{"id":3730,"date":"2013-10-09T16:24:27","date_gmt":"2013-10-09T14:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/OEB_Newsportal\/?p=3730"},"modified":"2016-11-21T16:26:05","modified_gmt":"2016-11-21T14:26:05","slug":"educating-rigveda-and-other-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/educating-rigveda-and-other-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Educating Rigveda (and other stories)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Kenya and Nigeria are two of the crucibles of Africa\u2019s tech revolution: yet the news from each of them this week presents a stark contrast. As do the findings of the OECD Survey of Adult Skills \u2013 good news for Finland and Japan, less so for the US and UK. All this, plus news on the educational impact of the US shutdown, and \u2013 but what\u2019s that humming coming from the direction of India? Is it an ancient mantra? Is it the high-tech whirring of Internet cables? Or could it be both? Read on\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>WORLD<\/b>: major reports out this week include the UN\u2019s <i>Measuring the Information Society<\/i>, which estimates that 2.7bn people will be online by the end of the year (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.un.org\/apps\/news\/story.asp?NewsID=46207&amp;Cr=internet&amp;Cr1=#.UlUbrdJSh8E\" target=\"_blank\">UN<\/a><\/span>) and the <i>OECD Survey of Adult Skills<\/i> \u2013 worrying reading for the USA, Italy, Spain and the UK, where adult numeracy and literacy scores are particularly poor (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.oecd.org\/newsroom\/boosting-skills-essential-for-tackling-joblessness-and-improving-well-being.htm\" target=\"_blank\">OECD<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>USA<\/b>: parks are closed, NASA employees are on furlough, and a default looms: but how is the government shutdown affecting education in the USA? (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2013\/10\/03\/shutdown-effects-on-colleges\/2915629\/\" target=\"_blank\">USA TODAY<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>KENYA<\/b>: big government projects to support and extend higher education have been announced, including doubling the number of tech universities and setting up an open university (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.universityworldnews.com\/article.php?story=20131004155244703\" target=\"_blank\">UNIVERSITY WORLD NEWS<\/a><\/span>). Meanwhile, connecting to the Internet in Nairobi has become as easy as getting on a bus (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/business-24426676\" target=\"_blank\">BBC<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>UK<\/b>: could this be the last article on MOOCs you\u2019ll ever have to read? (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.co.uk\/comment\/opinion\/moocs-from-mania-to-mundanity\/2007773.article\" target=\"_blank\">TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>NIGERIA<\/b>: education often suffers in the face of the West African state\u2019s internal conflict. Lagos in the South, one of Africa\u2019s tech hubs, is marked by supreme wealth and abject poverty; while in the North, Boko Haram violently attacks education, most recently killing up to 50 students in the Yobe State College of Agriculture. Support for education is vital, and news of Osun State\u2019s tablet programme a glimmer of hope (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/allafrica.com\/stories\/201310071276.html\" target=\"_blank\">ALLAFRICA<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Rigveda_MS2097.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3731 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Rigveda_MS2097-e1381328509369.jpg\" alt=\"Rigveda_MS2097\" width=\"600\" height=\"123\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>and in other news\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>INDIA<\/b>: could the oral tradition of Veda chanting be passed down online? Sanskrit scholars convene for discussion (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dnaindia.com\/pune\/1900141\/report-can-tech-preserve-tradition-of-learning-vedas\" target=\"_blank\">DNA<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kenya and Nigeria are two of the crucibles of Africa\u2019s tech revolution: yet the news from each of them this week presents a stark contrast. As do the findings of the OECD Survey of Adult Skills \u2013 good news for Finland and Japan, less so for the US and UK. All this, plus news on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class='heateorSssClear'><\/div><div  class='heateor_sss_sharing_container heateor_sss_horizontal_sharing' data-heateor-sss-href='https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/educating-rigveda-and-other-stories\/'><div class='heateor_sss_sharing_title' style=\"font-weight:bold\" ><\/div><div class=\"heateor_sss_sharing_ul\"><a aria-label=\"Linkedin\" class=\"heateor_sss_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foeb.global%2Foeb-insights%2Feducating-rigveda-and-other-stories%2F\" title=\"Linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg heateor_sss_s__default heateor_sss_s_linkedin\" style=\"background-color:#0077b5;width:20px;height:20px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M6.227 12.61h4.19v13.48h-4.19V12.61zm2.095-6.7a2.43 2.43 0 0 1 0 4.86c-1.344 0-2.428-1.09-2.428-2.43s1.084-2.43 2.428-2.43m4.72 