Education faces 10,000 violent attack

February 2014: Boy with a toy gun in damaged
 school in Deir al-Zor, Syria

There have been almost 10,000 violent attacks on places of education in recent years, according to the biggest ever international study of how schools and universities are targeted by acts of aggression.

These included the murder of staff and students and the destruction of buildings in bomb and arson attacks, in countries including Pakistan, Colombia, Somalia and Syria.
This stark account of violence against education between 2009 and 2013 has been published by a coalition of human rights groups, aid organisations and United Nations agencies.
The Education Under Attack report, published in New York on Thursday, reveals the extent to which education has been subjected to deliberate acts of violence.
These are not cases of schools and their staff "just caught in the crossfire", says Diya Nijhowne, director of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
"They are bombed, burned, shot, threatened, and abducted precisely because of their connection to education."

Thousands of death threats

Malala Yousafzai addressing the United Nations
about the right to education.

There were 9,600 attacks worldwide, with incidents recorded in 70 countries, with the worst problems in Africa and parts of Asia and South America. There was a pattern of deliberate attacks in 30 of these countries, where such violence was used as a "tactic of war", said Ms Nijhowne.
These figures do not include the type of school shootings carried out against pupils and staff at Sandy Hook in the US in 2012.
The country with the greatest number of attacks was Pakistan, with the most common assault being the blowing up of school buildings.
Colombia was the most dangerous place to be a teacher, with 140 murders and thousands of death threats.
For school pupils, Somalia was the country where children were most likely to be pressed into becoming soldiers.
Syria's conflict has seen deadly attacks at universities in Aleppo and Damascus and there were high levels of attacks on students in Yemen and Sudan.
The perpetrators have included government forces, armed insurgents, terror groups and criminal gangs. They have committed murders, abductions and intimidation.

Controlling culture

Students were murdered in an attack on a
boarding school in Nigeria this week.

The shooting of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai by Taliban opponents of girls' education in 2012 focused global attention on such attacks on education.
But this study shows that this was far from an isolated case and that staff and pupils have been singled out for deliberate violence in many different conflicts and ideological battlegrounds.
This week in north-east Nigeria at least 29 teenage boys were killed in a massacre at a boarding school. Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group opposed to western education, is suspected of carrying out the attack.
The Education Under Attack report says that 30 teachers were shot dead in Nigeria last year, including some in front of a class.
Attacks on education can be a proxy for other conflicts, such as trying to undermine a government symbol or trying to promote a political, religious or ideological message or to terrorise another community.
In Afghanistan and Pakistan there have been violent attacks against the education of women.
Or else targeting students can be a way of pursuing a sectarian dispute. In Burma, also known as Myanmar, last year, a Hindu nationalist mob set upon boys from a Muslim school, hacking dozens to death.
In 2010, in Iraq an escorted convoy of Christian students travelling to university were the victims of a car bomb attack.

Destroying skills

Getty ImagesFebruary 2014: School damaged by
 bomb in Tora Warai Pakistan.

There can also be more specific campaigns. In Mexico there were six bomb attacks on universities by a group opposed to nanotechnology research
Teachers in Colombia have faced violence from armed groups, including rival paramilitary forces and criminal gangs.
As community leaders they are targeted by groups wanting to intimidate local people or to recruit school pupils into armed gangs.
The impact of violence can reach beyond the individual victims.
Terrorising academics and students in university can destroy the research capacity of an economy, warns the report, and trigger the departure of highly-skilled young people.
Intellectual curiosity and free speech, necessary in academic life, can be undermined by the threat of violence, with fear prompting "self-censorship" and a brain drain to other safer countries.

Occupying buildings

A car bomb near a school in Qabak, Iraq, killed
this boy's brother and sister.

There are also concerns about armed groups occupying educational premises, using them as barracks or training bases or sometimes as detention centres or even places of torture.

In 24 of the 30 countries worst affected by attacks on education, there were cases of schools being taken over by military forces.

This also puts buildings at risk from attacks from opposing forces, says the report's lead researcher, Brendan O'Malley.
In Somalia, the report says, schools have been used as firing positions and faced incoming rockets, while the classrooms were still being used by pupils.
The study calls for the creation of "safe zones" around schools and wants combatants to recognise the need to protect places of education.
Mr O'Malley says a positive step would be a common agreement "not to use schools for military purposes".
There are also calls for a clearer path for investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators of acts of violence against schools and their staff and pupils.
As well as the loss of life, violent conflict is one of the biggest causes of a loss of education.
About half of the 57 million children without access to any school place live in areas disrupted by war and violence.
"It's not just the killings that spread fear and blight lives. The relentless destruction of schools in some areas of conflict is depriving whole cohorts of children of an education," says Mr O'Malley.
"There is a knock-on effect on social and economic development in places that can least afford to be held back.
"Where the government lacks the capacity or will to repair damaged schools, the effects can be felt for years after the attacks have happened."

