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

NCPCR seeks redressal mechanism for RTE law

New Delhi: The absence of a clear grievanceredressal structure for the Right To Education (RTE) law was questioned on Thursday by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The NCPCR is the apex body that ensures the implementation of the RTE Act in the country. 

It has been a year since the law had been brought to action in India. However, the NCPCR has cited the lethargy on the part of most state governments that have failed to notify key rules for the successful implementation of the RTE.

National RTE Coordinator at the NCPCR Kiran Bhatty said that there was definite tardiness in the implementation of the act. "We have written to the state governments repeatedly and would still keep on writing to them," she said. 

Guidelines for a redressal mechanism for the RTE have also been proposed by the NCPCR to theHuman Resource Development (HRD) ministry. These guidelines are currently being examined by the law ministry. 

According to the RTE Act, the NCPCR, chaired by Magsaysay Award winner Shantha Sinha, is the watchdog body for the implementation of the right to education all over the country. The NCPCR had been given the role with the aim to ensure and the implementation of and independently monitor the law instead of the HRD ministry.

Section 36 of the RTE Act says that the state governments are required to appoint designated local authorities who are empowered to sanction prosecution of school or government officials for conducting screening tests, corporal punishments or running unrecognized schools.

Vinod Raina, a member of the National Advisory Council on the RTE Act has informed that only 13 of the 36 states and union territories have notified about the rules accompanying the Act or notified the authorities.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Today/NCPCR_seeks_redressal_mechanism_for_RTE_law_13787/

France: Teachers reaffirm their commitment to solidarity and social justice

French teacher unions have issued a joint statement following on the recent district elections in France, which have seen a growth in support for the far right party, the National Front, asserting that “educators oppose the policies of the extreme right.“

In the declaration, EI’s French affiliates, the SGEN-CFDT, the UNSA Education, the FSU (union federation to which the SNEP, the SNES, the SNETAP and the SNUipp belong) and the FERC-CGT, said that “education staff teach co-operation and exchange; we work towards education and empowerment for all young people. That is why we cannot remain passive when the far right’s ideas gain support within the population.”

The unions also added that “the far right promotes hatred between ethnic groups and continually and unacceptably links immigration to insecurity. It seizes opportunities given by the effects of the economic and social crises, which increase inequalities and social injustices, to resort to scapegoating and pit one group against another.”

The unions also stated that “as educators, we promote the Republic’s values daily; as unionists, our struggle is guided by the values of solidarity and social justice.”

EI joins its member organisations in their uncompromising defence of education as a public service available to all.

source:http://www.ei-ie.org/news/news_details/1759

International teacher trade unionists gather to debate ‘building the future through quality education for all

EI President, Susan Hopgood, and General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, are joined by the heads of South Africa’s largest education unions: SADTU, SAOU and NAPTOSA, and 42 of the most influential teacher union leaders from around the world. They will work together to use their expertise to review global developments in education policy; deliberate best practices to recruit, prepare and support teachers in ways that enhance the profession, and debate how to elevate student performance by access to quality public education for all.

The meeting will also identify the role of teacher unions in reforms and take strategic decisions on EI activity in coming months as it builds up to the sixth EI World Congress which takes place at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre from 22-26 July. The Congress will set out EI’s activity over the next 4 years and elect the global union’s new leaders.

EI President, Susan Hopgood, said: “The Executive Board and Congress are global forums in which teachers and education union leaders meet on the basis of shared interest and partnership to discuss how the confidence, learning and status of teachers can be enhanced. The future of all children and young people depends on qualified and motivated teachers. Our time in Cape Town is an opportunity to set a clear framework for how we achieve this.”

SADTU General Secretary, Mugwene Maluleke, said: “The global economic crisis emerged in financial markets in the developed world but continues to spread and impact in a myriad of ways on both developing and developed nations. EI’s work has shown that the impact of the global economic crisis has not been consistent across countries and within regions. Consequently, the effects on education sectors from early childhood through to higher education have been varied and heavily dependent on policies adopted by governments. The solutions to social, economic and environmental crises have to be global and must engage teachers who are often on the front line of enabling recovery.”

