Saturday 20 August 2016

Google Apps for Education update will let parents see students' report cards






Google’s serious about education. The reason? Schools seem serious about Google. Toward the end of last year, sales of the Mountain View, California-based company’s Chromebook-branded computers accounted for more than half of all devices sold for U.S. grades K-12. It’s no wonder, then, the Google continues to iterate on its classroom software melange of tools, services, and edutainment in recent months, and August marked another step in that pedagogical effort. On Wednesday, Google announced an Apps for Education update that includes a student progress summary, enhanced annotation, and myriad features more.
First up is a feature sure to prompt uncomfortable conversations at some kitchen tables: student progress reports. Parents or guardians, once invited by a teacher, can view a digest of classroom announcements, upcoming assignment due dates, and more. Summaries are sent in the form of an email every week or day, depending on preference, though particularly overbearing moms and dads can check historical reports at the times of their choosing.
Next on the upgrade goodie list are annotations, which Google compares to “drawings on a whiteboard.” Basically, students can sketch on blank documents with a stylus or index fingers for the purpose of, say, writing chicken scratch answers to fill-in-the-blank questions or deriving calculus functions. (There’s nothing stopping class clowns from doodling works of less-intellectual merit, of course, but it’s presumably incumbent on teachers to nip that sort of behavior in the bud.)
Instructors, meanwhile, can use annotation to digitally mark up students’ work. And a new colored highlighter tool lets them underline passages in assignment books, novels, and other digital texts.
Google’s taken the opportunity to smooth out a few of Apps for Educations’ rough edges. The Classroom app, the central hub through which teachers dole out homework, has become a tad more customizable — teachers can add topics to activities and, along with students, preview any attached files. Cast for Education, a tool which allows teachers and students to fling video through school networks, has exited testing and become publicly available. Quizzes and tests created in Google Forms will now display uploaded images. And Inbox, Google’s productivity-centric mail client, has begun rolling out to Google for Education users
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Saturday 23 April 2016

More grievances less suggestions lead to delay in New Education Policy

Having received public grievances in the name of feedback from countrywide consultations on the New Education Policy (NEP), the five-member draft committee that was to submit its draft report by December 2015, is yet to make a submission.
Till three weeks ago, the committee was meeting individual stakeholders seeking opinion on NEP. The committee has so far missed three deadlines and is expected to take a few more months, before finalising the draft
The human resource development (HRD) ministry had held nationwide consultations on the education policy. The ministry claims that it had reached out to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across the country seeking feedback. The consultation on NEP was held at blocks, local bodies and district level across the country seeking opinion and suggestions on the education policy. The suggestions received were handed over to the committee.
The ministry while handing over the feedback to the committee headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian had announced, that the draft report will be out by December.
However the committee went ahead to conduct five regional consultations and has also been meeting several stake holders and academicians seeking feedback on the new policy.
“The kind of suggestions received by the ministry are mostly public grievances coming in from villages and district. These suggestions do not show any way forward for the education sector,” said a source.
The suggestions that have been gathered from the grassroots level highlight the need of setting up schools in villages, creating infrastructure, filing in faculty positions and opening colleges in district.
To give the policy a concrete shape and to understand the objective of the new policy, the committee had to go ahead inviting academicians individually or in groups.
The earlier education policies were formed keeping in view the then needs of the country. The first policy of 1968 focused on equal opportunity and education for all. In the second policy of 1986, need for expansion of higher education was discussed. The policy of 1992 focused on technical and professional courses.
“While we discussed the various themes identified by the ministry, but the new policy in its current form lacks focus. So far we do not have a clarity on what is the policy aspiring at,” said a senior academician, who has been part of these consultations

Friday 27 November 2015

Pope Francis says education, jobs best way to prevent youth from being radicalized

Pope Francis waves to local residents as he drives to St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Pope Francis is in Kenya on his first-ever trip to Africa, a six-day pilgrimage that will also take him to Uganda and the Central African Republic. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) 

