Sounds of drills have replaced the noise of children at this primary school in Germany. The school building has been out of use since the floods devastated the region. Students have been attending classes elsewhere.

Renovation of primary school in Germany, slow post-flood recovery | WION Climate Tracker

The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;will reopen up to 120 schools for limited in-person classes for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in a pilot approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, officials said Monday.

While nearly every country in the world has already partially or fully reopened schools for face-to-face lessons, the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;has kept them closed since March 2020.

"We have to pilot face-to-face (classes) because this is not just an issue for education, it's an issue for the children's mental health," presidential spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

"It's also an issue for the economy because we might lose a generation if we don't have face-to-face (classes)."

Under guidelines approved by Duterte Monday, up to a hundred public schools in areas considered "minimal risk" for virus transmission will be allowed to take part in the two-month trial.&nbsp;

Twenty private schools can also participate.

Classrooms will be open to children in kindergarten to grade three, and senior high school, but the number of students and hours spent in face-to-face lessons limited.

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Schools wanting to take part will be assessed for their preparedness and need approval from local governments to reopen.&nbsp;Written consent from parents will be required.

"If the pilot class is safe, if it is effective, then we will gradually increase it," said Education Secretary Leonor Briones.&nbsp;

Duterte rejected previous proposals for a pilot reopening of schools for fear children could catch Covid-19 and infect elderly relatives.&nbsp;

But there have been growing calls from the UN's children fund and many teachers for a return to in-person learning amid concerns the prolonged closure was exacerbating an education crisis in the country.

It is not clear when the pilot will begin or which schools will be included.&nbsp;

A "blended learning" programme, which involves online classes, printed materials and lessons broadcast on television and social media, will continue.

France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers told AFP the decision was "long overdue".

Fifteen-year-olds in the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;were at or near the bottom in reading, mathematics and science, according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Most students attend public schools where large class sizes, outdated teaching methods, lack of investment in basic infrastructure such as toilets, and poverty have been blamed for youngsters lagging behind.&nbsp;

The Philippines will reopen up to 120 schools for limited in-person classes for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in a pilot approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, officials said Monday.

The Philippines will reopen up to 120 schools for limited in-person classes for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in a pilot approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, officials said Monday. While nearly every country in the world has already partially or fully reopened schools for face-to-face lessons, the Philippines has kept them closed since March 2020. "We have to pilot face-to-face (classes) because this is not just an issue for education, it's an issue for the children's mental health," presidential spokesman Harry Roque told reporters. "It's also an issue for the economy because we might lose a generation if we don't have face-to-face (classes)." Under guidelines approved by Duterte Monday, up to a hundred public schools in areas considered "minimal risk" for virus transmission will be allowed to take part in the two-month trial. Twenty private schools can also participate. Classrooms will be open to children in kindergarten to grade three, and senior high school, but the number of students and hours spent in face-to-face lessons limited. Also read | Aukus could trigger a 'nuclear arms race': North Korea Schools wanting to take part will be assessed for their preparedness and need approval from local governments to reopen. Written consent from parents will be required. "If the pilot class is safe, if it is effective, then we will gradually increase it," said Education Secretary Leonor Briones. Duterte rejected previous proposals for a pilot reopening of schools for fear children could catch Covid-19 and infect elderly relatives. But there have been growing calls from the UN's children fund and many teachers for a return to in-person learning amid concerns the prolonged closure was exacerbating an education crisis in the country. It is not clear when the pilot will begin or which schools will be included. A "blended learning" programme, which involves online classes, printed materials and lessons broadcast on television and social media, will continue. France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers told AFP the decision was "long overdue". Fifteen-year-olds in the Philippines were at or near the bottom in reading, mathematics and science, according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Most students attend public schools where large class sizes, outdated teaching methods, lack of investment in basic infrastructure such as toilets, and poverty have been blamed for youngsters lagging behind.

Philippines to reopen 120 schools for in-person classes

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.”

Abdul Baqi Haqqani said the Taliban group will respect progress made in women’s rights, but only according to their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

“The... people of Afghanistan will continue their higher education in the light of Sharia law in safety without being in a mixed male and female environment,” AFP quoted Abdul Baqi Haqqani while speaking at a meeting with elders, known as a loya jirga.

He further said their government will ensure that girls and boys are segregated at primary and secondary schools.

“The Taliban wants to create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries,” Haqqani said.

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-kill-afghan-folk-singer-days-after-having-tea-with-him-409240">Taliban kill Afghan folk singer days after having tea with him</a>

Ever since the Taliban stormed to power in mid-August usurping the western-backed government, the radical Islamist group have repeatedly stressed to rule differently than their 1990s stint when girls and women were banned from education.

However, recent reports of the Taliban killing popular local folk singer Fawad Andarabi and comedian Nazar Mohammad have reinstated fears of the earlier days of the oppressive regime where entertainment was considered a sin as per their understanding of Islamic law.

The Taliban have yet to announce their government, saying they would wait until after the departure of US and foreign forces.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.” Abdul Baqi Haqqani said the Taliban group will respect progress made in women’s rights, but only according to their strict interpretation of Islamic law. “The... people of Afghanistan will continue their higher education in the light of Sharia law in safety without being in a mixed male and female environment,” AFP quoted Abdul Baqi Haqqani while speaking at a meeting with elders, known as a loya jirga. He further said their government will ensure that girls and boys are segregated at primary and secondary schools. “The Taliban wants to create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries,” Haqqani said. Also read | Taliban kill Afghan folk singer days after having tea with him Ever since the Taliban stormed to power in mid-August usurping the western-backed government, the radical Islamist group have repeatedly stressed to rule differently than their 1990s stint when girls and women were banned from education. However, recent reports of the Taliban killing popular local folk singer Fawad Andarabi and comedian Nazar Mohammad have reinstated fears of the earlier days of the oppressive regime where entertainment was considered a sin as per their understanding of Islamic law. The Taliban have yet to announce their government, saying they would wait until after the departure of US and foreign forces. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban 2.0: Women allowed to study, but ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan

Israel on Monday said that it would offer Covid vaccines to students on school grounds. It was also announced that school year would open on time next week in spite of surging coronavirus cases.

"Pupils... will be vaccinated on school grounds during school hours, subject to parental approval," a government statement said, confirming classes would begin on September 1.

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Israeli leaders say they are trying to avoid repeating disruptive school closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Israel has seen a steep rise in Covid infections after months.

On Monday, the health ministry said that 6467 new Covid cases were recorded in Israel just a day before. 1142 people were hospitalised

About 30 per cent of children between the ages 12 and 15 have received two vaccine doses in Israel. This is far less than any other age group.

The school reopening plan would also require pupils younger than 12 to bring parental approval to perform a coronavirus test on the first day of school.

Further, high school classes in cities with high rates of transmission would require 70 percent of students to be vaccinated or move to online learning.

Some in government had opposed vaccines in schools, with Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton saying in July that students could feel peer pressure to get vaccines.

On Monday she praised the plan on Twitter, writing, "Opening the school year -- vital to students' stability and mental resilience."

Ran Balicer, chairman of Israel's national expert panel on Covid-19, warned on public radio, "of course it will not be possible to completely prevent infections."

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel on Monday said that it would offer Covid vaccines to students on school grounds. It was also announced that school year would open on time next week in spite of surging coronavirus cases.

Israel on Monday said that it would offer Covid vaccines to students on school grounds. It was also announced that school year would open on time next week in spite of surging coronavirus cases. "Pupils... will be vaccinated on school grounds during school hours, subject to parental approval," a government statement said, confirming classes would begin on September 1. × Israeli leaders say they are trying to avoid repeating disruptive school closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Israel has seen a steep rise in Covid infections after months. On Monday, the health ministry said that 6467 new Covid cases were recorded in Israel just a day before. 1142 people were hospitalised About 30 per cent of children between the ages 12 and 15 have received two vaccine doses in Israel. This is far less than any other age group. The school reopening plan would also require pupils younger than 12 to bring parental approval to perform a coronavirus test on the first day of school. Further, high school classes in cities with high rates of transmission would require 70 percent of students to be vaccinated or move to online learning. Some in government had opposed vaccines in schools, with Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton saying in July that students could feel peer pressure to get vaccines. On Monday she praised the plan on Twitter, writing, "Opening the school year -- vital to students' stability and mental resilience." Ran Balicer, chairman of Israel's national expert panel on Covid-19, warned on public radio, "of course it will not be possible to completely prevent infections." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel to administer Covid vaccines in schools as they reopen

With a new US school year beginning, President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned governors who oppose student mask requirements that they could face legal action for intimidating educators seeking to protect children against Covid-19.

In the latest political flashpoint over the coronavirus pandemic, Republican governors in Florida and Texas, two of the country's largest states, have rejected recommendations by health authorities to require that students wear masks when they return to the classroom.

Florida's Board of Education raised eyebrows when it voted this week to slap punishments on two school districts that instituted mask mandates in defiance of Governor Ron DeSantis.

Biden did not mention DeSantis by name, but his comments in a White House address appeared squarely aimed at the governor, who is believed to harbor presidential ambitions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/life-under-taliban-in-kabul-the-pakistan-connection-406584">Also read |&nbsp;Life under Taliban in Kabul &amp; the Pakistan connection</a>

"Unfortunately... some politicians are trying to turn public safety measures,&nbsp;that is, children wearing masks in school, into political disputes for their own political gain," Biden said. "They're setting a dangerous tone."

As a response, the president said he instructed Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to use "legal action, if appropriate, against governors who are trying to block and intimidate local school officials and educators."

"If you aren't going to fight Covid-19, at least get out of the way of everyone else who's trying."

Biden also slammed protesters who have interrupted school board meetings, singling out angry parents in Tennessee who he said threatened doctors and nurses making the case for masking children in schools.

"The intimidation and threats we're seeing across the country are wrong. They're unacceptable," Biden said.

The United States is facing a resurgence of Covid-19 infections, as the Delta variant spreads.

Along with fierce opposition to mask mandates in certain quarters, the country's mass vaccination program also faces some resistance, particularly in politically conservative regions in the South and Midwest.

With a new US school year beginning, President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned governors who oppose student mask requirements that they could face legal action for intimidating educators seeking to protect children against Covid-19.

With a new US school year beginning, President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned governors who oppose student mask requirements that they could face legal action for intimidating educators seeking to protect children against Covid-19. In the latest political flashpoint over the coronavirus pandemic, Republican governors in Florida and Texas, two of the country's largest states, have rejected recommendations by health authorities to require that students wear masks when they return to the classroom. Florida's Board of Education raised eyebrows when it voted this week to slap punishments on two school districts that instituted mask mandates in defiance of Governor Ron DeSantis. Biden did not mention DeSantis by name, but his comments in a White House address appeared squarely aimed at the governor, who is believed to harbor presidential ambitions. Also read | Life under Taliban in Kabul & the Pakistan connection "Unfortunately... some politicians are trying to turn public safety measures, that is, children wearing masks in school, into political disputes for their own political gain," Biden said. "They're setting a dangerous tone." As a response, the president said he instructed Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to use "legal action, if appropriate, against governors who are trying to block and intimidate local school officials and educators." "If you aren't going to fight Covid-19, at least get out of the way of everyone else who's trying." Biden also slammed protesters who have interrupted school board meetings, singling out angry parents in Tennessee who he said threatened doctors and nurses making the case for masking children in schools. "The intimidation and threats we're seeing across the country are wrong. They're unacceptable," Biden said. The United States is facing a resurgence of Covid-19 infections, as the Delta variant spreads. Along with fierce opposition to mask mandates in certain quarters, the country's mass vaccination program also faces some resistance, particularly in politically conservative regions in the South and Midwest.

Biden warns of action against governors opposing school mask mandates

As coronavirus pandemic surges on with new variants, the United Nations has urged countries to reopen all schools that had been closed due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid pandemic</a>.

"This cannot go on," said James Elder, spokesman for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), adding that closing of schools in pandemic has led to putting the education of more than 600 million children at stake.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-experts-should-go-to-fort-detrick-lab-china-links-us-to-coronavirus-origin-400978" hreflang="en">WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick lab: China links US to coronavirus origin</a>

Talking about how some countries have reopened bars and restaurants, Elder said it is a "terrible mistake" that the countries have still not opened schools.

"Reopening schools cannot wait for all teachers and students to be vaccinated,"&nbsp;he said, adding that the government should be working on saving their education budgets even when the economy is suffering hardship due to the pandemic.

