesting to see how (or if) education in Canada changes in the coming years to reflect this stated need.

http://www.canada.com/Report+urges+national+standards+colleges+universities/2261409/story.html

22 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Secondary Ed Reform in India

Author: transcriptresearch

India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced several education reforms in line with the major overhaul of education planned by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Class X Exams will be abolished after 2010 for students who plan to continue secondary education after Class X.  Instead, students leaving ninth standard would fall under new a new grading system with new regulations, including both formative and summative evaluation systems to test students on the secondary curriculum and sit written exams.  Students would need a D grade to be promoted to Class X (though second chances are built into the system), and students will have question papers for the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation instead of the current Class X Exams.  The new evaluation will be handled by the individual schools rather than states.  Those students who do plan to continue secondary studies after tenth standard will be expected to take aptitude tests in different streams to focus on their higher education preparation.

http://90paisa.blogspot.com/2009/11/central-board-of-secondary-education.html

http://voiceofsikkim.com/2009/11/21/sikkim-begins-work-on-new-education-system/

21 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Proposed Cayman Reforms

Author: transcriptresearch

Cayman Island’s Ministry of Education has announced a proposed reform of secondary education to be launched in September 2010.   The new Education Modernisation Law is expected to completely reform the education system by preparing students better for work or further education through a variety of strategies.

A major element of the proposed changes centers on the extension of compulsory education beyond examinations after Year 11; studies will continue for another ‘bridge’ year post-CXC/GCSE exams.  This additional mandatory year will provide options to further prepare  students for a variety of paths: AP/IB diploma programs, foundation programs for students wanting to improve their results, and technical and vocational programs with work-based training.

Another new component of the reform includes the creation of two ‘all through’ high schools that will replace the two existing schools that separate middle school and high school.  The ‘all through’ schools will cover grades 7 through 11 (ages 11 to 16).  A new core curriculum will also be introduced requiring all pupils to study the basic English, math, and science courses as well as IT, social studies, and religious studies.  Technical subjects are being added to the core curriculum that focus on subjects relevant to the Caymanian economy: tourism & leisure, catering, health & social care, and music technology.

More information can be found online at http://www.caymannetnews.com/news-19315–1-1—.html

20 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

German Students Protest

Author: transcriptresearch

Germany joins the list of countries who have protested education in 2009.  Tens of thousands of students from all over the country have been demonstrating, protesting, and assembling around the clock.   Students are protesting new tuition fees now being charged at some universities as well as Germany’s implementation of Bologna-compliant degrees which follow a US model of Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degrees.  There are also mentions of possible walkouts in France (whose students have been striking on and off this year about their country’s higher education reforms) and Austria as well.   Students are concerned about the Bologna degrees because they fear the new 3-year Bachelor/2-year Master structure will reduce their employment opportunities because employers will feel the bachelor degrees will be worthless.  German students will be entering higher education earlier since secondary education will now end after 12 years rather than 13, and they will complete their first level university degree in three years rather than five from the previous system.  In addition, students are concerned that the implementation of the new degree structure has not been handled well because reduced class sizes, improved teaching quality, and more financing to universities and needy students hasn’t been implemented yet.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4901195,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/world/europe/20germanedu.html?_r=2

19 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Taiwan to Recognize Mainland Degrees

Author: transcriptresearch

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education is currently working on a policy that will recognize degrees conferred by the top 41 of  mainland China’s major universities as the initial stage of their new recognition policy.  One of the major issues that needs to be worked out is determining at what point, retroactively, the degrees will be validated. Initial discussions indicate that degrees will be retroactive up to 1997, but that date will be determined after much examination and feedback.

In addition, the Ministry is planning to open Taiwan’s higher education institutions to Chinese students as early as June 2010, so they need to reciprocally accept Chinese diplomas and degrees as recognized.   The current plan is that holders of a Chinese bachelor degree will be eligible to pursue graduate studies at Taiwanese public universities, and Taiwanese private universities will be able to accept both undergraduate and graduate students from the mainland.  Quotas and unemployment are areas of concern discussed in the China Post article, and in-state and out-of-state tuition structures are discussed in the Taiwan Today article.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2009/11/19/233317/MOE-works.htm

http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=78866&CtNode=414

14 Nov 2009, Comments (0)

Test for Afghan Teachers

Author: transcriptresearch

This article is a very interesting  write-up of the current teaching standards in war-torn Afghanistan.  It’s a very good read, but it basically states that the country was so desperate for teachers after the overthrow of the Taliban that it accepted pretty much all comers.  The government wants to improve the teaching requirements, but they can’t get the funding they need from outside sources without providing a clearer depiction of how much is actually needed.  As a result, they have designed a test for teachers that will be done in waves.  This first wave will test only those teachers who have at least 2 years of post-secondary education high school – only about 25% of current teachers – to determine additional training for those who need and pay raises for those who deserve it.  Currently, most teachers hold second jobs in order to make ends meet, and teaching is not their priority.  Sunday’s exam will test general knowledge, pedagogy, and subject competency.  The remaining 120,000+ secondary school graduates who are now teachers will be tested later.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1113/p06s17-wosc.html

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