Pope Francis says the way to prevent young people from being radicalized and going off to fight with extremist groups is to give them an education and a job.
Francis was asked Friday during his last public event in Kenya what young people can do to prevent their friends and family members from being seduced by radical ideologies that make them want to leave their loved ones behind to go join extremist groups.
Kenyans make up the largest contingent of foreign fighters in the Somali based al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab, which has staged a series of attacks in Kenya.
Francis said the first thing to do is to ensure that young people have an education and a job. He said: "If a young person has no work, what kind of a future does he or she have? That's where the idea of being recruited comes from."

Type these words into Google to awaken the Force


The nerds have taken over the Internet, even more than usual, with a new Google Easter Egg to add to all the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" hype.
Simply type "a long time ago in a galaxy far far away" into a Google search (on desktop or mobile) and watch your screen turn to a darkened starscape as John Williams' classic theme music plays and your results scroll by in that familiar opening crawl seen at the opening of each episode from the franchise.
It's another nod to the upcoming premiere of Episode VII following the release of a Star Wars theme for Google apps and an upcoming new Google Cardboard virtual-reality Star Wars experience.
I'm all for fun Easter Eggs, but if there are more to come, I'd like to see something a little more compelling than that crawl, which, let's face it, is one of the most irritating moments in each of the movies. Who wants to learn about intergalactic trade troubles in a format that may be the most difficult way to read anything?
Perhaps, as I mentioned in this week's CraveCast, I'm just burned out on Star Wars hype. I just hope there are no Jar Jar Binks Easter eggs in the works.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

MBA understudy to reject degree from Irani, challenges against 'reducing opportunities' in nation


Srinagar: A youthful MBA go out has chosen not to acknowledge his degree at the first assembly of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Kashmir from Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani as a challenge against "decreasing flexibilities" in the nation. 



"However, for an understudy, accepting a graduate degree is no not exactly any prestigious recompense. Be that as it may, on October 19, (the Convocation Day) I Sameer Gojwari won't acknowledge it," Gojwari, who finished his MBA from the IUST in 2008, composed on his facebook page. 

Gojwari's post came in light of unverified reports that Irani will be giving out degrees to the pass outs of the IUST at the varsity's first ever assembly on Monday. 

"At the point when India's authors are returning abstract recompenses to dissent reducing opportunities and 41 scholars the nation over have given back most prestigious grants; informal reports say that Islamic University of Science and Technology on its first Convocation have led a Minister from Central Ministry #BJP, in all probability Mrs Smriti Irani," he said. 

The Union HRD clergyman is booked to establish the framework stone of Central University Kashmir complex at Ganderbal on Tuesday.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

SEX Education and its Importance

Sex education basics may be covered in health class, but your teen might not hear — or understand — everything he or she needs to know to make tough choices about sex.  Sex education is also about developing young people's skills so that they make informed choices about their behaviour, and feel confident and competent about acting on these choices.

BELOW ARE THE LIST OF SITE WHO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SEX EDUCATION

Sex Education 
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/sex-education/art-20044034

Sex education basics may be covered in health class, but your teen might not hear — or understand — everything he or she needs to know to make tough choices about sex. That's where you come in. Awkward as it may be, sex education is a parent's responsibility. By reinforcing and supplementing what your teen learns in school, you can set the stage for a lifetime of healthy sexuality.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

Sex education ('sex ed'), which is sometimes called sexuality education or sex and relationships education, is the process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, relationships and intimacy. Sex education is also about developing young people's skills so that they make informed choices about their behaviour, and feel confident and competent about acting on these choices.

Sex education aims to reduce the risks of potentially negative outcomes from sexual behaviour, such as unwanted or unplanned pregnancies and infection with sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. It also aims to contribute to young people’s positive experience of their sexuality, by enhancing the quality of their relationships and their ability to make informed decisions over their lifetime. Sex education should be more than just puberty and reproductive biology; it should help young people to be safe and enjoy their sexuality.