Even though he acknowledged that governments all over the world have had to make tough choices in the pandemic, he said schools should be the last institute to be closed and first to be reopened.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-more-than-18000-children-pushed-into-poverty-due-to-covid-report-claims-400956" hreflang="en">New Zealand: More than 18,000 children pushed into poverty due to Covid, report claims</a>

As per official data, nearly 40 per cent of children in eastern and southern Africa are out of school currently. More than 32 million children have been estimated to be out of school due to Covid related issues in the whole region and many have even failed to return to classrooms even when schools reopened. This is in addition to the 37 million children who were already struggling to report to school even before the coronavirus pandemic.

Elder also added that sadly "education, safety, friends and food have been replaced by anxiety, violence, and teenage pregnancy" all over the world

As coronavirus pandemic surges on with new variants, the United Nations has urged countries to reopen all schools that had been closed due to the Covid pandemic.

As coronavirus pandemic surges on with new variants, the United Nations has urged countries to reopen all schools that had been closed due to the Covid pandemic. "This cannot go on," said James Elder, spokesman for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), adding that closing of schools in pandemic has led to putting the education of more than 600 million children at stake. Also read | WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick lab: China links US to coronavirus origin Talking about how some countries have reopened bars and restaurants, Elder said it is a "terrible mistake" that the countries have still not opened schools. "Reopening schools cannot wait for all teachers and students to be vaccinated," he said, adding that the government should be working on saving their education budgets even when the economy is suffering hardship due to the pandemic. Even though he acknowledged that governments all over the world have had to make tough choices in the pandemic, he said schools should be the last institute to be closed and first to be reopened. Also read | New Zealand: More than 18,000 children pushed into poverty due to Covid, report claims As per official data, nearly 40 per cent of children in eastern and southern Africa are out of school currently. More than 32 million children have been estimated to be out of school due to Covid related issues in the whole region and many have even failed to return to classrooms even when schools reopened. This is in addition to the 37 million children who were already struggling to report to school even before the coronavirus pandemic. Elder also added that sadly "education, safety, friends and food have been replaced by anxiety, violence, and teenage pregnancy" all over the world

'This cannot go on': UN urges schools to reopen despite Covid

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, July 9,&nbsp;updated its guidance to help reopen&nbsp;schools&nbsp;in the fall, including recommending masking indoors for everyone who is not fully vaccinated and three feet of distance within classrooms.

The CDC in its latest guidance said all kindergarten through grade 12&nbsp;schools&nbsp;in the United States should continue to mandate wearing masks indoors by all individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

The agency said that if localities decide to remove prevention strategies in&nbsp;schools&nbsp;based on local conditions, they should remove them one at a time.&nbsp;Schools&nbsp;should monitor closely for increases in COVID-19 cases before removing the next prevention strategy.

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"Because of the importance of in-person learning,&nbsp;schools, where not everyone is fully vaccinated, should implement physical distancing to the extent possible within their structures, but should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement," the new guidance said.

A study by the CDC also released on Friday showed that half of unvaccinated adolescents and parents of unvaccinated adolescents reported being uncertain about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, or did not intend to get one at all.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, July 9, updated its guidance to help reopen schools in the fall, including recommending masking indoors for everyone who is not fully vaccinated and three feet of distance within classrooms.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, July 9, updated its guidance to help reopen schools in the fall, including recommending masking indoors for everyone who is not fully vaccinated and three feet of distance within classrooms. The CDC in its latest guidance said all kindergarten through grade 12 schools in the United States should continue to mandate wearing masks indoors by all individuals who are not fully vaccinated. The agency said that if localities decide to remove prevention strategies in schools based on local conditions, they should remove them one at a time. Schools should monitor closely for increases in COVID-19 cases before removing the next prevention strategy. Also read | School's out for good? Lebanese teachers flee as financial crisis builds "Because of the importance of in-person learning, schools, where not everyone is fully vaccinated, should implement physical distancing to the extent possible within their structures, but should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement," the new guidance said. A study by the CDC also released on Friday showed that half of unvaccinated adolescents and parents of unvaccinated adolescents reported being uncertain about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, or did not intend to get one at all.

CDC recommends masking indoors for unvaccinated students, teachers in US schools

Six&nbsp;students&nbsp;and two officials who were&nbsp;kidnapped&nbsp;last month from a school in Nigeria's Kaduna state were released&nbsp;after&nbsp;relatives&nbsp;paid&nbsp;ransom&nbsp;money, a school official and parent said on Friday.

Kidnappings by armed men, commonly referred to in Nigeria as "bandits", have become endemic in northern Nigeria, disrupting the education of hundreds of thousands of children.

Gunmen attacked the main campus of the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Kaduna on June 10 and took&nbsp;students&nbsp;and staff members, in the process killing one student.

The college's spokesman Abdullahi Shehu, said the&nbsp;students&nbsp;and officials were released late on Thursday at an undisclosed location.

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They "regained their&nbsp;freedom&nbsp;after&nbsp;their parents and relatives negotiated with the bandits", Shehu told Reuters, but declined to say whether negotiations involved paying a&nbsp;ransom.

A parent whose child was&nbsp;kidnapped&nbsp;said parents and relatives of the&nbsp;students&nbsp;negotiated with the gunmen and&nbsp;paid&nbsp;ransom&nbsp;money.

"I am not in position to tell you how much we contributed and&nbsp;paid. That is not necessary. The most important thing is that we have secured their&nbsp;freedom, period," Saminu Bala, one of the parents of the&nbsp;freed&nbsp;students, said.

At least 10 institutions have been hit by kidnappers and around 1,000&nbsp;students&nbsp;and staff abducted since December.

Six students and two officials who were kidnapped last month from a school in Nigeria's Kaduna state were released after relatives paid ransom money, a school official and parent said on Friday.

Six students and two officials who were kidnapped last month from a school in Nigeria's Kaduna state were released after relatives paid ransom money, a school official and parent said on Friday. Kidnappings by armed men, commonly referred to in Nigeria as "bandits", have become endemic in northern Nigeria, disrupting the education of hundreds of thousands of children. Gunmen attacked the main campus of the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Kaduna on June 10 and took students and staff members, in the process killing one student. The college's spokesman Abdullahi Shehu, said the students and officials were released late on Thursday at an undisclosed location. Also read | Nigeria bans Twitter 'indefinitely' after Muhammadu Buhari's account suspension They "regained their freedom after their parents and relatives negotiated with the bandits", Shehu told Reuters, but declined to say whether negotiations involved paying a ransom. A parent whose child was kidnapped said parents and relatives of the students negotiated with the gunmen and paid ransom money. "I am not in position to tell you how much we contributed and paid. That is not necessary. The most important thing is that we have secured their freedom, period," Saminu Bala, one of the parents of the freed students, said. At least 10 institutions have been hit by kidnappers and around 1,000 students and staff abducted since December.

Kidnapped Nigerian students freed after ransom paid

About 150 students are missing after armed men raided a boarding school in Nigeria's Kaduna state, a parent and an administrator said on Monday, and police said they were in hot pursuit alongside military personnel. 
 
The attack on the Bethel Baptist High School is the 10th mass school kidnapping since December in northwest Nigeria, which authorities have attributed to armed bandits seeking ransom payments. 
 
Dozens of distraught parents gathered at the school compound, some weeping and crying out, standing in groups awaiting news. Discarded sandals lay strewn nearby. Dormitories containing metal bunk beds and cupboards were deserted. 
 
"May God take away their tears and the suffering that they will face in the hands of the kidnappers," said a woman pointing at a hole in the school's perimeter from where the attackers entered. 
 
His voice breaking, parent John Evans said he had recently told his daughter that God would protect her while she studied at the school. 
 
"Just this morning at about 6, I received a phone call that they have entered the school...kidnappers, that all our children are packed (taken), including my daughter," he said. "We rushed down here, we confirmed that they are all packed." 
 
Police said gunmen shooting wildly attacked overnight and overpowered the school's security guards, taking an unspecified number of students into a nearby forest. A police statement said 26 people including a female teacher had been rescued. 
 
Reverend John Hayab, a founder of the school, said about 25 students had managed to escape while the school`s other students remained missing. 
 
Roughly 180 students attended the school and were in the process of sitting exams, according to Hayab, whose 17-year-old son escaped, and parent, Hassana Markus, whose daughter was among those missing. 
 
Local residents, who declined to be identified, said that security officials had cordoned off the school after the attack, which took place between 11 pm&nbsp;on Sunday and 4 am&nbsp;on Monday morning. 
 
Kaduna authorities ordered the immediate closure of Bethel Baptist and 12 other schools in the area after Monday's kidnapping, without saying when they may reopen. 
 
Armed men, known locally as bandits, have made an industry of kidnapping students for ransom in northwest Nigeria, with Kaduna state particularly hard hit. They have taken nearly 1,000 people from schools since December last year, more than 150 of whom remain missing. 
 
Kidnappers have also targeted roads, private residents and even hospitals; in the early morning hours of Sunday, gunmen abducted six people including a 1-year-old child from a hospital in Kaduna state. 
 
In February, President Muhammadu Buhari urged state governments "to review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles," warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously. The unrest has become a political problem for Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler, who has faced mounting criticism over prominent attacks by the gangs. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

About 150 students are missing after armed men raided a boarding school in Nigeria's Kaduna state, a parent and an administrator said on Monday, and police said they were in hot pursuit alongside military personnel.

About 150 students are missing after armed men raided a boarding school in Nigeria's Kaduna state, a parent and an administrator said on Monday, and police said they were in hot pursuit alongside military personnel. The attack on the Bethel Baptist High School is the 10th mass school kidnapping since December in northwest Nigeria, which authorities have attributed to armed bandits seeking ransom payments. Dozens of distraught parents gathered at the school compound, some weeping and crying out, standing in groups awaiting news. Discarded sandals lay strewn nearby. Dormitories containing metal bunk beds and cupboards were deserted. "May God take away their tears and the suffering that they will face in the hands of the kidnappers," said a woman pointing at a hole in the school's perimeter from where the attackers entered. His voice breaking, parent John Evans said he had recently told his daughter that God would protect her while she studied at the school. "Just this morning at about 6, I received a phone call that they have entered the school...kidnappers, that all our children are packed (taken), including my daughter," he said. "We rushed down here, we confirmed that they are all packed." Police said gunmen shooting wildly attacked overnight and overpowered the school's security guards, taking an unspecified number of students into a nearby forest. A police statement said 26 people including a female teacher had been rescued. Reverend John Hayab, a founder of the school, said about 25 students had managed to escape while the school`s other students remained missing. Roughly 180 students attended the school and were in the process of sitting exams, according to Hayab, whose 17-year-old son escaped, and parent, Hassana Markus, whose daughter was among those missing. Local residents, who declined to be identified, said that security officials had cordoned off the school after the attack, which took place between 11 pm on Sunday and 4 am on Monday morning. Kaduna authorities ordered the immediate closure of Bethel Baptist and 12 other schools in the area after Monday's kidnapping, without saying when they may reopen. Armed men, known locally as bandits, have made an industry of kidnapping students for ransom in northwest Nigeria, with Kaduna state particularly hard hit. They have taken nearly 1,000 people from schools since December last year, more than 150 of whom remain missing. Kidnappers have also targeted roads, private residents and even hospitals; in the early morning hours of Sunday, gunmen abducted six people including a 1-year-old child from a hospital in Kaduna state. In February, President Muhammadu Buhari urged state governments "to review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles," warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously. The unrest has become a political problem for Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler, who has faced mounting criticism over prominent attacks by the gangs. (With inputs from agencies)

Some 150 students missing after gunmen raid Nigerian school: Report

Gunmen kidnapped 140 students from a boarding school on Monday, an official said. The school is located in northwestern Nigeria. This incident is latest in the spate of abductions targetting schoolchildren.

Criminal gangs, heavily-armed, often attack villages to loot, steal cattle and abduct for ransom in northwest and central Nigeria. Since the start of the year, they have increasingly targetted schools and collges.

In the latest incident, the attackers opened fire and overpowered security guards of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state in the early hours of Monday. They abducted most of the 165 pupils boarding there.

"The kidnappers took away 140 students, only 25 students escaped. We still have no idea where the students were taken," Emmanuel Paul, a teacher at the school told AFP.

Kaduna state police spokesman Muhammed Jalige could not give exact number of students abducted.

"Tactical police teams went after the kidnappers," he said. "We are still on the rescue mission." 
Police said they had safely rescued 26 people, including a female teacher.