6.7h4.02v1.84h.058c.56-1.058 1.927-2.176 3.965-2.176 4.238 0 5.02 2.792 5.02 6.42v7.395h-4.183v-6.56c0-1.564-.03-3.574-2.178-3.574-2.18 0-2.514 1.7-2.514 3.46v6.668h-4.187V12.61z\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"Bluesky\" class=\"heateor_sss_button_bluesky\" href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/intent\/compose?text=Educating%20Rigveda%20%28and%20other%20stories%29%20https%3A%2F%2Foeb.global%2Foeb-insights%2Feducating-rigveda-and-other-stories%2F\" title=\"Bluesky\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg heateor_sss_s__default heateor_sss_s_bluesky\" style=\"background-color:#0085ff;width:20px;height:20px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"-3 -3 38 38\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M16 14.903c-.996-1.928-3.709-5.521-6.231-7.293C7.353 5.912 6.43 6.206 5.827 6.478 5.127 6.793 5 7.861 5 8.49s.346 5.155.572 5.91c.747 2.496 3.404 3.34 5.851 3.07.125-.02.252-.036.38-.052-.126.02-.253.037-.38.051-3.586.529-6.771 1.83-2.594 6.457 4.595 4.735 6.297-1.015 7.171-3.93.874 2.915 1.88 8.458 7.089 3.93 3.911-3.93 1.074-5.928-2.512-6.457a8.122 8.122 0 0 1-.38-.051c.128.016.255.033.38.051 2.447.271 5.104-.573 5.85-3.069.227-.755.573-5.281.573-5.91 0-.629-.127-1.697-.827-2.012-.604-.271-1.526-.566-3.942 1.132-2.522 1.772-5.235 5.365-6.231 7.293Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"Facebook\" class=\"heateor_sss_facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Foeb.global%2Foeb-insights%2Feducating-rigveda-and-other-stories%2F\" title=\"Facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg\" style=\"background-color:#0765FE;width:20px;height:20px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M28 16c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12S4 9.373 4 16c0 5.628 3.875 10.35 9.101 11.647v-7.98h-2.474V16H13.1v-1.58c0-4.085 1.849-5.978 5.859-5.978.76 0 2.072.15 2.608.298v3.325c-.283-.03-.775-.045-1.386-.045-1.967 0-2.728.745-2.728 2.683V16h3.92l-.673 3.667h-3.247v8.245C23.395 27.195 28 22.135 28 16Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"heateor_sss_email\" href=\"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/educating-rigveda-and-other-stories\/\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault();window.open('mailto:?subject=' + decodeURIComponent('Educating%20Rigveda%20%28and%20other%20stories%29').replace('&', '%26') + '&body=https%3A%2F%2Foeb.global%2Foeb-insights%2Feducating-rigveda-and-other-stories%2F', '_blank')\" title=\"Email\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg\" style=\"background-color:#649a3f;width:20px;height:20px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"-.75 -.5 36 36\"><path d=\"M 5.5 11 h 23 v 1 l -11 6 l -11 -6 v -1 m 0 2 l 11 6 l 11 -6 v 11 h -22 v -11\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"Teams\" class=\"heateor_sss_button_teams\" href=\"https:\/\/teams.microsoft.com\/share?href=https%3A%2F%2Foeb.global%2Foeb-insights%2Feducating-rigveda-and-other-stories%2F&msgText=Educating%20Rigveda%20%28and%20other%20stories%29\" title=\"Teams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg heateor_sss_s__default heateor_sss_s_teams\" style=\"background-color:#5059c9;width:20px;height:20px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M24.63 12.14a2.63 2.63 0 1 0 0-5.26 2.63 2.63 0 0 0 0 5.26Zm2.25.74h-3.29c.18.34.32.72.32 1.12v7.13c0 .74-.11 1.47-.34 2.14 2.01.36 3.94-.93 4.34-2.93.04-.25.09-.52.09-.76V14c0-.63-.52-1.12-1.12-1.12ZM16.75 4.87a3.515 3.515 0 0 0-3.49 3.87h1.73c1.19 0 2.14.97 2.14 2.14v.97c1.75-.2 3.1-1.69 3.1-3.49a3.48 3.48 0 0 0-3.49-3.49h.01Zm4.86 8.01h-4.48v8.01c0 1.19-.97 2.14-2.14 2.14h-3.94c.04.11.07.25.11.36.11.26.22.52.38.74a6.004 6.004 0 0 0 5.2 2.99c3.31 0 5.98-2.68 5.98-6.01v-7.14c0-.61-.49-1.09-1.12-1.09h.01Z\"><\/path><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M15 9.86H4.99c-.56 0-.99.45-.99.99v10.02c0 .56.45.99.99.99h10.02c.56 0 .99-.45.99-.99v-9.99c-.01-.56-.44-1.02-1-1.02Zm-2.02 3.74h-2.23v6.01H9.28V13.6H7.03v-1.49h5.96v1.49h-.02.01Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"X\" class=\"heateor_sss_button_x\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Educating%20Rigveda%20%28and%20other%20stories%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Foeb.global%2Foeb-insights%2Feducating-rigveda-and-other-stories%2F\" title=\"X\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg heateor_sss_s__default heateor_sss_s_x\" style=\"background-color:#2a2a2a;width:20px;height:20px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M21.751 7h3.067l-6.7 7.658L26 25.078h-6.172l-4.833-6.32-5.531 6.32h-3.07l7.167-8.19L6 7h6.328l4.37 5.777L21.75 7Zm-1.076 16.242h1.7L11.404 8.74H9.58l11.094 14.503Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"heateorSssClear\"><\/div><\/div><div class='heateorSssClear'><\/div>","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":3731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[209],"tags":[221,309,139,306,74,307,226,308,133,304,135],"class_list":["post-3730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-around-the-world","tag-free-wi-fi","tag-india","tag-kenya","tag-moocs","tag-nigeria","tag-oecd","tag-tablet","tag-uk","tag-un","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3730"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7037,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3730\/revisions\/7037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}