Sex Education - Learn | American Life League
http://www.all.org/learn/sex-education/

Sex education is a basic term used to describe a wide range of programs which aim to impart graphic, detailed, sexual information to our children. It takes on many different names, such as "sexuality education," "family planning," "family life education," "human growth and development" or "reproductive health." These programs discuss topics such as sexual orientation, sexual pleasures, birth control methods and more.

Products - Data Briefs - Number 44 - September 2010
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.htm

Formal sex education:  The analysis for this report is limited to teenagers aged 15-19 years, but males and females aged 15-24 years old were asked whether they ever had any formal sex education. There were two question variants, one for teenagers younger than 18 and one for teenagers aged 18 and older.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

Effective sex education also provides young people with an opportunity to explore the reasons why people have sex, and to think about how it involves emotions, respect for one self and other people and their feelings, decisions and bodies. Young people should have the chance to explore gender differences and how ethnicity and sexuality can influence people's feelings and options.

See which states require sex education in school | Fusion
http://fusion.net/story/188424/sex-ed-and-condom-instruction-in-america/

First off, sex education in this country is wildly inconsistent. Some states—like New York, Oregon, and Maine—require sex ed as a graduation requirement and require that sex ed classes include information on condoms and contraception. Think of those states as the ideal. On the other end of the spectrum, states like Texas, Oklahoma, and most of the middle of the country don't require sex ed to graduate. The middle ground includes states that either  require  sex ed to graduate and  don't  require condom instruction, or states that  don't  require sex ed but  do  require a lesson on birth control when it is taught.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

Providing effective sex education can seem daunting because it means tackling potentially sensitive issues and involving a variety of people – parents, schools, community groups and health service providers. However, because sex education comprises many individual activities, which take place across a wide range of settings and periods of time, there are lots of opportunities to contribute.

Effective Sex Education
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/component/content/article/450-effective-sex-education

Baldo M  et al. Does Sex Education Lead to Earlier or  Increased Sexual Activity in Youth?  Presented at the Ninth  International Conference on AIDS, Berlin, 1993. Geneva,  Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1993.


https://www.questia.com/library/controversial-topics/sex-education

The themes covered by sex education programs in different countries vary and often depend on public opinion of sex and what teenagers should be taught about it. In some traditionally conservative countries, sex education is not offered in schools. Religion and culture are often a barrier to any schooling on safe sex in some countries. With rising rates of HIV infection in some countries, HIV prevention is now one of the main goals of sex education. Some countries also include in their programs discussions on topics such as relationships (both heterosexual and homosexual), sexuality, abortion, gender roles, pregnancy, lifestyle.

Effective Sex Education
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/component/content/article/450-effective-sex-education

National Public Radio  et al. Sex Education in America:  NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll.  Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser,  2004.

Sex Education - Learn | American Life League
http://www.all.org/learn/sex-education/

A school is not the place for sex education. Proper sex education for a child is dependent on the actual mental maturity of the child. Sex education programs can often times lead to the deformation of a child's conscience.

Sex Education: Politicians, Parents, Teachers and Teens
https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/04/1/gr040109.html

Most parents (65%) believe that sex education should encourage young people to delay sexual activity but also prepare them to use birth control and practice safe sex once they do become sexually active, according to interviews conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2000. In fact, public opinion is overwhelmingly supportive of sexuality education that goes beyond abstinence ( see chart, ). Moreover, public opinion polls over the years have routinely showed that the vast majority of Americans favor broader sex education programs over those that teach only abstinence.

Effective Sex Education
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/component/content/article/450-effective-sex-education

Alford S. Science and Success:  Sex Education and Other  Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually  Transmitted Infections . Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth,  2003.