Around 1,000 students and pupils have been abducted in Nigeria since December. Most have been released after negotiations with local officials, although some are still being held.

Often, gangs target rural schools and colleges where students stay in dormitories and security is light, allowing them to easily transport large numbers of victims to forest hideouts to negotiate ransoms.

(With inputs from agencies)

Gunmen kidnapped 140 students from a boarding school on Monday, an official said. The school is located in northwestern Nigeria. This incident is latest in the spate of abductions targetting schoolchildren.

Gunmen kidnapped 140 students from a boarding school on Monday, an official said. The school is located in northwestern Nigeria. This incident is latest in the spate of abductions targetting schoolchildren. Criminal gangs, heavily-armed, often attack villages to loot, steal cattle and abduct for ransom in northwest and central Nigeria. Since the start of the year, they have increasingly targetted schools and collges. In the latest incident, the attackers opened fire and overpowered security guards of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state in the early hours of Monday. They abducted most of the 165 pupils boarding there. "The kidnappers took away 140 students, only 25 students escaped. We still have no idea where the students were taken," Emmanuel Paul, a teacher at the school told AFP. Kaduna state police spokesman Muhammed Jalige could not give exact number of students abducted. "Tactical police teams went after the kidnappers," he said. "We are still on the rescue mission." Police said they had safely rescued 26 people, including a female teacher. Around 1,000 students and pupils have been abducted in Nigeria since December. Most have been released after negotiations with local officials, although some are still being held. Often, gangs target rural schools and colleges where students stay in dormitories and security is light, allowing them to easily transport large numbers of victims to forest hideouts to negotiate ransoms. (With inputs from agencies)

Nigeria: Gunmen kidnap 140 students from boarding school

At least 18 people were killed and 16 injured when a fire broke out at a&nbsp;martial&nbsp;arts&nbsp;school in central China in the early hours of Friday, according to a local government statement.

Local media reported that most of the victims were boarding pupils aged between seven and 16.

The fire had been extinguished and authorities were investigating the cause of the blaze, the statement from Zhecheng county government said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deaths-outnumber-births-in-britain-for-the-first-time-since-1976-393790">Also Read |&nbsp;Deaths outnumber births in Britain for the first time since 1976</a>

There were 34 boarding students on the premises when the fire broke out, according to local government staff quoted by Beijing Toutiao News.&nbsp;

The manager of the centre in rural Zhecheng county, Henan province, was arrested by police, the statement said.&nbsp;

The injured -- four of whom had severe injuries -- were rushed to a local hospital, where an unnamed doctor told local media they were "doing everything they could" to save them.&nbsp;

Fatal fires are common in China, where safety regulations are widely flouted and enforcement is often lax.

More than two dozen people were killed in two blazes in Beijing's migrant neighbourhoods in 2017.

The first fire, which killed 19 people in November that year, prompted authorities to begin tearing down unsafe buildings in the capital, driving hundreds of thousands of residents out in the middle of winter.

At least 18 people were killed and 16 injured when a fire broke out at a martial arts school in central China in the early hours of Friday, according to a local government statement.

At least 18 people were killed and 16 injured when a fire broke out at a martial arts school in central China in the early hours of Friday, according to a local government statement. Local media reported that most of the victims were boarding pupils aged between seven and 16. The fire had been extinguished and authorities were investigating the cause of the blaze, the statement from Zhecheng county government said. Also Read | Deaths outnumber births in Britain for the first time since 1976 There were 34 boarding students on the premises when the fire broke out, according to local government staff quoted by Beijing Toutiao News. The manager of the centre in rural Zhecheng county, Henan province, was arrested by police, the statement said. The injured -- four of whom had severe injuries -- were rushed to a local hospital, where an unnamed doctor told local media they were "doing everything they could" to save them. Fatal fires are common in China, where safety regulations are widely flouted and enforcement is often lax. More than two dozen people were killed in two blazes in Beijing's migrant neighbourhoods in 2017. The first fire, which killed 19 people in November that year, prompted authorities to begin tearing down unsafe buildings in the capital, driving hundreds of thousands of residents out in the middle of winter.

18 killed, 16 injured in fire at China martial arts school

Five building workers were confirmed dead&nbsp;Saturday a day after a school construction site partially collapsed in the Belgian city of&nbsp;Antwerp.

The last two bodies were pulled out the rubble on Saturday afternoon,&nbsp;Antwerp's fire department said, meaning that all the missing victims were now accounted for.

King Philippe of Belgium visited the scene on Saturday accompanied by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Two of the dead were from Portugal and Romania, police told local media while the nationality of the other dead workers was not clear.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-far-right-tests-voters-appetite-in-regional-elections-392660">Also Read |&nbsp;French far-right tests voters' appetite in regional elections</a>

But when three people were still missing, rescue workers had said they were looking for two more Portuguese and one Russian.

Nine other people were injured in the incident on Friday afternoon, with three still in intensive care a day later, but not in critical condition, the fire department tweeted.&nbsp;

As the school was still under construction, no students were present when the accident happened.

The cause of the collapse was not known, but all the victims were sub-contractors for construction firm Democo, Belga news agency reported.

"All the employees are devastated," Frederik Bijnens, Democo's managing director, told Belga.

"Now that the emergency services have done all they can, a thorough investigation will begin to identify the cause of the accident," he added.&nbsp;

Five building workers were confirmed dead Saturday a day after a school construction site partially collapsed in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The last two bodies were pulled out the rubble on Saturday afternoon, Antwerp's fire department said, meaning that all the missing victims were now accounted for.

Five building workers were confirmed dead Saturday a day after a school construction site partially collapsed in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The last two bodies were pulled out the rubble on Saturday afternoon, Antwerp's fire department said, meaning that all the missing victims were now accounted for. King Philippe of Belgium visited the scene on Saturday accompanied by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Two of the dead were from Portugal and Romania, police told local media while the nationality of the other dead workers was not clear. Also Read | French far-right tests voters' appetite in regional elections But when three people were still missing, rescue workers had said they were looking for two more Portuguese and one Russian. Nine other people were injured in the incident on Friday afternoon, with three still in intensive care a day later, but not in critical condition, the fire department tweeted. As the school was still under construction, no students were present when the accident happened. The cause of the collapse was not known, but all the victims were sub-contractors for construction firm Democo, Belga news agency reported. "All the employees are devastated," Frederik Bijnens, Democo's managing director, told Belga. "Now that the emergency services have done all they can, a thorough investigation will begin to identify the cause of the accident," he added.

Five dead in Antwerp school collapse

Indigenous leaders and school survivors on Sunday dismissed Pope Francis' expressions of pain at the discovery of 215 children's remains at a former Catholic residential school in Canada, saying the church needed to do much more. 
 
In his weekly blessing in St&nbsp;Peter's Square on Sunday, Francis said he was pained by the news about the former school for indigenous students and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native peoples. But he stopped short of the direct apology some Canadians had demanded.&nbsp; 
 
"We're all pained and saddened. Who isn't? This is a worldwide travesty," Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations in Saskatchewan, Bobby Cameron, said. 
 
"How hard is it for the Pope to say: 'I'm very sorry for the way our organisation treated the First Nations people, the First Nations students during those times, we are sorry, we pray.'" 
 
The discovery last month at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, which closed in 1978, reopened old wounds in Canada about the lack of information and accountability around the residential school system, which forcibly separated indigenous children from their families. 
 
On Sunday, demonstrators tore down a statue of Egerton Ryerson, one of the architects of the residential school system, at the Toronto university named for him. 
 
Kamloops survivor Saa Hiil Thut, 72, said people have not been held responsible for the suffering he endured during his years at the school. 
 
"The culprits sort of get off scot-free," he said. 
 
"The Pope won't say, 'You know what? I heard there was (thousands of) cases of physical and sexual abuse in those residential schools run by our church.' He won't say that. He won't say 'There's 215 children in an unmarked grave in Kamloops and probably every residential school in Canada.'" 
 
The system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, forcibly separated about 150,000 indigenous children from their homes, with many subjected to abuse, rape and malnutrition. Most were run by the Catholic Church on behalf of the government. 
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, the church must take responsibility for its role in the schools. A spokesman for Trudeau declined further comment on Sunday. 
 
The Pope's statement "does not go far enough," said a spokesperson for Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett on Sunday. 
 
"(The) government calls again upon the Pope and Church to apologise for their role." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Indigenous leaders and school survivors on Sunday dismissed Pope Francis' expressions of pain at the discovery of 215 children's remains at a former Catholic residential school in Canada, saying the church needed to do much more.

Indigenous leaders and school survivors on Sunday dismissed Pope Francis' expressions of pain at the discovery of 215 children's remains at a former Catholic residential school in Canada, saying the church needed to do much more. In his weekly blessing in St Peter's Square on Sunday, Francis said he was pained by the news about the former school for indigenous students and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native peoples. But he stopped short of the direct apology some Canadians had demanded. "We're all pained and saddened. Who isn't? This is a worldwide travesty," Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations in Saskatchewan, Bobby Cameron, said. "How hard is it for the Pope to say: 'I'm very sorry for the way our organisation treated the First Nations people, the First Nations students during those times, we are sorry, we pray.'" The discovery last month at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, which closed in 1978, reopened old wounds in Canada about the lack of information and accountability around the residential school system, which forcibly separated indigenous children from their families. On Sunday, demonstrators tore down a statue of Egerton Ryerson, one of the architects of the residential school system, at the Toronto university named for him. Kamloops survivor Saa Hiil Thut, 72, said people have not been held responsible for the suffering he endured during his years at the school. "The culprits sort of get off scot-free," he said. "The Pope won't say, 'You know what? I heard there was (thousands of) cases of physical and sexual abuse in those residential schools run by our church.' He won't say that. He won't say 'There's 215 children in an unmarked grave in Kamloops and probably every residential school in Canada.'" The system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, forcibly separated about 150,000 indigenous children from their homes, with many subjected to abuse, rape and malnutrition. Most were run by the Catholic Church on behalf of the government. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, the church must take responsibility for its role in the schools. A spokesman for Trudeau declined further comment on Sunday. The Pope's statement "does not go far enough," said a spokesperson for Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett on Sunday. "(The) government calls again upon the Pope and Church to apologise for their role." (With inputs from agencies)

'We're all pained': Canada indigenous leaders dismiss Pope remarks on chidren's remains in school

Schools in Myanmar will open on Tuesday for the first time since the military seized power, but teachers and students are set to defy the junta's calls for full classrooms in a show of resistance.

Four months of national turmoil have followed the February ouster of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with more than 800 people killed by security forces and a nationwide strike crippling the economy.

Public school teachers, dressed in the green and white uniforms mandated by the education ministry, were prominent in the early mass protests, joining railway workers, doctors and civil servants on the streets.

The junta has insisted schools open on Tuesday after a year's absence due to Covid, but many educators had already decided they could not return to a job they love.

"I'm not afraid of their arrest and torture," Shwe Nadi, a teacher from the commercial capital Yangon told AFP. Her name has been changed for her safety.

"I'm afraid of becoming a teacher who teaches the students propaganda."

The 28-year-old was fired for supporting the civil disobedience movement, one of the thousands of teachers and academics the junta has sacked.

"Of course, I feel bad losing my job because I loved being a teacher. Although it is not well paid, we have our pride for being teachers as others respect us," she said.

Nu May, not her real name, in southern Mon state will also stay away, she told AFP.

The primary school teacher lost months of her salary after joining the nationwide boycott, but said "my soul is pure" because she participated in the strike.

"When I see how they have killed a lot of people, I feel I don't want to be their teacher any more," she added.

Some of those killed in the junta's crackdown were of primary school age, and charity group Save the Children said the dead include 15 children under the age of 16.

Junta-run media has in recent days carried pictures of functionaries watching school registrations and promising that parents will be 'satisfied' with the return of classes.

Students at a school near the capital Naypyidaw opened a setpiece ceremony to mark the new term by performing a "National Enrolment Week" song in front of the regime's education minister, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar state newspaper.

But at one high school in central Sagaing region, a slogan daubed in red paint across the front of the building urges staff members to stay away.

"We do not want the military slavery teachers," showed pictures carried by local media. "We do not want the teachers who are traitors."

University students were key drivers of political activism under nearly five decades of earlier military rulers, who violently suppressed any signs of public dissent.

Many students back then were killed, jailed or expelled, and universities were shuttered for several years.

Some university classes are already back in session, but boycotts have seen widespread absences on both sides of the teaching lectern.

"Not one of my friends is going," said an English major at a university in Mawlamyine, a city that saw brutal crackdowns by security forces against protesters.

