Sexual E-L’ing (and other stories)

E-Learning is a vital tool for development, and not just in “developing” countries. This week Around the World looks at how ICT can both develop Nigeria’s burgeoning economy and improve the lives of Britain’s poorest kids; how e-learning is fulfilling minorities’ educational requirements in India and Central Europe. Plus the videos that are creating a buzz in China – yes, it’s all about the birds and bees…

16.01.2013

NIGERIA: the chief executive of a frontline IT company has outlined 7 ways in which ICT can lift the economy (ALLAFRICA)

UK: an estimated 700,000 British schoolchildren have no internet access at home – and school homework ever more frequently has an online aspect. A new initiative, “Mind the Gap”, has been launched to bridge this internal digital divide (TELEGRAPH)

CENTRAL EUROPE: Poland’s Jewish population has experienced a revival since the fall of Communism. Teaching is an extremely important within Judaism – but the Polish community is scattered across the country in both urban and rural areas. Now, Jews in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia can study Hebrew and religion through an e-learning programme (THE JEWISH WEEK)

INDIA: 25% of the world’s blind children live in the subcontinent. Here’s how Perkins is using e-learning to reach them (THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS)

SOMALIA: Al Shabaab, the terrorist organisation in control of much of south-western Somalia, has ordered telecoms companies to turn off the internet – claiming it harms security and has an “adverse effect on moral behaviour”. (IT NEWS AFRICA)

Not exactly storks…

and in other news…

CHINA: when Chinese children ask their parents where they come from, the standard answer is “you were picked up from the rubbish dump” – a sign of a certain reluctance to address the topic of sex education. A series of viral videos with over 1m views are attempting to overcome this taboo, providing parents the narratives needed to talk frankly about sex (TEA LEAF NATION)