NAPTOSA General Secretary, Henry Hendricks, said: “We are proud to welcome teachers from around the world to our country and the Mother City, Cape Town. While enjoying the obvious charms of the city and its hinterland, delegates will address the many challenges facing education in South Africa as well as in other developing and developed countries. We are convinced that this Congress will be a water-shed that will set the platform to transform education in countries across the globe. We look forward with eager anticipation to working with our colleagues from all over the world in finding the solutions.”

SAOU General Secretary, Chris Klopper, said: “Hosting EI’s Executive Board and World Congress is a real opportunity to exhibit true South African hospitality and prove our prowess at arranging international events. South African unions have taken hands to ensure that the event lives up to everyone’s expectations. It is also an opportunity to prove that diversity is celebrated in South Africa and that all communities are represented by the three national teacher unions. EI fulfils a pivotal role in ensuring that the organised teaching profession is strategically positioned to confront the universal challenges that face education in all countries. The solidarity from EI ensures that unions can take the lead and give guidance in their respective countries to successfully prevail over such challenges. ”

SOURCE:http://www.ei-ie.org/news/news_details/1705

Kalam inspires rural children

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Saturday interacted with rural students in Masuri town of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, inspiring them through a motivational lecture.

Kalam was the chief guest at Rahat Educational Society in Masuri in an event on developing rural talents. He urged the children to set clear aim for their future and commit themselves to it.

S.M. Khan, director general of Press Information Bureau, presided over the function.

Rahat Educational Society, headed by lawyer Kunwar Ayub Ali, organised the interactive programme to inspire its students on talent development.

source:http://www.indiaedunews.net/Uttar_Pradesh/Kalam_inspires_rural_children_13686/

Ajmer blast: CBI files report on Aseemanand statement's leak

 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday filed a report before a Delhi court on how the confessional statement of Hindutva activist Swami Aseemanand - allegedly involved in the 2008 Ajmer blast - was made public.

The CBI submitted its report before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Bansal and said that it had been established that the statement was not leaked due to any act of its officials.

A journalist, who got this confessional statement published, stated during the enquiry that he had 'obtained the copy of the confessional statement from one of his advocate sources', the CBI said.

'However, he has refused to divulge the particulars of this source during the enquiry,' the CBI added.

The court said that the CBI has filed its report, but it had asked the director of CBI to file it. 'Why is he not here?'

The CBI earlier had filed a two-page report before the court refuting the claim by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Devender Gupta accusing the probe agency of leaking the confessional statement to the media.

A petitioner has sought registering a police complaint against a CBI officer and Tehelka magazine owner and editor for making public Aseemanand's confession to a court about his alleged role in the Ajmer blast case.

Gupta, arrested for his role in the 2008 Ajmer Dargah blast, contended that an offence of a serious nature had been committed with the leakage of the confession made by Aseemanand accepting that Hindu activists were to blame for a string of bombings in the country.

The confession was recorded in Delhi by a metropolitan magistrate Dec 18 last year.

Counsel for Gupta, Anupam Sharma and Satish said the CBI admitted that the leak is established.

'Therefore, investigation is now required in this case and FIR (first information report) should also be lodged against them as to how it happened,' said Sharma.

The matter would come up for hearing March 19.

source:news.yahoo.in

CBI to probe if 2G scam compromised national security

The CBI has begun probing if the 2G spectrum scam compromised the country''s internal security and would apprise the Supreme Court of its findings on March 15, the agency told a Delhi court today.

"The issue of national security has also been raised by (Janata Party chief Subramanian) Swamy before the Supreme Court. CBI is presently examining the said matter and will file a progress report before the Supreme Court on March 15," the CBI told Special Judge Pradeep Chaddah, in its report.

CBI made a plea asking the special court to discontinue proceedings before it. the court, however, listed the matter for further hearing on March 17.

The agency contended that it has already registered the case on the 2G spectrum allocation scam and was investigating it while an FIR in connection with the case was before another court of Special Judge O P Saini.