"So I decided not to go too."

Her class of 100 is now empty, despite students being summoned by the few remaining professors on campus.

Protesters have discouraged parents and teachers from sending children to schools that still have teachers willing to work, saying it amounted to backing the military regime.

"Do not be sad when you cannot enrol your child at school when some parents have no children to enrol," read a banner in Bago region, south of the capital.

Teacher Shwe Nadi said she will remain committed to the civil disobedience movement, despite fears of being detained or worse.

"I won't run because I have not committed any crimes," she said.

"If they want to arrest me, I am prepared."

Schools in Myanmar will open on Tuesday for the first time since the military seized power, but teachers and students are set to defy the junta's calls for full classrooms in a show of resistance.

Schools in Myanmar will open on Tuesday for the first time since the military seized power, but teachers and students are set to defy the junta's calls for full classrooms in a show of resistance. Four months of national turmoil have followed the February ouster of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with more than 800 people killed by security forces and a nationwide strike crippling the economy. Public school teachers, dressed in the green and white uniforms mandated by the education ministry, were prominent in the early mass protests, joining railway workers, doctors and civil servants on the streets. The junta has insisted schools open on Tuesday after a year's absence due to Covid, but many educators had already decided they could not return to a job they love. "I'm not afraid of their arrest and torture," Shwe Nadi, a teacher from the commercial capital Yangon told AFP. Her name has been changed for her safety. "I'm afraid of becoming a teacher who teaches the students propaganda." The 28-year-old was fired for supporting the civil disobedience movement, one of the thousands of teachers and academics the junta has sacked. "Of course, I feel bad losing my job because I loved being a teacher. Although it is not well paid, we have our pride for being teachers as others respect us," she said. Nu May, not her real name, in southern Mon state will also stay away, she told AFP. The primary school teacher lost months of her salary after joining the nationwide boycott, but said "my soul is pure" because she participated in the strike. "When I see how they have killed a lot of people, I feel I don't want to be their teacher any more," she added. Some of those killed in the junta's crackdown were of primary school age, and charity group Save the Children said the dead include 15 children under the age of 16. Junta-run media has in recent days carried pictures of functionaries watching school registrations and promising that parents will be 'satisfied' with the return of classes. Students at a school near the capital Naypyidaw opened a setpiece ceremony to mark the new term by performing a "National Enrolment Week" song in front of the regime's education minister, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar state newspaper. But at one high school in central Sagaing region, a slogan daubed in red paint across the front of the building urges staff members to stay away. "We do not want the military slavery teachers," showed pictures carried by local media. "We do not want the teachers who are traitors." University students were key drivers of political activism under nearly five decades of earlier military rulers, who violently suppressed any signs of public dissent. Many students back then were killed, jailed or expelled, and universities were shuttered for several years. Some university classes are already back in session, but boycotts have seen widespread absences on both sides of the teaching lectern. "Not one of my friends is going," said an English major at a university in Mawlamyine, a city that saw brutal crackdowns by security forces against protesters. "So I decided not to go too." Her class of 100 is now empty, despite students being summoned by the few remaining professors on campus. Protesters have discouraged parents and teachers from sending children to schools that still have teachers willing to work, saying it amounted to backing the military regime. "Do not be sad when you cannot enrol your child at school when some parents have no children to enrol," read a banner in Bago region, south of the capital. Teacher Shwe Nadi said she will remain committed to the civil disobedience movement, despite fears of being detained or worse. "I won't run because I have not committed any crimes," she said. "If they want to arrest me, I am prepared."

School's out for Myanmar students defying junta threats

Flowers and tributes were left outside the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia after the remains of 215 children were found at the site of a former residential school for indigenous children

'Horrific chapter in Canadian history'

In a camp for Syrian refugees in east&nbsp;Lebanon, Mohammad and his three sisters fear they will be out of&nbsp;school&nbsp;for a third consecutive year because remote learning is out of reach.

"Look at my phone. How do you expect my son to&nbsp;study&nbsp;on it?" asked his father Abdel Nasser, sitting cross-legged inside the family's tent in the Bekaa Valley.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="China bars foreign curriculum, ownership in some private schools">China bars foreign curriculum, ownership in some private schools</a>

"The screen is cracked... and I have no internet."

Eleven-year-old Mohammad and his siblings are among tens of thousands of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian children who have been left for months without schooling due to coronavirus restrictions.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="US schools fight to keep students amid fear of dropout surge due to Covid">US schools fight to keep students amid fear of dropout surge&nbsp;due to Covid</a>

An accelerating economic&nbsp;crisis&nbsp;means they may never return to&nbsp;school&nbsp;in what rights groups are calling an 'education catastrophe', especially affecting refugees who already struggled to access learning before the pandemic.

"We can't afford to buy a cellphone for everyone. We must first be able to feed our children," said their mother Shamaa.

Mohammad arrived in&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;from Syria in 2012 -- a year into an ongoing conflict that has killed 388,000 people and displaced millions.

But he wasn't enrolled in&nbsp;school&nbsp;until 2019 because&nbsp;Lebanon's public&nbsp;school&nbsp;system didn't open its doors to Syrian refugees until 2013, and even then only to a limited number.&nbsp;

Mohammad's first&nbsp;school&nbsp;year coincided with the Covid pandemic, which brought all classes to a halt by the second term.&nbsp;

"He doesn't even know how to multiply one by one," his father said.

Mohammad's older sisters Hind, Sarah and Amal, aged 12 to 14, had already been in&nbsp;school&nbsp;for four years when the education ministry in March 2020 said it was shifting to online learning.&nbsp;

"I was happy before," 14-year-old Amal said, sobbing. "I was studying Arabic, English, science and geography.

"But now my parents can't afford to give me an online education."

More than 1.2 million children in&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;have been out of&nbsp;school&nbsp;since the country's coronavirus outbreak began last year, the UK-based charity Save the Children says.

It warned last month that a large number of children may never get back into a classroom, either because they have already missed so much&nbsp;school&nbsp;or because their families can't afford to enrol them.

"Education for thousands of children in&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;is hanging by a thread," it said.

Lebanon's economic&nbsp;crisis&nbsp;is at its worst since the 1975-1990 civil war, with more than half the local population now living in poverty.

Poverty rates are even higher among Syrians, with 90 per cent of families barely able to survive.&nbsp;

Lisa Abou Khaled of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says this is impacting education.

"Some Syrian children have had to give up their studies to work and help their families," she told AFP.

Citing data from&nbsp;Lebanon's education ministry, she said 25,000 Syrian students should have re-enrolled or entered grade one in 2020-2021 but did not.&nbsp;

"We think the real number is higher than that," she added, estimating that more than half of Syrian&nbsp;school-aged children were currently out of the classroom.&nbsp;

The education catastrophe is also real for the tens of thousands of Lebanese who have lost jobs or seen their income slashed since the economic&nbsp;crisis&nbsp;accelerated in 2019.&nbsp;

Inside a cramped apartment in the eastern Beirut suburb of Burj Hammoud, 11-year-old Pamela points to a keyboard -- the only thing that remains from a desktop computer destroyed during last summer's huge Beirut port explosion.

The August 4 blast, which killed more than 200 people and destroyed swaths of the capital, hit Pamela's home and piled new misery on a family already brought to its knees by the financial downturn.&nbsp;

The family couldn't afford to buy a replacement as it had become far too expensive due to the rapid devaluation of the Lebanese pound.&nbsp;

"So I started to follow lessons on my cellphone," Pamela said.&nbsp;

As she has impaired vision, a small screen was already a nuisance.

But then power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day also left her struggling to keep her phone alive and connected to the internet.

She decided to drop out.

"I was disgusted with online education, I couldn't take it anymore," she said.

Her father, an out-of-work taxi driver, said he had wanted Pamela to drop out months ago.

"I don't give a damn about education or this country," he said.&nbsp;

But Pamela hasn't entirely abandoned hopes of returning to&nbsp;school.

"I&nbsp;want&nbsp;to&nbsp;study&nbsp;so that I can get a decent job later and be able to help my parents."

In a camp for Syrian refugees in east Lebanon, Mohammad and his three sisters fear they will be out of school for a third consecutive year because remote learning is out of reach.

In a camp for Syrian refugees in east Lebanon, Mohammad and his three sisters fear they will be out of school for a third consecutive year because remote learning is out of reach. "Look at my phone. How do you expect my son to study on it?" asked his father Abdel Nasser, sitting cross-legged inside the family's tent in the Bekaa Valley. Also read- China bars foreign curriculum, ownership in some private schools "The screen is cracked... and I have no internet." Eleven-year-old Mohammad and his siblings are among tens of thousands of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian children who have been left for months without schooling due to coronavirus restrictions. Also read: US schools fight to keep students amid fear of dropout surge due to Covid An accelerating economic crisis means they may never return to school in what rights groups are calling an 'education catastrophe', especially affecting refugees who already struggled to access learning before the pandemic. "We can't afford to buy a cellphone for everyone. We must first be able to feed our children," said their mother Shamaa. Mohammad arrived in Lebanon from Syria in 2012 -- a year into an ongoing conflict that has killed 388,000 people and displaced millions. But he wasn't enrolled in school until 2019 because Lebanon's public school system didn't open its doors to Syrian refugees until 2013, and even then only to a limited number. Mohammad's first school year coincided with the Covid pandemic, which brought all classes to a halt by the second term. "He doesn't even know how to multiply one by one," his father said. Mohammad's older sisters Hind, Sarah and Amal, aged 12 to 14, had already been in school for four years when the education ministry in March 2020 said it was shifting to online learning. "I was happy before," 14-year-old Amal said, sobbing. "I was studying Arabic, English, science and geography. "But now my parents can't afford to give me an online education." More than 1.2 million children in Lebanon have been out of school since the country's coronavirus outbreak began last year, the UK-based charity Save the Children says. It warned last month that a large number of children may never get back into a classroom, either because they have already missed so much school or because their families can't afford to enrol them. "Education for thousands of children in Lebanon is hanging by a thread," it said. Lebanon's economic crisis is at its worst since the 1975-1990 civil war, with more than half the local population now living in poverty. Poverty rates are even higher among Syrians, with 90 per cent of families barely able to survive. Lisa Abou Khaled of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says this is impacting education. "Some Syrian children have had to give up their studies to work and help their families," she told AFP. Citing data from Lebanon's education ministry, she said 25,000 Syrian students should have re-enrolled or entered grade one in 2020-2021 but did not. "We think the real number is higher than that," she added, estimating that more than half of Syrian school-aged children were currently out of the classroom. The education catastrophe is also real for the tens of thousands of Lebanese who have lost jobs or seen their income slashed since the economic crisis accelerated in 2019. Inside a cramped apartment in the eastern Beirut suburb of Burj Hammoud, 11-year-old Pamela points to a keyboard -- the only thing that remains from a desktop computer destroyed during last summer's huge Beirut port explosion. The August 4 blast, which killed more than 200 people and destroyed swaths of the capital, hit Pamela's home and piled new misery on a family already brought to its knees by the financial downturn. The family couldn't afford to buy a replacement as it had become far too expensive due to the rapid devaluation of the Lebanese pound. "So I started to follow lessons on my cellphone," Pamela said. As she has impaired vision, a small screen was already a nuisance. But then power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day also left her struggling to keep her phone alive and connected to the internet. She decided to drop out. "I was disgusted with online education, I couldn't take it anymore," she said. Her father, an out-of-work taxi driver, said he had wanted Pamela to drop out months ago. "I don't give a damn about education or this country," he said. But Pamela hasn't entirely abandoned hopes of returning to school. "I want to study so that I can get a decent job later and be able to help my parents."

'I want to study': Lebanon crisis cancels school for many

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a review of gun control legislation following a deadly shooting at a high school in the central city of Kazan, the Kremlin said.

"The president gave an order to urgently work out a new provision concerning the types of weapons that can be in civilian hands, taking into account the weapon" used in the attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 
 
Gravitas: Russia school shooting

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-russia-school-shooting-384380/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Earlier in the day, A gunman attacked a school in the Russian city of Kazan, sending students running out of the building as smoke poured from its windows. At least nine people were killed — seven eighth-grade students, a teacher and another school worker — and 21 others were hospitalized, Russian officials said.

Footage released by Russian media outlets showed students dressed in black and white running out of the building. Another video depicted shattered windows, billowing smoke and sounds resembling gunshots in the background. Dozens of ambulances lined up at the school's entrance after the attack and police fenced off access to the building.