Frequently Asked Questions - Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Instruction (CA Dept of Education)
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/faq.asp

In grades seven through twelve, sex education classes shall also provide students with skills for making and implementing responsible decisions about sexuality. All of the above topics may also be included in classes taught prior to seventh grade.

Sex education: Talking to your teen about sex - Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/sex-education/art-20044034

Lindberg LD, et al. Consequences of sex education on teen and young adult sexual behaviors and outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2012;51:332.

Products - Data Briefs - Number 44 - September 2010
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.htm

Teenagers who reported first receiving sex education prior to middle school were more likely to report instruction on “how to say no to sex” than other topics. About one in five teenagers reported first receiving instruction on “how to say no to sex” while in first through fifth grade.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

AIDS . It is also argued that providing sex education helps to meet young people’s rights to information about matters that affect them, their right to have their needs met and to help them enjoy their sexuality and the relationships that they form.

Sex Education - Learn | American Life League
http://www.all.org/learn/sex-education/

To learn more about Planned Parenthood's sex education programs, visit  www.STOPP.org .

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

The skills young people develop as part of sex education are linked to more general life-skills. Being able to communicate, listen, negotiate with others, ask for and identify sources of help and advice, are useful life-skills which can be applied to sexual relationships. Effective sex education develops young people's skills in negotiation, decision-making, assertion and listening. Other important skills include being able to recognise pressures from other people and to resist them, dealing with and challenging prejudice and being able to seek help from adults - including parents, carers and professionals - through the family, community and health and welfare services.


https://www.questia.com/library/controversial-topics/sex-education

In the United States, there are two approaches in sex education programs - abstinence-only, which does not cover any birth-control measures except abstinence, and abstinence-based, which teaches all birth-control methods and emphasizes abstinence. Sex education varies from state to state and local councils may also have different approaches.

Products - Data Briefs - Number 44 - September 2010
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.htm

Grade at which received instruction:  For the four sex education topics, teenagers were asked what grade they were in when they first received this instruction. The grades at which first received instruction have been collapsed into grades 1-5 (elementary school), grades 6-8 (middle school), and grades 9-12 (high school) for this report. Teenagers who have not yet reached high school (9th grade and higher) will not have reported that they received sex education in these grades. Thus the “9th and higher” category only represents those teenagers already in high school.

Lindberg L, Santelli J, Singh S. Changes in formal sex education: 1995-2002. Perspect Sex Reprod Health vol 38:182-9. 2006.

Teenagers could select “none of the above” or any of six sex education topics with the following wording: “how to say no to sex,” methods of birth control, where to get birth control, STDs, how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and how to use a condom. It is important to note that teenagers 15-17 years who did not talk with their parents about sex and birth control may go on to do so before they are 18.

Zimmerman, J.: Too Hot to Handle: A Global History of Sex Education. (eBook and Hardcover)
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10454.html

Too Hot to Handle  is the first truly international history of sex education. As Jonathan Zimmerman shows, the controversial subject began in the West and spread steadily around the world over the past century. As people crossed borders, however, they joined hands to block sex education from most of their classrooms. Examining key players who supported and opposed the sex education movement, Zimmerman takes a close look at one of the most debated and divisive hallmarks of modern schooling.

New England prep schools overhaul sex ed programs after rape trial| Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/26/us-usa-education-sex-idUSKCN0RQ0C220150926

LOWELL, Mass.  Elite New England private schools are revamping their sex education programs and school policies to help prevent sexual assaults after a high-profile student rape trial in New Hampshire drew scrutiny this summer.

Sex education should be mandatory in all schools - CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/29/opinion/martin-sex-education/

Folks, y'all are flat out crazy if you want to encourage parents to opt out of sex education by making it more about abstinence and nothing else. Why can't both take place? Abstinence is definitely the safest of all safe sex measures, but there is also a point when we have to accept reality.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

In some countries, the involvement of young people themselves in developing and providing sex education has increased as a means of ensuring the relevance and accessibility of provision. Consultation with young people at the point when programmes are designed, helps ensure that they are relevant and the involvement of young people in delivering programmes may reinforce messages as they model attitudes and behaviour to their peers.

