LONDON, 30 June 2017 – Adding one more country to its twelve-country portfolio, Opportunity EduFinance (OEF) is set to launch in Nicaragua, where teachers and school directors are performing “miracles” daily.

Operating in the Latin American country since March 2017, OEF has been collaborating with two microfinancial institutions (MFIs) – FDL and

Fundenuse – to launch products such as School Fee Loans and School Improvement Loans for schools and parents.

The loans will enable Nicaragua’s schools to build better infrastructure, expand teaching capacity, and upgrade education quality too. Parents will use the loans to smooth their income levels and pay for affordable schooling.

“I’m excited to see this country project move forward, consolidating our presence now on three continents,” said Nathan Byrd, who manages the OEF project.

“As in Africa and Asia, we expect to demonstrate how microloans offer an innovative and invaluable means of channelling funds to education and increasing access to education around the world,” he said.

Economic stability in Nicaragua has allowed the government to focus more on the long-term reduction of poverty, dropping it from 42.5 percent in 2009 to 29.6 percent in 2014.

But poverty remains high. With a population of 6.1 million people, Nicaragua remains one of the region’s least developed countries, where access to basic services can be a daily challenge.

“Nicaragua’s schools are working hard to keep pace with the ever-tightening education standards, at the same time they must also operate as businesses in a very competitive environment,” said Juan Vega, OEF’s Senior Advisor for Latin America.

“On a daily basis, they are performing miracles,” he said.

Besides working with the two MFIs to finalise details of the financial products to be offered, OEF will also offer to train school directors in financial management skills and education quality.

Final details of the loans include compliance with Nicaragua’s regulatory requirements, before they go on offer at the end of 2017.

The non-profit is also preparing for launch in Mexico.

Starting Blocks, the official education programme of the World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships London 2017 and supported by NASUWT, has passed a significant milestone with more than 1,000 schools now signed up.

 

The digital hub provides schools with a free, online resource platform suitable for pupils from five to 14 years. Schools not yet using the resource, which is aimed at inspiring and engaging young people in the classroom to get involved with the biggest sporting event in the world in 2017, can still do so via: www.schools.london2017athletics.com

 

The resources are specially designed to open young people’s eyes to new opportunities and experiences through classroom activities and whole-school ideas connecting pupils to the Summer of World Athletics.

 

In support and part of the build up to the summer, a number of the UK’s top Para athletes have visited participating schools including double Paralympic T44 100m champion Jonnie Peacock and fellow Rio Paralympic champions Kadeena Cox and Libby Clegg, the latter with guide Chris Clarke.

 

Other athlete visits included Stef Reid, Sam Ruddock, Stephen Miller, Andrew Small, Kylie Grimes, Polly Maton, Gemma Prescott, Laura Sugar and Ben Rowlings. In addition, of course, to the official mascot of the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017 Whizbee the Bee.

 

In addition, NASUWT – the largest union representing teachers and headteachers throughout the UK is supporting the Starting Blocks programme, which will help further advance the goals of increasing access to sport for children.

 

Niels de Vos, Championship Director for the World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships London 2017, said: “We want the magic of London 2017 to act as an inspiration for young people and I am delighted that so many schools have signed up and pupils are using and enjoying Starting Blocks. The resources are a great way for young people to learn and feel motivated to enjoy the Championships even more.”

 

On top of 1,000 schools being signed up for Starting Blocks, more than 100,000 schoolchildren are expected to attend the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017 taking place at the London Stadium from 14 to 23 July.

 

Six-time Paralympic gold medalist, David Weir CBE said: “It’s a massive chance to go to a fantastic stadium like the London Stadium to see some fantastic Para athletes. It’s going to be a great day for them. I would have thought I was dreaming if someone had offered tickets at school to go to an amazing stadium to see world-class athletes. I’d have jumped at the chance. It might inspire them to get into sports so it’s a great, great start for youngsters to go and see something special.

 

“I think the big stadium and the loudness of the crowd helps to inspire. Once you experience that you think you want more. You think ‘I want to be the new David Weir or Richard Whitehead. Or I want to be Usain Bolt.’ It just inspires you more when you see it live. You can feel the atmosphere and realness of it all and the fire that burns in the stadium and on the track.”

 

Starting Blocks was developed in partnership with leading educational consultancy EdComs, who are responsible for Get Set, the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme, with support from leading teachers’ union, NASUWT.

 

The British Science Association, with support from new Royal Patron, launches Great British Science Club to honour 30th anniversary of flagship education programme

The British Science Association (BSA) has launched the Great British Science Club at Buckingham Palace one week ahead of the main celebrations on 5 July 2017.

Great British Science Club is a nationwide celebratory event to mark the 30th anniversary of the British Science Association’s hugely successful education programme, CREST Awards. Celebratory events will take place across the country over the next few days, culminating in hundreds of schools participating on 5 July 2017.

Yesterday (Tuesday 27 June), students from three local schools were invited to the special, science-themed launch party at the Palace. They met the BSA’s new Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of York, and took part in hands-on science activities, including live demonstrations from TV science presenter and Great British Science Club Ambassador, Fran Scott.

There are events planned in over 300 schools across the country on 5 July, involving up to 25,000 young people. There will be a flagship event at Thorpe Park which will include a science fair, self-led science activities in the Park and a free, live show where Fran Scott will again be performing science demonstrations and speaking to young people about her passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

On the evening of the 5 July, the British Science Association’s Chair, Rt Hon the Lord David Willetts, will be hosting a reception for education stakeholders, policy makers and CREST Award partners at the House of Lords. They will celebrate the achievements of the 400,000 students and thousands of educators who’ve been involved in CREST Awards over the last 30 years.

Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, said: “CREST Awards have inspired tens of thousands of young people to enjoy science, and to go on to further study and work in science-based fields. The Great British Science Club is a fantastic way to celebrate this incredible programme and honour the hard work of all those who have been a part of it. I’d like to thank Buckingham Palace and Lord David Willetts for their continuing support, and all the teachers, technicians, parents, youth leaders and young people who have been involved over the years.”

Speaking at the event at Buckingham Palace, HRH The Duke of York said: “Young children are constantly learning about the world around them through experimenting and trial and error. We sometimes fail to recognise this for what it is – using the scientific method. Life is about doing experiments, finding out how things work, and being curious about the world, so I am delighted to see young people being encouraged to cultivate their curiosity in science by the British Science Association.”

Fran Scott, BBC Science Presenter, said: “I love science, and try to pass on this love through my television and stage demonstrations, therefore being part of the Great British Science Club to commemorate the 30th anniversary of CREST is a huge honour. By celebrating science in this way we can highlight just how great and important it is, and I hope generations to come are inspired to get involved.”

Each year, around 30,000 CREST Awards are undertaken by 11-to-19-year-olds; they play an important role in promoting STEM enrichment activities and open-ended project work in schools and science clubs. Through CREST, young people explore the true nature of STEM through well-regarded, high quality and tangible project work.

Schools wishing to participate in the Great British Science Club on 5 July can sign up at www.greatbritishscienceclub.org.

SOARING smartphone use in children and a huge hike in public WiFi hotspots has led to a campaign calling on businesses to let customers know their internet is filtered for inappropriate content.

The ‘It’s Good to Know’ campaign has been launched by Friendly WiFi, the UK Government-initiated certification scheme – the only one of its kind in the world. It supports the Government’s ambition for the UK to become the world’s safest place to go online.

Friendly WiFi was initiated in July 2014 to ensure public WiFi meets minimum filtering standards, particularly in those areas where children are present.

In 2014, there were around 5.6m public WiFi hotspots in Britain and this is estimated to triple by 2018. Last year, figures showed that nearly half the population regularly use public WiFi hotspots.

Currently, it is estimated that more than half of the world’s WiFi remains unfiltered for adult content.

Venues displaying the Friendly WiFi symbol have WiFi filters which deny access to pornography and webpages known by the Internet Watch Foundation to host indecent images of children and advertisements or links to such content.

The service has already been adopted by high street giants Tesco, Starbucks and IKEA as well as hundreds of venues across the country.

Now children’s campaigners and online safety organisations are calling specifically on UK businesses who have children and families regularly using their public WiFi to show they are ‘friendly’.

Friendly WiFi director Bev Smith said: “Just looking at the three years we have been in service is to witness a huge rise in young people owning and using smartphones.

“More than 40% of children aged 5-15 own a smartphone. Ten years ago, that number was effectively zero.

“Now is the right time for all businesses which provide public WiFi to prove they take the same care for their customer’s online safety as they do for their physical wellbeing.”

Friendly WiFi was launched following a speech by then Prime Minister David Cameron to the NSPCC and in partnership with the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS).

NSPCC head of child online safety Claire Lilley said: “The Friendly WiFi symbol can help parents feel confident that their children are protected from harmful content when they are accessing the internet in public spaces.

“We’d encourage all business to sign up to the ‘It’s Good to Know’ campaign to give their customers the reassurance that their WiFi is safe for children to use.”

The awareness campaign will focus on the benefits to specific business sectors but also examine attitudes to public WiFi safety.

Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters, which helps parents keep their children safe online, said it is important that public WiFi plays a role in filtering age-appropriate content.

She said: “Children’s online safety is one of the top concerns facing parents in the digital age and we support anything which can re-enforce the steps they are taking at home to enable young people to explore the internet safely.

“We applaud the work being done by Friendly WiFi and urge businesses to heed the call and back the ‘It’s Good to Know’ campaign by making the symbol visible on their premises.”

Get involved with the campaign by using the hashtag #ItsGoodToKnow.

 

A Neath Port Talbot business has produced a ground-breaking film about bullying in schools, which will have its premiere in the House of Parliament on Tuesday 11^th July, following MPs recognising the importance of the film in fighting against bullying in schools.

The film was produced by Firehorse Productions, a company producing educational drama for young people, with expertise in tackling bullying

Aimed at children from 7 – 13, a combination of both drama and ‘mockumentary’ style, My Life as a Bully, is a ground-breaking educational resource, now available to schools.

Firehorse Productions, a core member of The Anti-Bullying Alliance, has an established reputation of producing innovative bullying awareness and prevention work and My Life As a Bully has the support of Baroness Newlove, the UK Victims’ Commissioner, who provided the introduction to the film.

Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon, picked up on the importance of the film and has arranged for it to be played in Parliament

Denise Francis, at Firehouse Productions, said:

“We are thrilled to have such great support for the film. Bullying is still an issue that pervades our schools, and for those that suffer from bullying, the after-effects can often follow them into adult life.

“Our message is that everyone; teacher, student, parent, bystander, can play an important role in tackling bullying, and we should all ensure that we do everything we can to support those who need us.”