Russian media said while some students were able to escape, others were trapped inside during the ordeal. All students were eventually evacuated to nearby daycare centres and collected by their families.

Officials said the attacker has been arrested and police opened a criminal investigation into the shooting. Authorities immediately put additional security measures into place in all schools in Kazan, a city 700 kilometres (430 miles) east of Moscow.

Rustam Minnikhanov, Governor of the Tatarstan republic where Kazan is the capital, said four boys and three girls, all eighth-grade students, died, as well as a teacher and another school worker.

“The terrorist has been arrested, (he is) 19 years old. A firearm is registered in his name. Other accomplices haven’t been established, an investigation is underway,” Minnikhanov said after visiting the school.

According to Tatarstan health officials, 21 people were hospitalized with wounds after the attack, including 18 children, six of whom were in “severely grave condition.”

Authorities announced a day of mourning on Wednesday to honour the victims of the shooting and cancelled all lessons in Kazan schools.

While school shootings are relatively rare in Russia, there have been several violent attacks on schools in recent years, mostly by students. In response to Tuesday's attack, authorities in several Russian regions ordered sweeping security inspections at schools.

Russian media said the shooter was a former student of the school who reportedly called himself “a god” on his account on the messaging app Telegram and promised to “kill a large amount of biomass” on the morning of the shooting. The account was blocked by Telegram after the attack, the independent news outlet Meduza said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a review of gun control legislation following a deadly shooting at a high school in the central city of Kazan, the Kremlin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a review of gun control legislation following a deadly shooting at a high school in the central city of Kazan, the Kremlin said. "The president gave an order to urgently work out a new provision concerning the types of weapons that can be in civilian hands, taking into account the weapon" used in the attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Gravitas: Russia school shooting Earlier in the day, A gunman attacked a school in the Russian city of Kazan, sending students running out of the building as smoke poured from its windows. At least nine people were killed — seven eighth-grade students, a teacher and another school worker — and 21 others were hospitalized, Russian officials said. Footage released by Russian media outlets showed students dressed in black and white running out of the building. Another video depicted shattered windows, billowing smoke and sounds resembling gunshots in the background. Dozens of ambulances lined up at the school's entrance after the attack and police fenced off access to the building. Russian media said while some students were able to escape, others were trapped inside during the ordeal. All students were eventually evacuated to nearby daycare centres and collected by their families. Officials said the attacker has been arrested and police opened a criminal investigation into the shooting. Authorities immediately put additional security measures into place in all schools in Kazan, a city 700 kilometres (430 miles) east of Moscow. Rustam Minnikhanov, Governor of the Tatarstan republic where Kazan is the capital, said four boys and three girls, all eighth-grade students, died, as well as a teacher and another school worker. “The terrorist has been arrested, (he is) 19 years old. A firearm is registered in his name. Other accomplices haven’t been established, an investigation is underway,” Minnikhanov said after visiting the school. According to Tatarstan health officials, 21 people were hospitalized with wounds after the attack, including 18 children, six of whom were in “severely grave condition.” Authorities announced a day of mourning on Wednesday to honour the victims of the shooting and cancelled all lessons in Kazan schools. While school shootings are relatively rare in Russia, there have been several violent attacks on schools in recent years, mostly by students. In response to Tuesday's attack, authorities in several Russian regions ordered sweeping security inspections at schools. Russian media said the shooter was a former student of the school who reportedly called himself “a god” on his account on the messaging app Telegram and promised to “kill a large amount of biomass” on the morning of the shooting. The account was blocked by Telegram after the attack, the independent news outlet Meduza said. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin orders gun control review as school shooting in Russia kills 7 children, 2 staff members

At least 11 people have been killed and many more wounded after one or more gunmen opened fire in a school in the Russian city of Kazan, the RIA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the emergency services ministry.&nbsp;

Two children could be seen leaping from the third floor of the four-storey&nbsp;School Number 175 as gunshots sounded, in a video filmed by an onlooker that was circulated by RIA.&nbsp;

Some Russian news agencies reporting two teenage gunmen were involved and others said a sole shooter took part.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RIA said one 19-year-old gunman had been detained and that an explosion had been heard at the school. Footage posted on social media showed a young man being pinned to the ground outside the school building by a police officer.&nbsp;

Footage also showed emergency service vehicles parked outside the school, with people running towards the building.&nbsp;

It was not clear whether any other shooters remained at large. Nor was it immediately clear what the motive for the attack was.&nbsp;&nbsp;

School shootings are rare in Russia. One of the last major shootings of its kind took place in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2018 when a student at a college killed 19 before turning his gun on himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kazan is the capital of the Muslim-majority region of Tatarstan and located around 450 miles (725 km) east of Moscow.&nbsp;

At least 11 people have been killed and many more wounded after one or more gunmen opened fire in a school in the Russian city of Kazan, the RIA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the emergency services ministry.

At least 11 people have been killed and many more wounded after one or more gunmen opened fire in a school in the Russian city of Kazan, the RIA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the emergency services ministry. Two children could be seen leaping from the third floor of the four-storey School Number 175 as gunshots sounded, in a video filmed by an onlooker that was circulated by RIA. Some Russian news agencies reporting two teenage gunmen were involved and others said a sole shooter took part. RIA said one 19-year-old gunman had been detained and that an explosion had been heard at the school. Footage posted on social media showed a young man being pinned to the ground outside the school building by a police officer. Footage also showed emergency service vehicles parked outside the school, with people running towards the building. It was not clear whether any other shooters remained at large. Nor was it immediately clear what the motive for the attack was. School shootings are rare in Russia. One of the last major shootings of its kind took place in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2018 when a student at a college killed 19 before turning his gun on himself. Kazan is the capital of the Muslim-majority region of Tatarstan and located around 450 miles (725 km) east of Moscow.

Eleven killed, many wounded in Russian school shooting: Reports

After a year of remote learning and socially distanced classrooms, one school in the Spanish region of Murcia is trying to combine clear air and a new way of teaching. WION brings you a report.

Spanish schools revamp classroom learning by teaching students at beachside

Does having school at the beach sound like a dream? After a year of remote learning and socially distanced classrooms, one school in the Spanish region of Murcia is doing just that, trying to combine clear air and a new way of teaching.

A day at the Spanish beachside classroom

Two decades of snail pace revisions of Saudi schoolbooks aimed at removing supremacist references to Jews, Christians, and Shiites suggest a willingness to delete offensive language while keeping in place fundamental concepts of an ultra-conservative, anti-pluralistic, and intolerant interpretation of Islam.

In a break with the past, Human Rights Watch and Impact-se, an education-focused Israeli research group, reported for the first time in two decades of post-9/11 pressure on Saudi Arabia that the kingdom had made significant progress in revising textbooks.

The reports focussed on explicit references to other religions but noted that further revisions were needed to eliminate language that disparages practices associated with religious minorities, particularly Shiite Muslims and Sufis, sects viewed as heretic by ultra-conservatives.

“As long as the texts continue to disparage religious beliefs and practices of minority groups, including those of fellow Saudi citizens, it will contribute to the culture of discrimination that these groups face,” said Michael Page, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Middle East director.

“They removed some of the more offensive stuff like pictures of Shiite shrines that were called shirk (polytheistic) and they removed some offensive language, but the kernel is still there... They are trying to make the language less offensive but the whole idea is offensive,” added Human Rights Watch Middle East researcher Adam Coogle.

Implicit in the two reports’ conclusions, but at best only summarily mentioned, was the fact that the ultra-conservative interpretation of basic religious concepts as promoted by Saudi Arabia until the rise of King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, remain unaltered in the schoolbooks.

These interpretations relate to the ban on bida’a or religious innovation and shirk or polytheism as well as the rejection of supplication, a thinly veiled reference to the Shia practice of intercession.

Critics, including prominent Muslim scholars, argue that Saudi Arabia’s failure to address problematic concepts of Islam, that constitute the basis for ultra-conservative rejection of religious pluralism and supremacist and intolerant interpretations of the faith, call into question the kingdom’s projection of itself as a paragon of religious moderation and leader of the Islamic world.

The critics assert that the significant progress reported by Human Rights Watch and Impact-se constitutes part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to pre-empt pressure from the Biden administration as it recalibrates its relationship with the kingdom.

They also charge that the progress is designed to make Saudi Arabia, whose image has been tarnished by human rights abuse and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, palatable to foreign direct investors as well as boost pressure on international companies to shift their regional operations from Dubai to the kingdom.

Scholars in Saudi Arabia took issue with the Human Rights Watch report. “I do not know why the world is so busy with us. Although their countries are full of things that need attention, revision, arrangement, and organization,” said political sociologist Widad al-Jarwan, adding that “even their curricula in the West are full of mistakes against” Muslims.

Indonesian Muslim scholars argue that the Saudi interpretation of ibadah, the rules governing worship, constitute an innovation by defining aspects of worship practised by a majority of Muslims in ways that are viewed by ultra-conservatives as beyond the pale.

“What matters is how the Saudis interpret the teachings related to how Muslims should treat anybody of a different sect or faith. The problem is how they believe the other should be treated. It doesn’t matter what they call me. It doesn’t matter if they call me a kafir, an infidel, as long as they truly believe that I should be treated equally. The problem is that the Saudis don’t really want to change their established system of beliefs,” said Yahya Cholil Staquf, a prominent Islamic scholar and secretary-general of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim movement.

Mr. Staquf was one of the major forces behind Nahdlatul Ulama’s charter of Humanitarian Islam that embraces the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and calls for reform of problematic or obsolete religious legal concepts that negate equal rights for all.

Ali al-Ahmad, director of the Washington-based Institute of Gulf Affairs that has long highlighted problems with Saudi textbooks, contended that “when it comes to bida’a and shirk, the Wahhabis are more guilty than other Muslims. Saudi Arabia will not be able to move forward with Wahhabism as its state religion. The concept of a state religion must be abolished before the country can move into the modern age.”

Mr Al-Ahmed’s comment goes to the core of the debate about religious reform in the Muslim world and whether states like Saudi Arabia without the lead and buy-in of civil society can achieve real and lasting change.

“There’s no civil society. There’s no dialogue. Zero,” Mr Coogle said.

Significant social reforms in recent years were primarily designed to cater to youth aspirations, enable economic diversification, attract foreign direct investment, and shore up the country’s tarnished image while ensuring state-control on the principle of absolute obedience to the ruler. They were not rooted in a recognition that the kingdom’s ultra-conservative mores were problematic in and of themselves.

Discussing the textbook revisions, Mr. Coogle noted that “it’s not like the Saudis looked at their textbooks and saw a problem. Other people didn’t like it and the Saudis are trying to quell those concerns.”

The stepped-up Saudi revision of schoolbooks was in part spurred by a draft bill in the US Congress that would require the Secretary of State to report annually “on religious intolerance in Saudi Arabian educational materials.” The draft was initially introduced in 2017 by a Republican sponsor who has since retired and reintroduced in 2019.

The Human Rights Watch report noted that although the revised schoolbooks no longer contain explicit references to Shia Islam, they still included harsh criticism of Shia practices and traditions, labelling them evidence of polytheism that threatens the existence of Islam.

A schoolbook for 4th-grade nine-year olds advised that adherence to such practices would lead to the cancellation of a person’s good deeds, God’s rejection of their repentance, and eternal damnation.

The practices include praying to saints and visiting tombs and shrines of prominent religious figures that are rejected by Wahhabism as a form of idolatry. They also involve the Shiite supplication to God via intermediaries as well as kneeling to anyone other than God, building mosques and shrines on top of graves, and wailing over the dead.

“Any Saudi who reads this will understand what it means,” Mr. Coogle said.

Saudi Shiites noted that all Muslim students, including Shiites, were required to use these textbooks even if they were perceived as offensive.

“The textbooks are written under the close supervision of leading Wahhabi clerics led by Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan,” one of Saudi Arabia’s most senior ultra-conservative clerics, Mr. Al-Ahmad said.

Mr. Al-Fawzan “views Islam as a Wahhabi-only religion. This vision is what is reflected in Saudi textbooks and other religious literature. This means that Shia Muslims, Sufis, other Sunni Muslims –are polytheists and deviants,” Mr. Al-Ahmad added.

Mr. Page cautioned that “as long as disparaging references to religious minorities remain in the text it will continue to stoke controversy and condemnation.”