Sex Education - Learn | American Life League
http://www.all.org/learn/sex-education/

Due to influences throughout the years, especially because of Planned Parenthood, today's sex education programs have had a horrendous effect on our children and society. The planning and strategizing for sex education programs has been going on for years. We see the results today: more and more teens are becoming pregnant, having abortions, getting STDs, and yet Planned Parenthood continues to push its sex education propaganda while America is suffering from it. Why? Money. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion chain, bringing in millions of dollars each year.

Sex education should be mandatory in all schools - CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/29/opinion/martin-sex-education/

I have nine nieces and four nephews, and I would be fully supportive of them being taught about sex education in school. Forget shying from a tough subject. If we are going to equip our children for tomorrow, then sex needs to be dealt with in a smart, productive and educational setting by professionals.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/faq.asp
Frequently Asked Questions - Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Instruction (CA Dept of Education)
In addition, to facilitate the collection of data needed by researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of sex education and other teen pregnancy prevention efforts, the law has modified the parental consent procedures governing student assessments. This law permits schools to administer anonymous, voluntary, confidential, age-appropriate surveys or questionnaires in which students are asked about their health risk behavior, including sexual activities and attitudes. Parents must be notified of any planned assessments, be given the opportunity to review the assessments and, in grades seven through twelve, and be given the opportunity to request in writing that their children not participate. Prior to seventh grade, parents must give their active consent in order for their child to participate.

Yes. The law recognizes that while parents and guardians support the teaching of medically accurate, comprehensive sex education in schools, they have the ultimate responsibility for teaching their children about human sexuality; they may choose to withdraw their children from this instruction.

Sex Education History: AIDS Changed Everything
http://time.com/3578597/aids-sex-ed-history/

It was September of 1986 when U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop announced that the country had to change course on sex education. By then, however, the change had already begun.

Sex Education - Learn | American Life League
http://www.all.org/learn/sex-education/

It is not a school's place to impose sexual immorality upon its students. Many psychologists and psychiatrists have spoken out against sex education in schools, pointing out its damaging effect on children. Sex education programs from pre-kindergarten through high school continuously belittle the intimate, affectionate, monogamous nature of human sexuality.


https://www.questia.com/library/controversial-topics/sex-education

Other countries, such as the Netherlands, focus on informing adolescents about safe sex and instilling a sense of responsibility in them. Sex education in Sweden encourages responsibility and respect towards others. Australia's approach to sex education is comprehensive. The French government requires sex education to be provided in all schools and sex education is led by student interest. German sex education also encourages students to be responsible and protect against pregnancy and STDs.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

The role of many parents and carers as sex educators changes as young people get older and are provided with more opportunities to receive formal sex education through schools and community-settings. However, it doesn't get any less important. Because sex education in school tends to take place in blocks of time, it can't always address issues relevant to young people at a particular time, and parents can fulfill a particularly important role in providing information and opportunities to discuss things as they arise.

Health & Sex Education | Mission 2014: Feeding the World
http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2014/solutions/health-sex-education

In the short term, this solution will immediately give local teachers the knowledge and resources to begin educating their communities on nutrition and sex education. Every teacher being trained at the central cluster locations will be required to attend a health education session. In the long term, the local teachers would continue to spread their knowledge throughout their respective towns and eventually turn what they teach into common knowledge.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

At home, young people can easily have one-to-one discussions with parents or carers which focus on specific issues, questions or concerns. They can have a dialogue about their attitudes and views. Sex education at home also tends to take place over a long time, and involve lots of short interactions between parents and children. As young people get older, advantage can be taken of opportunities provided by things seen on television for example, as an opportunity to initiate conversation. It is also important not to defer dealing with a question or issue for too long as it can suggest that you are unwilling to talk about it. There is evidence that positive parent-child communication about sexual matters can lead to greater condom use among young men and a lower rate of teenage conception among young women.

