Arizona Expands Private School Tuition Tax Credits

Taxpayers receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction on their taxes for up to $750 donated to a school tuition organization.

Arizona is expanding its private school tuition tax creditsonly a day after the U.S. Supreme Court found the program legal, The Arizona Republic reports. In a bill passed by a 27-1 vote, the state Senate has increased donation limits from $500 to $750. The bill also removes donation limits for corporations and insurance companies.

The tax credits allow Arizona taxpayers to divert their income to school tuition organizations and get a dollar-for-dollar reduction on their taxes. According to The Republic, state residents moved $51 million in such a way in 2009. According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, the limit increases will have an impact on the state income tax and state, county and local severance tax collections, reducing them by $25 million and $29 million respectively.

Supporters of the program say it is a money-saving measure for the fiscally crippled state, because it saves the school system $5,200 for every student that transfers out of a public school.

A fiscal analysis of the bill noted that the state would break even from the proposed changes if about 3,300 students transferred to private schools in 2012.

source:http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/153306.html

Onus on principals to bring back drop-outs

Alarmed over the staggering number of childrenwho are not attending schools, the Rajasthan government has directed that each government principal be given a target to bring back students who have dropped out.

According to a child tracking system (CTS) survey conducted by the state's education department, 1.2 million students are out of schools in Rajasthan. And the state's Directorate of Primary Education in Bikaner moved last week to rectify the situation.

"District education officers (DEO) have been asked to provide the list of drop-out children to government schoolprincipals in each district," a senior education departmentofficer told the sources.

"Based on the ratio of drop-out children and thegovernment teachers in each school, the teachers will be given targets. They will have to bring these children to schools," he explained. 

It will be the responsibility of the principals to ensure that children who get admission in their schools stay till they complete the education, he added.

"The orders regarding this were issued on Saturday," he said.

The directorate also plans to run special drives to bring drop-out children to school from May 1 to May 16 and July 1 to July 15 this year.

"We have sought permission regarding this from the state government and the programme details will be announced as soon as we get the nod," said the officer. 

According to the CTS survey, at least 30,996 children between the age group 6-14 are not going to school in the state capital Jaipur alone. 

Child rights activists in the state say the orders will have to be implemented strictly for positive results.

"It is still not clear what action will be taken against the teachers who fail to meet the given targets," said Vikram Sharma, an activist.

source:http://www.indiaedunews.net/Rajasthan/Onus_on_principals_to_bring_back_drop-outs_13691/

Five Maoists among 82 prisoners writing Bengal board exams

Kolkata: Eighty two prisoners, including five Maoists, lodged in various correctional homes in West Bengal appeared in the state's secondary board examination that started Wednesday, an official said.

"Altogether, 82 prison inmates have appeared in the West Bengal Board of Secondary Examination - Madhyamik examination. This is a record in the history of correctional home services department of the state. Last year, only eight prison inmates appeared for the secondary examination," said Additional Director General and Inspector General of Police (correctional services) B.D. Sharma.

The written examination of Madhyamik will continue till March 7. Around 10.04 lakh examinees, of whom more than 50 percent are girls, Wednesday appeared in the first language paper.convict

Of the 82 inmates, five were Maoists.

"Maoist leader Santosh Debnath (55), arrested six years ago, is appearing in the exam from Presidency Correctional Home, while Sukhshanti Baskey, the treasurer of the pro-Maoist tribal body - PCAPA (People's Committee Against Police Atrocities), and his three associates Prasanto Mahato, Dhritiranjan Mahato and Bikash Mahato lodged in Midnapore Central Correctional Home are also appearing for the exam," Sharma told the sources over phone.

"Of the 82 inmates, 11 are women. Most of the inmates are aged life convicts. The convicts and the undertrials wanted to study and they were provided with books by the correctional home authorities," he added

source:http://indiaedunews.net/West_Bengal/Five_Maoists_among_82_prisoners_writing_Bengal_board_exams_13580/

Education unions prepare for life after Mubarak

Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down as the President of Egypt. In an announcement on state TV, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said Mr Mubarak has handed power to the military.

It came as thousands massed in Cairo and other Egyptian cities for an 18th day of protest to demand Mr Mubarak's resignation.

Protesters responded by cheering, waving flags, embracing and sounding car horns. "The people have brought down the regime," they chanted.

Mr Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the high command of the armed forces.

As the political situation unfolds in Egypt, EI expresses its support to the independent trade union movement in their demands for democracy, social justice and trade union rights.

EI has been in daily contact with representatives of the independent union under the umbrella of the Egyptian Federation of Independent Unions. This group was formed on 30 January 2011 by the Teachers’ Independent Union, the Retired Workers’ Union, the Health Professionals’ Union and the Tax Collectors’ Union.

During the pro-democracy actions that led to President Mubarak’s departure, Egyptian public sector institutions, such as education and the postal services, had come to near standstill in protest against his regime.

On Tuesday 8 February, the day of global solidarity with Egypt, EI joined the ITUC’s international trade union delegation to the Egyptian Embassy in Brussels.

ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, was joined by EI Deputy General Secretary, Jan Eastman, and representatives of the three Belgian trade union centres.

EI will continue to support the independent union movement in their effort to be effective players in the transformation of Egypt, and intends to lead an EI delegation to Cairo in the week ahead to identify the support and solidarity its member organisations can bring to teachers across the country.

 

source:http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=1515&theme=rights&country=egypt