By the same token, Saudi Arabia’s failure to address ultra-conservative interpretations of religious concepts that justify a rejection of pluralism and religious tolerance challenge the kingdom’s claim to be a leading voice of moderation – a pillar of the country’s quest to be recognized as a, if not the leader of the Muslim world in a new world order.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Two decades of snail pace revisions of Saudi schoolbooks aimed at removing supremacist references to Jews, Christians, and Shiites suggest a willingness to delete offensive language while keeping in place fundamental concepts of an ultra-conservative, anti-pluralistic, and intolerant interpretation of Islam.

Two decades of snail pace revisions of Saudi schoolbooks aimed at removing supremacist references to Jews, Christians, and Shiites suggest a willingness to delete offensive language while keeping in place fundamental concepts of an ultra-conservative, anti-pluralistic, and intolerant interpretation of Islam. In a break with the past, Human Rights Watch and Impact-se, an education-focused Israeli research group, reported for the first time in two decades of post-9/11 pressure on Saudi Arabia that the kingdom had made significant progress in revising textbooks. The reports focussed on explicit references to other religions but noted that further revisions were needed to eliminate language that disparages practices associated with religious minorities, particularly Shiite Muslims and Sufis, sects viewed as heretic by ultra-conservatives. “As long as the texts continue to disparage religious beliefs and practices of minority groups, including those of fellow Saudi citizens, it will contribute to the culture of discrimination that these groups face,” said Michael Page, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Middle East director. “They removed some of the more offensive stuff like pictures of Shiite shrines that were called shirk (polytheistic) and they removed some offensive language, but the kernel is still there... They are trying to make the language less offensive but the whole idea is offensive,” added Human Rights Watch Middle East researcher Adam Coogle. Implicit in the two reports’ conclusions, but at best only summarily mentioned, was the fact that the ultra-conservative interpretation of basic religious concepts as promoted by Saudi Arabia until the rise of King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, remain unaltered in the schoolbooks. These interpretations relate to the ban on bida’a or religious innovation and shirk or polytheism as well as the rejection of supplication, a thinly veiled reference to the Shia practice of intercession. Critics, including prominent Muslim scholars, argue that Saudi Arabia’s failure to address problematic concepts of Islam, that constitute the basis for ultra-conservative rejection of religious pluralism and supremacist and intolerant interpretations of the faith, call into question the kingdom’s projection of itself as a paragon of religious moderation and leader of the Islamic world. The critics assert that the significant progress reported by Human Rights Watch and Impact-se constitutes part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to pre-empt pressure from the Biden administration as it recalibrates its relationship with the kingdom. They also charge that the progress is designed to make Saudi Arabia, whose image has been tarnished by human rights abuse and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, palatable to foreign direct investors as well as boost pressure on international companies to shift their regional operations from Dubai to the kingdom. Scholars in Saudi Arabia took issue with the Human Rights Watch report. “I do not know why the world is so busy with us. Although their countries are full of things that need attention, revision, arrangement, and organization,” said political sociologist Widad al-Jarwan, adding that “even their curricula in the West are full of mistakes against” Muslims. Indonesian Muslim scholars argue that the Saudi interpretation of ibadah, the rules governing worship, constitute an innovation by defining aspects of worship practised by a majority of Muslims in ways that are viewed by ultra-conservatives as beyond the pale. “What matters is how the Saudis interpret the teachings related to how Muslims should treat anybody of a different sect or faith. The problem is how they believe the other should be treated. It doesn’t matter what they call me. It doesn’t matter if they call me a kafir, an infidel, as long as they truly believe that I should be treated equally. The problem is that the Saudis don’t really want to change their established system of beliefs,” said Yahya Cholil Staquf, a prominent Islamic scholar and secretary-general of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim movement. Mr. Staquf was one of the major forces behind Nahdlatul Ulama’s charter of Humanitarian Islam that embraces the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and calls for reform of problematic or obsolete religious legal concepts that negate equal rights for all. Ali al-Ahmad, director of the Washington-based Institute of Gulf Affairs that has long highlighted problems with Saudi textbooks, contended that “when it comes to bida’a and shirk, the Wahhabis are more guilty than other Muslims. Saudi Arabia will not be able to move forward with Wahhabism as its state religion. The concept of a state religion must be abolished before the country can move into the modern age.” Mr Al-Ahmed’s comment goes to the core of the debate about religious reform in the Muslim world and whether states like Saudi Arabia without the lead and buy-in of civil society can achieve real and lasting change. “There’s no civil society. There’s no dialogue. Zero,” Mr Coogle said. Significant social reforms in recent years were primarily designed to cater to youth aspirations, enable economic diversification, attract foreign direct investment, and shore up the country’s tarnished image while ensuring state-control on the principle of absolute obedience to the ruler. They were not rooted in a recognition that the kingdom’s ultra-conservative mores were problematic in and of themselves. Discussing the textbook revisions, Mr. Coogle noted that “it’s not like the Saudis looked at their textbooks and saw a problem. Other people didn’t like it and the Saudis are trying to quell those concerns.” The stepped-up Saudi revision of schoolbooks was in part spurred by a draft bill in the US Congress that would require the Secretary of State to report annually “on religious intolerance in Saudi Arabian educational materials.” The draft was initially introduced in 2017 by a Republican sponsor who has since retired and reintroduced in 2019. The Human Rights Watch report noted that although the revised schoolbooks no longer contain explicit references to Shia Islam, they still included harsh criticism of Shia practices and traditions, labelling them evidence of polytheism that threatens the existence of Islam. A schoolbook for 4th-grade nine-year olds advised that adherence to such practices would lead to the cancellation of a person’s good deeds, God’s rejection of their repentance, and eternal damnation. The practices include praying to saints and visiting tombs and shrines of prominent religious figures that are rejected by Wahhabism as a form of idolatry. They also involve the Shiite supplication to God via intermediaries as well as kneeling to anyone other than God, building mosques and shrines on top of graves, and wailing over the dead. “Any Saudi who reads this will understand what it means,” Mr. Coogle said. Saudi Shiites noted that all Muslim students, including Shiites, were required to use these textbooks even if they were perceived as offensive. “The textbooks are written under the close supervision of leading Wahhabi clerics led by Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan,” one of Saudi Arabia’s most senior ultra-conservative clerics, Mr. Al-Ahmad said. Mr. Al-Fawzan “views Islam as a Wahhabi-only religion. This vision is what is reflected in Saudi textbooks and other religious literature. This means that Shia Muslims, Sufis, other Sunni Muslims –are polytheists and deviants,” Mr. Al-Ahmad added. Mr. Page cautioned that “as long as disparaging references to religious minorities remain in the text it will continue to stoke controversy and condemnation.” By the same token, Saudi Arabia’s failure to address ultra-conservative interpretations of religious concepts that justify a rejection of pluralism and religious tolerance challenge the kingdom’s claim to be a leading voice of moderation – a pillar of the country’s quest to be recognized as a, if not the leader of the Muslim world in a new world order. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: What does it take to recontextualise Islam in Saudi schoolbooks?

Every day since December, about sixty children make their way to a school in a makeshift tent at the site of the Indian farmers' protest against agricultural reforms. The protesters started this for kids who don't go to school or haven't been able to attend classes due to the virus lockdown.

School established for slum children at Indian farmers' protest site

The&nbsp;Union Health Ministry of India has issued a&nbsp;standard operating procedure (SOP) for schools who would opt to re-open schools.

Only&nbsp;the schools that lie outside the containment zones will be allowed to reopen. It has also been ordered to not allow students, teachers and non-teaching staff come to school if they reside in containment zones. Furthermore, the students, teachers and&nbsp;non-teaching staff who will opt to come back to school will be advised not to travel to the containment zones after rejoining school.

The reopening will only be allowed for classes IX to XII, as of now. Instructions for other classes will be released soon, after looking at the turnout and judging the ability of schools.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-5-crore-covid-19-tests-conducted-till-date-in-india-325962">Also read:&nbsp;Over 5 crore COVID-19 tests conducted till date in India</a>

All schools will have to compulsorily sanitise the premises, from classrooms to labs, with&nbsp;1 per cent sodium hypochlorite solution. This will be personally checked by the local authorities for the schools which have been used as quarantine facilities in the past few months.

All the entry and exit points for the school will have to have sanitisation machines which will include&nbsp;mandatory hand sanitizer dispenser and thermal screening provisions.&nbsp;

All employees and students will be asked to wear face masks and follow social distancing.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFightsCorona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFightsCorona</a> 
 
Health Ministry issues SOP for partial reopening of Schools for students of 9th-12th classes on a voluntary basis, for taking 
guidance from their teachers in the context of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>.<a href="https://t.co/i1I8pPwXyT">https://t.co/i1I8pPwXyT</a> <a href="https://t.co/6c9datyVOC">pic.twitter.com/6c9datyVOC</a>
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoHFW_INDIA/status/1303335899426512896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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It has also been ordered to not let the students/teachers/non-teaching staff come to school if any of them show the slightest symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

The schools have also been asked to display posters and sign boards reading out the preacuations and prevention needed to contain the spread of coronavirus, in school and in general.

While the schools are being given the permission to resume offline classes for specific class, the government has asked schools to keep encouraging students and parents to continue with online classes.

The Union Health Ministry of India has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for schools who would opt to re-open schools. Only the schools that lie outside the containment zones will be allowed to reopen.

The Union Health Ministry of India has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for schools who would opt to re-open schools. Only the schools that lie outside the containment zones will be allowed to reopen. It has also been ordered to not allow students, teachers and non-teaching staff come to school if they reside in containment zones. Furthermore, the students, teachers and non-teaching staff who will opt to come back to school will be advised not to travel to the containment zones after rejoining school. The reopening will only be allowed for classes IX to XII, as of now. Instructions for other classes will be released soon, after looking at the turnout and judging the ability of schools. Also read: Over 5 crore COVID-19 tests conducted till date in India All schools will have to compulsorily sanitise the premises, from classrooms to labs, with 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite solution. This will be personally checked by the local authorities for the schools which have been used as quarantine facilities in the past few months. All the entry and exit points for the school will have to have sanitisation machines which will include mandatory hand sanitizer dispenser and thermal screening provisions. All employees and students will be asked to wear face masks and follow social distancing. #IndiaFightsCorona Health Ministry issues SOP for partial reopening of Schools for students of 9th-12th classes on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers in the context of #COVID19.https://t.co/i1I8pPwXyT pic.twitter.com/6c9datyVOC — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) September 8, 2020 × It has also been ordered to not let the students/teachers/non-teaching staff come to school if any of them show the slightest symptoms of the novel coronavirus. The schools have also been asked to display posters and sign boards reading out the preacuations and prevention needed to contain the spread of coronavirus, in school and in general. While the schools are being given the permission to resume offline classes for specific class, the government has asked schools to keep encouraging students and parents to continue with online classes.

'Encourage online classes': Indian schools get guidelines for resuming offline classes

Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. Most businesses still remain shut or disrupted, and educational institutions are also finding it challenging to reopen amid safety concerns.

A British charity named Save The Children on Monday warned of an “unprecedented education emergency”, which would jeopardise the education of over 9.7 million kids, who may never return to school. 
 
1.6 kids with no access to education

Citing data by UNESCO, the charity showed how in April 2020, over 1.6 billion students had lost access to schools and universities in a bid to counter the coronavirus crisis. This was a big number, for it refers to 90 per cent of the global student population.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-records-highest-single-daily-spike-with-230370-global-coronavirus-cases-312834">WHO records highest single-daily spike with 230,370 global coronavirus cases</a>

The new report titled “Save Our Education” claims,” For the first time in human history, an entire generation of children globally have had their education disrupted”.

Additionally, in the aftermath of the virus and during the recovery process, over 90 to 117 million children could befall to poverty, which would in turn even decrease the number of kids attending school.

<h6><img alt="Students wear face masks as they study in a classroom in a high school in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on July 10, 2020. High schools in Wuhan reopened on July 10 after the start of the term was delayed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b786b26f-1449-41d0-89d3-3ff913e62ce4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-5_9.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;Students wear face masks as they study in a classroom in a high school in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on July 10, 2020. High schools in Wuhan reopened on July 10 after the start of the term was delayed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

Based on economical and social factors, the report claimed that a whopping 9.7 million children will drop out of school permanently. They took into account the fact that more kids will now be pushed into informal unemployment, and girls may be forced to marry in many situations.

The coronavirus pandemic could also cause $77 billion worth of losses in the education sector and less stipulation in the budget, accelerating the crisis in the low and middle income countries by the end of 2021.

"Around 10 million children may never return to school, this is an unprecedented education emergency and governments must urgently invest in learning,"&nbsp;the charity’s chief executive Inger Ashing said.