The case for starting sex education in kindergarten
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/spring-fever/

In other places, the tide is shifting toward an approach closer to that of the Dutch. Two of the largest school districts in the country -- Chicago Public Schools and Florida’s Broward County -- have recently mandated sex education for elementary school students. Chicago Public Schools  requires at least 300 minutes a year of sex education  for kindergarten through fourth grade students and twice as much time for fifth through twelfth graders. In 2014,  schools in  Broward County began teaching sex education  at least once a year in every grade, and the curriculum includes information about topics like body image, sexting and social media.

Of course, it’s not  just  for 4-year-olds. Eight-year-olds learn about self-image and gender stereotypes. 11-year-olds discuss sexual orientation and contraceptive options. But in the Netherlands, the approach, known as “ comprehensive sex education, ” starts as early as age 4.

Sex education: Talking to your teen about sex - Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/sex-education/art-20044034

Sex is a staple subject of news, entertainment and advertising. It's often hard to avoid this ever-present topic. But when parents and teens need to talk, it's not always so easy. If you wait for the perfect moment, you might miss the best opportunities. Instead, think of sex education as an ongoing conversation. Here are some ideas to help you get started — and keep the discussion going.


https://www.questia.com/library/controversial-topics/sex-education

In some Asian countries, sex is not discussed publicly because of cultural, social and religious reasons. There is sexual health education in many countries in the region but it focuses on health and biology, and not sexuality. In sub-Saharan Africa, there are countries where sex education is provided in schools, while there are programs through which young people can get condoms, and others where there is information on AIDS available to young people but no formal education. In countries across the Middle East and North Africa, AIDS prevention is not a priority but governments have started introducing sex education programs in schools as well as different sources of information on AIDS for young people.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/faq.asp
Frequently Asked Questions - Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Instruction (CA Dept of Education)
EC  sections 51933(b)(3) and 51934(b) require that instruction be made available on an equal basis to pupils who are English learners, whether they are placed in English immersion classes or alternative bilingual education classes. The instruction they receive must be consistent with the existing sex education curriculum.

The case for starting sex education in kindergarten
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/spring-fever/

A  2008 United Nations report  found that comprehensive sex ed, when taught effectively, allows young people to “explore their attitudes and values, and to practice the decision-making and other life skills they will need to be able to make informed choices about their sexual lives.” Students who had completed comprehensive sex education in the Netherlands were also found to be more assertive and better communicators, according to  an independent health research agency  that conducted a study of the Dutch programs.

Sex Education - Learn | American Life League
http://www.all.org/learn/sex-education/

Today, children are continually bombarded with sexual propaganda. More and more children are experimenting with sexual encounters and thus contracting STDs, becoming pregnant, having abortions and using contraception. Not only is the media bombarding our children with this information, but children are also being bombarded with this through the sex education programs in schools. Because of sex education programs, schools have been taking away the parents' responsibilities of teaching their child about human sexuality.

Frequently Asked Questions - Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Instruction (CA Dept of Education)
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/faq.asp

EC  sections 51933(b)(4) and 51934(b) require that instruction be appropriate for use with students of all sexual orientations and clearly states that part of the intent of the law is "to encourage a pupil to develop healthy attitudes concerning adolescent growth and development, body image, gender roles, sexual orientation, dating, marriage, and family." The law prohibits sex education classes from teaching or promoting religious doctrine and from promoting bias against anyone on the basis of any category protected by the state's school nondiscrimination policy,  EC  Section 220, which includes actual or perceived gender and sexual orientation.