"CBI has filed a report regarding Swamy''s apprehensions of threat to national security. It has been submitted in the report that matter is now pending before the Supreme Court," the court said.

CBI said it has begun probing the threat to country''s internal security as per the concerns raised by Swamy, who had come to the court seeking a probe into the scam.

He had also sought the court''s direction to appoint him as a public prosecutor to help the agency in probing the case and trying the accused.

Swamy, however, could not appear before it today as he was attending the 2G spectrum matter in the Supreme Court. His counsel Tarun Goomber asked the lower court to exempt him from personal appearance today, which the court allowed.

CBI had earlier told the court that it was not aware of the threat to national security posed by allocation of 2G spectrum to some telecom firms which subsequently off-loaded their shares to global firms with links to Pakistan.

"We (CBI) are not aware of the details of national security aspect as raised by Swamy in his application as a copy of the complaint by him is not available with us," CBI had said.

But, CBI filed its report today as the court had specifically asked it earlier if their investigation also covered the national security aspect as raised by Swamy.

source:http://in.news.yahoo.com

Germany expands nanotechnology funding with new action plan

Germany’s federal government recently introduced its Nanotechnology Action Plan 2015. The comprehensive approach extends and expands upon a previous programme, which provided 400 million euros in public funding for nanotechnology research in 2010 – the highest level in Europe.

“Nanotechnology reaches across industries and research disciplines. In Germany, excellent cooperation between academic institutions, research establishments, and industry players creates excellent chances for foreign investors. With nanotechnology, we can better address a range of global challenges from mobility and energy to healthcare and communication,” according to Rainer Mueller, Senior Manager for Nanotechnology at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

German nanotechnology activities are the most intensive in Europe in terms of public and private funding, patents, active companies and targeted initiatives. With nearly 2,000 players, Germany is the European frontrunner in both research and commercialisation of nanotechnology products and processes. A total of nine national nanotechnology clusters have developed.

Source:http://www.german-info.com/edu_shownews.php?pos=Germany_expands_nanotechnology_funding_with_new_action_plan&pid=215 

IIM-Calcutta to boost research and upgrade lab

The Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) plans to utilize the Rs.20 crore special budgetary grant to help students do research in global finance markets and to upgrade its financial research and trading lab.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced the special grant to the IIM-C in the union budget he presented to the Lok Sabha on Monday.

"The money will help us upgrade our financial research and trading laboratory into a world class facility. The fund will also help students for further research in global finance markets," Ashok Banerjee, professor of finance and head of the lab, said on Monday.

The lab was set up on November 18, 2008, to support advanced applied research in financial markets and equip finance managers with the mathematical and conceptual theories.

"Lot of money is required for further research in the global finance markets. So, this money will help the students to a large extent," Banerjee told the sources.

"The grant will help us obtain important softwares and global market data. Right now this is going on a small scale. The special allocation will give a boost to our upgradation and research projects," he said. IANS

Source:http://indiaedunews.net/IIM/IIM-Calcutta_to_boost_research_and_upgrade_lab_13611/

Education key to a longer life

Washington, Feb 28 : Your granny was right after all in insisting that being attentive and studying hard at school and college helped you live longer, besides fending off risks of cardiovascular disease

Education is now also being correlated with lower blood pressure (BP), decrease in alcohol consumption, smoking and weight gain, according to latest research.

Researchers followed 3,890 people for 30 years from the Framingham Offspring Study, regarding their education levels, status of heart disease, the journal BMC Public Health reports.

Eric Loucks from Brown University department of community health, who led the study said: "Even when adjusted for socio-economic variables, education is inversely correlated with high blood pressure..."

Educated men (with more than 17 years of education) had a lower body mass index (BMI), a height to weight ratio, smoked less and drank less than men with less education, according to a Brown University statement.

Similarly, educated women also smoked less, had lower BMI, but drank more than their less educated sisters (however, they still drank about half as much as the educated men).

For both men and women, each extra level of academic study completed further reduced the incidence of high blood pressure.

--IANS

Source:http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-157287.html

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