The inequality between male and female students is also expected to spike.” Instead we are at risk of unparalleled budget cuts which will see existing inequality explode between the rich and the poor, and between boys and girls”, it said.

Funds needed urgently

In the report, the charity also stressed on the need to urgently pump more money into the education sector, to ensure kids return to schools, especially in developing countries.

"We know the poorest, most marginalised children who were already the furthest behind have suffered the greatest loss, with no access to distance learning - or any kind of education - for half an academic year," Ashing added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-bringing-record-1-trillion-of-new-global-corporate-debt-in-2020-report-312840">Covid-19 bringing record $1 trillion of new global corporate debt in 2020</a>

The charity also suggested the nullification of debt repayments by poor countries, which would “free up” $14 billion for pumping money into education programmes across the globe.

"If we allow this education crisis to unfold, the impact on children's futures will be long lasting. The promise the world has made to ensure all children have access to a quality education by 2030, will be set back by years," Ashing said.

According to the report, the kids in following countries are at the most risk: Afghanistan, Chad, Niger, Mali, Liberia, Mauritania, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.

Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. Most businesses still remain shut or disrupted, and educational institutions are also finding it challenging to reopen amid safety concerns.

Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. Most businesses still remain shut or disrupted, and educational institutions are also finding it challenging to reopen amid safety concerns. A British charity named Save The Children on Monday warned of an “unprecedented education emergency”, which would jeopardise the education of over 9.7 million kids, who may never return to school. 1.6 kids with no access to education Citing data by UNESCO, the charity showed how in April 2020, over 1.6 billion students had lost access to schools and universities in a bid to counter the coronavirus crisis. This was a big number, for it refers to 90 per cent of the global student population. Also read: WHO records highest single-daily spike with 230,370 global coronavirus cases The new report titled “Save Our Education” claims,” For the first time in human history, an entire generation of children globally have had their education disrupted”. Additionally, in the aftermath of the virus and during the recovery process, over 90 to 117 million children could befall to poverty, which would in turn even decrease the number of kids attending school. Students wear face masks as they study in a classroom in a high school in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on July 10, 2020. High schools in Wuhan reopened on July 10 after the start of the term was delayed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. | AFP Based on economical and social factors, the report claimed that a whopping 9.7 million children will drop out of school permanently. They took into account the fact that more kids will now be pushed into informal unemployment, and girls may be forced to marry in many situations. The coronavirus pandemic could also cause $77 billion worth of losses in the education sector and less stipulation in the budget, accelerating the crisis in the low and middle income countries by the end of 2021. "Around 10 million children may never return to school, this is an unprecedented education emergency and governments must urgently invest in learning," the charity’s chief executive Inger Ashing said. The inequality between male and female students is also expected to spike.” Instead we are at risk of unparalleled budget cuts which will see existing inequality explode between the rich and the poor, and between boys and girls”, it said. Funds needed urgently In the report, the charity also stressed on the need to urgently pump more money into the education sector, to ensure kids return to schools, especially in developing countries. "We know the poorest, most marginalised children who were already the furthest behind have suffered the greatest loss, with no access to distance learning - or any kind of education - for half an academic year," Ashing added. Also read: Covid-19 bringing record $1 trillion of new global corporate debt in 2020 The charity also suggested the nullification of debt repayments by poor countries, which would “free up” $14 billion for pumping money into education programmes across the globe. "If we allow this education crisis to unfold, the impact on children's futures will be long lasting. The promise the world has made to ensure all children have access to a quality education by 2030, will be set back by years," Ashing said. According to the report, the kids in following countries are at the most risk: Afghanistan, Chad, Niger, Mali, Liberia, Mauritania, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.

Over 10 million kids may permanently drop out of school due to the pandemic, a new report claims

An eminent scientist on Sunday swuggested a shift system in schools to prevent spread of the coronavirus and continuing with online classes with focus on project-based learning in a big way to promote creativity.

Former Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) V K Saraswat supported the idea of online teaching in the absence of regular classes in view of closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, he said it should be organised in far better and more interactive ways so that delivery of knowledge can be better.

The NITI Aayog member stressed the need for schools to have a strategy when they reopen keeping in mind the safety of students.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-india-overtakes-spain-with-9971-new-cases-5th-highest-in-world-303934">Also read:&nbsp;COVID 19: India overtakes Spain with 9971 new cases; 5th highest in world</a>

May be they will have to organise shifts so that within the same space they can handle the students; may be they will have to employ more teachers, and they can run two shifts.

"May be half the strength in a class can come in the morning and others in the afternoon. Or students of first to sixth standard can come in the morning and seventh to tenth can come in the afternoon, Saraswat told PTI.

Reopening strategy will have to be worked out by the education department, added the former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister.

Along with normal classes, online education should be continued as a regular system in future, and promoted in a big way because that is the way technology is going to help delivery of knowledge, he added.

Saraswat also raised the pitch for reforms in the education sector, saying India is facing the problem of rote learning. 
Rote learning has to give way for more project-based teaching, he underlined.

Children should be made to work on projects at home and that can be done online. That will also support the changeover from rote learning to creative learning.

I personally believe the education delivery system -- primary, secondary and college levels -- has to be completely changed because creativity in India is less and creativity would come only if we replace rote learning with project-based learning, Saraswat said.

On some academics holding the view that the marks-based model is killing the education system in India as it does not promote creativity, he said evaluation of any outcome is important.

Even when we perform in our normal way, evaluation cannot be replaced. Otherwise, you cant find out how much you have succeeded in delivery. Certainly evaluation cannot be dispensed with.

He did not agree with some experts, who favoured a single, uniform system for school education in India by dispensing with CBSE, ICSE and state boards.

I am not for normalising everything in life. I personally believe variety should be there. This concept of one kind of a system is okay for a Communist society, society which was trying to drive everybody like a herd, he said.

Creativity comes with variety, and there is nothing wrong in having different kinds of education system, but one thing which is important is we have to integrate vocational training as part of the education curriculum," Saraswat said.

Vocational part cannot be kept away from the education system, he added.

An eminent scientist on Sunday swuggested a shift system in schools to prevent spread of the coronavirus and continuing with online classes with focus on project-based learning in a big way to promote creativity.

An eminent scientist on Sunday swuggested a shift system in schools to prevent spread of the coronavirus and continuing with online classes with focus on project-based learning in a big way to promote creativity. Former Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) V K Saraswat supported the idea of online teaching in the absence of regular classes in view of closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, he said it should be organised in far better and more interactive ways so that delivery of knowledge can be better. The NITI Aayog member stressed the need for schools to have a strategy when they reopen keeping in mind the safety of students. Also read: COVID 19: India overtakes Spain with 9971 new cases; 5th highest in world May be they will have to organise shifts so that within the same space they can handle the students; may be they will have to employ more teachers, and they can run two shifts. "May be half the strength in a class can come in the morning and others in the afternoon. Or students of first to sixth standard can come in the morning and seventh to tenth can come in the afternoon, Saraswat told PTI. Reopening strategy will have to be worked out by the education department, added the former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister. Along with normal classes, online education should be continued as a regular system in future, and promoted in a big way because that is the way technology is going to help delivery of knowledge, he added. Saraswat also raised the pitch for reforms in the education sector, saying India is facing the problem of rote learning. Rote learning has to give way for more project-based teaching, he underlined. Children should be made to work on projects at home and that can be done online. That will also support the changeover from rote learning to creative learning. I personally believe the education delivery system -- primary, secondary and college levels -- has to be completely changed because creativity in India is less and creativity would come only if we replace rote learning with project-based learning, Saraswat said. On some academics holding the view that the marks-based model is killing the education system in India as it does not promote creativity, he said evaluation of any outcome is important. Even when we perform in our normal way, evaluation cannot be replaced. Otherwise, you cant find out how much you have succeeded in delivery. Certainly evaluation cannot be dispensed with. He did not agree with some experts, who favoured a single, uniform system for school education in India by dispensing with CBSE, ICSE and state boards. I am not for normalising everything in life. I personally believe variety should be there. This concept of one kind of a system is okay for a Communist society, society which was trying to drive everybody like a herd, he said. Creativity comes with variety, and there is nothing wrong in having different kinds of education system, but one thing which is important is we have to integrate vocational training as part of the education curriculum," Saraswat said. Vocational part cannot be kept away from the education system, he added.

Eminent scientist suggests shift-system in schools when they reopen

Some students, who were to appear for class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations, had traveled back to their hometown as inter-state travel resumed in India amid the lockdown.&nbsp;

After the travel resumed, CBSE announced that the left exams for classes 10th and 12th will take place from June. While students welcomed the move, as they think this will finally help them resume their educational plans, some students were worried that &nbsp;they might have to travel back to their school states.

However, HRD minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, on Thursday morning announced that CBSE will be making an announcement soon to help students.

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📢Attention! 
Students who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centre, we have a major announcement coming their way this evening. 
Stay tuned! <a href="https://t.co/QtuDNsRiK0">pic.twitter.com/QtuDNsRiK0</a>
— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRPNishank/status/1265521014945054723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-rising-covid-19-cases-domestic-flight-services-resume-after-two-months-300820">Also read: Amid rising COVID-19 cases, domestic flight services resume after two months</a>

Later in the evening, through Twitter, he announced that all students who are not in the same district as their school will be allowed to appear for the exam in a school in their hometown.&nbsp;However, students, themselves, have to reach out to the officials and inform them about this needed switch.

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📢Students, who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centers due to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdown</a>! 
 
I have advised <a href="https://twitter.com/cbseindia29?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbseindia29</a> to shift your examination center to your current district. Kindly get in touch with your respective schools for further information.
— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRPNishank/status/1265628712663425024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> संकट के कारण हजारों बच्चे अपने गृह प्रदेश में चले गए थे, ऐसी स्थिति में सीबीएसई की बोर्ड परीक्षाओं में शामिल हो रहे विद्यार्थियों की समस्या को ध्यान में रखते हुए <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBSE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBSE</a> ने यह फैसला लिया है कि ऐसे विद्यार्थी अपनी बोर्ड परीक्षा अपने गृह जिले में ही दे सकते हैं।<a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNewslive</a> <a href="https://t.co/3UFkbISIPm">pic.twitter.com/3UFkbISIPm</a>
— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRPNishank/status/1265612302054600704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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HRD minister, with this announcement, hopes that students will be able to take a sigh of relief and focus on their preparations instead now. He also expressed that he understands the mental pressure the students have right now due to the pandemic, and hopes that students will do their best.

As the lockdown was initiated in mid March, few board exams were postponed till further notice. Students, in the meanwhile, had traveled back to their hometown and had expressed concern over this issue to the ministry.

Some students, who were to appear for class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations, had traveled back to their hometown as inter-state travel resumed in India amid the lockdown.

Some students, who were to appear for class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations, had traveled back to their hometown as inter-state travel resumed in India amid the lockdown. After the travel resumed, CBSE announced that the left exams for classes 10th and 12th will take place from June. While students welcomed the move, as they think this will finally help them resume their educational plans, some students were worried that they might have to travel back to their school states. However, HRD minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, on Thursday morning announced that CBSE will be making an announcement soon to help students. 📢Attention! Students who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centre, we have a major announcement coming their way this evening. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/QtuDNsRiK0 — Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 27, 2020 × Also read: Amid rising COVID-19 cases, domestic flight services resume after two months Later in the evening, through Twitter, he announced that all students who are not in the same district as their school will be allowed to appear for the exam in a school in their hometown. However, students, themselves, have to reach out to the officials and inform them about this needed switch. 📢Students, who are currently not in the same district as their board examination centers due to #lockdown! I have advised @cbseindia29 to shift your examination center to your current district. Kindly get in touch with your respective schools for further information. — Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 27, 2020 × #Covid_19 संकट के कारण हजारों बच्चे अपने गृह प्रदेश में चले गए थे, ऐसी स्थिति में सीबीएसई की बोर्ड परीक्षाओं में शामिल हो रहे विद्यार्थियों की समस्या को ध्यान में रखते हुए #CBSE ने यह फैसला लिया है कि ऐसे विद्यार्थी अपनी बोर्ड परीक्षा अपने गृह जिले में ही दे सकते हैं।@DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/3UFkbISIPm — Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 27, 2020 × HRD minister, with this announcement, hopes that students will be able to take a sigh of relief and focus on their preparations instead now. He also expressed that he understands the mental pressure the students have right now due to the pandemic, and hopes that students will do their best. As the lockdown was initiated in mid March, few board exams were postponed till further notice. Students, in the meanwhile, had traveled back to their hometown and had expressed concern over this issue to the ministry.