Health & Sex Education | Mission 2014: Feeding the World
http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2014/solutions/health-sex-education

The program will be implemented in both city and rural village schools within the cluster school system, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the CIA World Factbook, all of the countries with a prevalence of HIV/AIDS over 5% are in Sub-Saharan Africa (Central Intelligence Agency, 2007). The UN Population Fund also reports that in Swaziland, the country with the highest adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS (at over 26%), "nearly one-third of young people in secondary school have had sex by age 16 (IRIN Humanitarian News, 2004)." Sex education in such regions is crucial to decrease the rate of disease incidence and death, which exacerbate poverty and hunger.

Sex Education That Works | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/sex-education-works.htm

The nature of a person's contribution depends on their relationship, role and expertise in relation to young people. For example, parents are best placed in relation to young people to provide continuity of individual support and education starting from early in their lives. School-based education programmes are particularly good at providing information and opportunities for skills development and attitude clarification in more formal ways, through lessons within a curriculum. Community-based projects provide opportunities for young people to access advice and information in less formal ways. Sex education through the mass media, often supported by local, regional or national Government and non-governmental agencies and departments, can help to raise public awareness of sex health issues.


Sunday 27 September 2015

Bringing the Internet to more Indians – starting with 10 million rail passengers a day in INDIA

When I was a student, I relished the day-long railway journey I would make from Chennai Central station (then known as Madras Central) to IIT Kharagpur. I vividly remember the frenetic energy at the various stations along the way and marveled at the incredible scale and scope of Indian Railways.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Googleplex today



I’m very proud to announce that it’s the train stations of India that are going to help get millions of people online. In the past year, 100 million people in India started using the Internet for the first time. This means there are now more Internet users in India than in every country in the world aside from China. But what's really astounding is the fact that there are still nearly one billion people in India who aren’t online.

We’d like to help get these next billion Indians online—so they can access the entire web, and all of its information and opportunity. And not just with any old connection—with fast broadband so they can experience the best of the web. That’s why, today, on the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to our U.S. headquarters, and in line with his Digital India initiative, we announced a new project to provide high-speed public Wi-Fi in 400 train stations across India.

Working with Indian Railways, which operates one of the world's largest railway networks, and RailTel, which provides Internet services as RailWire via its extensive fiber network along many of these railway lines, our Access & Energy team plans to bring the first stations online in the coming months. The network will expand quickly to cover 100 of the busiest stations in India before the end of 2016, with the remaining stations following in quick succession.

Even with just the first 100 stations online, this project will make Wi-Fi available for the more than 10 million people who pass through every day. This will rank it as the largest public Wi-Fi project in India, and among the largest in the world, by number of potential users. It will also be fast—many times faster than what most people in India have access to today, allowing travelers to stream a high definition video while they’re waiting, research their destination, or download some videos, a book or a new game for the journey ahead. Best of all, the service will be free to start, with the long-term goal of making it self-sustainable to allow for expansion to more stations and other places, with RailTel and more partners, in the future.
This map shows the first 100 stations that will have high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2016

We think this is an important part of making the Internet both accessible and useful for the more than 300 million Indians already online, and the nearly one billion more who are not.

But it’s not the only piece. To help more Indians get access to affordable, high-quality smartphones, which is the primary way most people there access the Internet, we launched Android One last year. To help address the challenges of limited bandwidth, we recently launched a feature that makes mobile webpages load faster and with less data, and we’ve made YouTube available offline with offline Maps coming soon

To help make web content more useful for Indians, many of whom don’t speak English, we launched the Indian Language Internet Alliance last year to foster more local language content, and have built greater local language support into our products—including Hindi Voice Search, an improved Hindi keyboard and support for seven Indian languages with the latest versions of Android. And finally, to help all Indians reap the benefits of connectivity, we’ve been ramping up efforts to help women, who make up just a third of Internet users in India today, get the most from the web.

Just like I did years ago, thousands of young Indians walk through Chennai Central every day, eager to learn, to explore and to seek opportunity. It’s my hope that this Wi-Fi project will make all these things a little easier. 

(Posted by Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google)