CBSE students can take board exams in their home districts: Ramesh Pokhriyal

In search of something a wee bit more exciting than rafting down the rapids on the Ganga at Rishikesh, and as introspective as meditation, Meraj and Johan look within and face their fears in Rishikesh. Their methods, unconventional at best, involve leaping off a bungy station perched 90 metres above a valley, and zipping down a hill yoked to a cable at speeds exceeding 150 kph. Days in Rishikesh, as they say, are just packed.

WION Traveller S3 - Episode 24 - Return to Rishikesh

On September 19, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/residents-of-jammu-and-kashmir-express-joy-after-restoration-of-postpaid-mobile-services-255860">Srinagar Administration</a> had announced that it had embarked on an ambitious project to transform government schools in the district into vibrant and competitive institutions of learning equipped with the most modern facilities.

The process started with the development of 25 pilot schools on modern lines, refurbishing entire school buildings, equipping them with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fresh-snowfall-in-srinagar-traffic-disrupted-274136">modern infrastructure</a> and revamping their academic structure aimed at improving their learning outcomes.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-sets-up-internet-kiosks-in-every-district-of-kashmir-to-help-people-255928">Government sets up internet kiosks in every district of Kashmir to help people</a>

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Belated though, here is the new year gift for Srinagar. After months of hard work, our 25 smart schools are ready to offer students and parents the best. Let’s make it great 👍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmartCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmartCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/AEvg3Pjy3d">pic.twitter.com/AEvg3Pjy3d</a>
— Shahid Choudhary (@listenshahid) <a href="https://twitter.com/listenshahid/status/1218768865657638912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Belated though, here is the new year gift for Srinagar. After months of hard work, our 25 smart schools are ready to offer students and parents the best. Let's make it great #SmartCity," tweeted Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, District Magistrate/Development Commissioner, Srinagar.

<img alt="Smart Schools in Srinagar" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="66333404-bb73-477a-80e7-a7ce7366b409" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2837%29_2.jpg" /> 
[ Smart Schools in Srinagar (Courtesy: Twitter Handle @listenshahid) ]

Choudhary while speaking on the occasion had said that a comprehensive modernisation plan based on real models as existing in public schools outside the state has been chalked out to ensure successful execution of this ambitious project.

On September 19, the Srinagar Administration had announced that it had embarked on an ambitious project to transform government schools in the district into vibrant and competitive institutions of learning equipped with the most modern facilities.

On September 19, the Srinagar Administration had announced that it had embarked on an ambitious project to transform government schools in the district into vibrant and competitive institutions of learning equipped with the most modern facilities. The process started with the development of 25 pilot schools on modern lines, refurbishing entire school buildings, equipping them with modern infrastructure and revamping their academic structure aimed at improving their learning outcomes. Also Read: Government sets up internet kiosks in every district of Kashmir to help people Belated though, here is the new year gift for Srinagar. After months of hard work, our 25 smart schools are ready to offer students and parents the best. Let’s make it great 👍 #SmartCity pic.twitter.com/AEvg3Pjy3d — Shahid Choudhary (@listenshahid) January 19, 2020 × "Belated though, here is the new year gift for Srinagar. After months of hard work, our 25 smart schools are ready to offer students and parents the best. Let's make it great #SmartCity," tweeted Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, District Magistrate/Development Commissioner, Srinagar. [ Smart Schools in Srinagar (Courtesy: Twitter Handle @listenshahid) ] Choudhary while speaking on the occasion had said that a comprehensive modernisation plan based on real models as existing in public schools outside the state has been chalked out to ensure successful execution of this ambitious project.

25 smart schools ready to offer students the best: District Magistrate Srinagar

Land-to-land missiles fired by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-airstrikes-kill-25-pro-iran-militia-fighters-in-iraq-and-syria-triggering-anger-271052">Syrian regime</a> forces killed eight civilians including four children in a school in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, a war monitor said.

Part of the building in the town of Sarmeen had been turned into a shelter for the displaced, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Sixteen people were wounded including some in a critical condition, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

An AFP correspondent in Sarmeen saw the remains of a missile several metres long fuming in a nearby olive grove.

In the latest round of violence in Syria's nearly nine-year-old war, regime forces have upped their deadly bombardment of the northwestern opposition bastion of Idlib in recent weeks.

In December alone, the violence pushed some 284,000 from their homes in the jihadist-run region of some three million people, the United Nations says.

The mass movement of people has seen public buildings such as mosques, garages, wedding halls and schools turned into shelters, UN humanitarian agency OCHA says.

Regime ally Russia announced a ceasefire for Idlib in late August after months of deadly Russian and regime bombardment that killed around 1,000 civilians.

But <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-carries-out-airstrikes-against-militant-groups-in-iraq-syria-270892">sporadic clashes</a> and bombardment persisted throughout the autumn before a spike in violence in the past month, the Observatory says.

Syria's civil war has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

In total 11,215 people including more than 1,000 children were killed during the war last year, although it was the least deadly year on record since the beginning of the conflict.

Land-to-land missiles fired by Syrian regime forces killed eight civilians including four children in a school in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, a war monitor said.

Land-to-land missiles fired by Syrian regime forces killed eight civilians including four children in a school in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, a war monitor said. Part of the building in the town of Sarmeen had been turned into a shelter for the displaced, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Sixteen people were wounded including some in a critical condition, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. An AFP correspondent in Sarmeen saw the remains of a missile several metres long fuming in a nearby olive grove. In the latest round of violence in Syria's nearly nine-year-old war, regime forces have upped their deadly bombardment of the northwestern opposition bastion of Idlib in recent weeks. In December alone, the violence pushed some 284,000 from their homes in the jihadist-run region of some three million people, the United Nations says. The mass movement of people has seen public buildings such as mosques, garages, wedding halls and schools turned into shelters, UN humanitarian agency OCHA says. Regime ally Russia announced a ceasefire for Idlib in late August after months of deadly Russian and regime bombardment that killed around 1,000 civilians. But sporadic clashes and bombardment persisted throughout the autumn before a spike in violence in the past month, the Observatory says. Syria's civil war has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. In total 11,215 people including more than 1,000 children were killed during the war last year, although it was the least deadly year on record since the beginning of the conflict.

Syria: Missiles kill eight in school turned shelter

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to include climate change and sustainability as subjects in the education curriculum. 
 
"Keeping in view the fact that climate change is one of the major challenges being faced by developing countries including us, which has severe impact on the health of every citizen, therefore climate change and sustainability classes as a pan of curriculum in education policy should be introduced throughout the country," a press note by Chautala on Saturday read. 
 
In the letter, giving the example of Italy, the Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, said it has become the first country to include compulsory classes on climate change and sustainability in its curriculum. 
 
He also raised concern over the issue of the increasing pollution in the national capital region (NCR)&nbsp;"which had converted the whole region as gas chamber&nbsp;(sic)'', in the letter written to the Union Minister.

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to include climate change and sustainability as subjects in the education curriculum.

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to include climate change and sustainability as subjects in the education curriculum. "Keeping in view the fact that climate change is one of the major challenges being faced by developing countries including us, which has severe impact on the health of every citizen, therefore climate change and sustainability classes as a pan of curriculum in education policy should be introduced throughout the country," a press note by Chautala on Saturday read. In the letter, giving the example of Italy, the Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, said it has become the first country to include compulsory classes on climate change and sustainability in its curriculum. He also raised concern over the issue of the increasing pollution in the national capital region (NCR) "which had converted the whole region as gas chamber (sic)'', in the letter written to the Union Minister.

Chautala urges MHRD to include climate change, sustainability as subjects in school curriculum

&nbsp;Schools in the National Capital will reopen on Monday after closing for two days due to a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../gurugram-struggles-to-breathe-as-air-quality- crosses-700-262316">spike in pollution levels</a>, but air quality is likely to remain "very poor" - a notch below the most hazardous "severe" rating - raising health risks for millions of students.

As a thick cover of toxic smog wrapped New Delhi's 20 million residents on Friday, government pollution monitor SAFAR showed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../pollution-continues-to-hurt-delhi-as-air-quality- close-in-on-emergency-mark-262234">air quality index</a> in the capital was at 540, indicating "severe" conditions, and relief was unlikely in the next 24 hours.

By Monday, Delhi's air quality would likely remain "very poor", SAFAR said, indicating prolonged exposure could lead to respiratory illness.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../govt-to-decide-extending-odd-even-if-air- quality-in-delhi-doesnt-improve-in-2-3-days-arvind-kejriwal-26228...">The state&nbsp;government of Delhi</a> had imposed a two-day shutdown on schools for a second time this month after pollution control authorities declared a public health emergency.

For 32-year old Shamin Qureshi and his 10-year old daughter Akshara, a challenging week lies ahead.

"We have no choice but to send her back to school with her inhaler and medicines," Qureshi said.

The maximum impact would be on school children, said Dhiren Gupta, senior consultant, paediatrics at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, who is also treating 10-year old Akshara.

Toxic smoke wreathing the city has plunged air quality into the "severe" pollution category on more days this month, as data showed that a pledge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stamp out burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states has not worked.

The air quality index measured by the US&nbsp;embassy in New Delhi surpassed 500 on Friday, which reflects conditions that could cause more serious health effects for everyone.

The index measures the concentration of tiny particles that can lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious ailments, known as fine particulate matter PM 2.5, from their diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Levels above 60 are considered unhealthy.

Every month, Qureshi spends $50, nearly a quarter of his monthly salary, on multiple visits to the hospital for his daughter's medical review.

"These medicines, which either you give by nebulisers or by inhalers, are costly. So the burden lies on the parents and the family," Gupta said.

Activists who say the federal government has been unable to resolve the issue also point to the inability of ordinary people to pressure authorities to fight the public health crisis.

Critics have also questioned the silence of Modi, an avid user of Twitter.

"Undoubtedly, this is a collective failure of all governments," said Anupam, a spokesman of political party Swaraj India, referring to the federal government, the city government of Delhi and its neighbouring states.

Anupam, who uses one name, belongs to the regional party founded by Yogendra Yadav, a leading academic turned politician.

Schools in the National Capital will reopen on Monday after closing for two days due to a spike in pollution levels, but air quality is likely to remain "very poor" - a notch below the most hazardous "severe" rating - raising health risks for millions of students.

Schools in the National Capital will reopen on Monday after closing for two days due to a spike in pollution levels, but air quality is likely to remain "very poor" - a notch below the most hazardous "severe" rating - raising health risks for millions of students. As a thick cover of toxic smog wrapped New Delhi's 20 million residents on Friday, government pollution monitor SAFAR showed air quality index in the capital was at 540, indicating "severe" conditions, and relief was unlikely in the next 24 hours. By Monday, Delhi's air quality would likely remain "very poor", SAFAR said, indicating prolonged exposure could lead to respiratory illness. The state government of Delhi had imposed a two-day shutdown on schools for a second time this month after pollution control authorities declared a public health emergency. For 32-year old Shamin Qureshi and his 10-year old daughter Akshara, a challenging week lies ahead. "We have no choice but to send her back to school with her inhaler and medicines," Qureshi said. The maximum impact would be on school children, said Dhiren Gupta, senior consultant, paediatrics at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, who is also treating 10-year old Akshara. Toxic smoke wreathing the city has plunged air quality into the "severe" pollution category on more days this month, as data showed that a pledge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stamp out burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states has not worked. The air quality index measured by the US embassy in New Delhi surpassed 500 on Friday, which reflects conditions that could cause more serious health effects for everyone. The index measures the concentration of tiny particles that can lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious ailments, known as fine particulate matter PM 2.5, from their diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Levels above 60 are considered unhealthy. Every month, Qureshi spends $50, nearly a quarter of his monthly salary, on multiple visits to the hospital for his daughter's medical review. "These medicines, which either you give by nebulisers or by inhalers, are costly. So the burden lies on the parents and the family," Gupta said. Activists who say the federal government has been unable to resolve the issue also point to the inability of ordinary people to pressure authorities to fight the public health crisis. Critics have also questioned the silence of Modi, an avid user of Twitter. "Undoubtedly, this is a collective failure of all governments," said Anupam, a spokesman of political party Swaraj India, referring to the federal government, the city government of Delhi and its neighbouring states. Anupam, who uses one name, belongs to the regional party founded by Yogendra Yadav, a leading academic turned politician.

Delhi's schools to reopen next week, parents wary of hazardous air

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