For more information about Malala follow

5 Tips for Maintaining a Friendship Over a Long Distance

Maintaining a friendship over a long distance can be trying, but the friends who are willing to put in the effort are the ones who ultimately matter the most. For me, this has especially been true with my best friend from college, who is now 700 miles away from me. Distance has not only made us closer, but it has also taught us how to love and care about other people who are no longer a hallway away. While my best friend and I know that we cannot always be around each other, physically, we also rest assured knowing that we are in each other’s thoughts regularly.

The process of maintaining a long-distance friendship, however, can be emotionally tiring and requires a great deal of creativity. Below are five tips for maintaining long-distance friendships that I learned through experience.

1. Make time for each other.

Skype is one of the greatest resources ever created for keeping in touch. My best friend and I set aside two dates a month to Skype with each other, often doing things we used to do together (eating dinner, playing music, etc.) Video chatting makes it possible for you to interact naturally, relying less on voice inflection and more on body language, so that you come out of the conversation feeling like you actually spent time together.

2. Support each other’s growth.

One of the difficult things about maintaining a friendship over a long distance is that neither of you ever stops growing individually. Often, this growth can make you feel more distant; however, it can also be an opportunity to show some selfless support. This is especially true of meeting new friends, taking advantage of new opportunities, and supporting each other to do likewise.

3. Write paper-and-pen letters to each other.

There is nothing as heart-warming as receiving mail from someone you love. My best friend and I send each other letters about once a month, mostly in the form of homemade cards. It allows us to keep to in touch, but also to share our love of arts and crafts.

4. Take time to reflect on your friendship.

If you ever forget why you care about somebody, it can be a turning point in your relationship. Long-distance friendships are not a matter of convenience, but rather an active decision by both people to continue spending time together. Think often about why it is that you are happy making that commitment, and what you would miss out on if you didn’t.

5. Some friendships don’t last, and that’s okay.

Some friends will be around your whole life, and others will come and go. Appreciate friendships of all kinds for what they are, and hold onto the happy memories you create in even the most brief ones.

My best friend and I have been lucky enough to remain close despite our distance. While difficult, it has proved to me that the friends who really matter will love you whether you are right next door or halfway around the world.

Youth leadership can Change India

Today, the political parties in India have been looking for various opportunities to have the young leadership on board to project themselves as futuristic parties. The youth presence in the politics may create a positive impression to the public as the public perception is positive and there is some inclination for change towards young leadership. The youth leadership is proving to be successful and efficient in many areas that have been witnessed. When given an opportunity, the younger leaders are sensitive enough to relate to the prevailing issues and concerns of the people.

Youth Leadership

Our country had a tough past in terms of wars, famines, climate change, economic instability and a host of cultural issues. Now, the youth in the political scenario represents the changing trends and approach to these problems. Many of the youth leaders might not have seen the origin and development of these problems, but are victims of these issues. Examples like Kashmir crisis are just to quote for instance. There are several such problems including the border disputes with neighbouring China and lack of military capabilities to combat war threats like nuclear war and much to add on. The point to be noted is that the persistent problems have been looked at by the younger generation with a perspective that varies from people to people. There might be a greater advantage in letting the younger generation deal with some of these unsolved issues across the boarders and with the neighbours. We also have a threat of a civil war with the extremist groups within the country taking arms against the sovereignty of our country. They are adapting to violent measures that are totally against the philosophy and fundamentals of our nationhood. We shall not forget that all these groups that are engaging themselves in fighting are our own people.

We need to figure out new ways and means to combat these issues that are a threat to our society. Our country can never be able to deal with the after effects of a civil war in the sense the focus on growth and development will be shifted to the rehab and restoration processes. The economic impact would also be very challenging in terms of sustenance. The answers lie in the youth leadership that can effectively lead us through new focus, approach and aggression. Our young generation shall be oriented towards taking up challenging roles in the field of energy research, atomic innovations and defence positions to protect the well being and sovereignty of our proud nation. We advocate for peace and should also be prepared with defensive strategies to answer any threat we may anticipate.

There are plenty of issues that are to be sorted out through political consensus. Young India also needs to innovate to resolve some of the persisting issues that have been carried forward for many generations and decades in the past. The past has not been so vibrant and dynamic for our country which had to face many socio-political challenges from the time of separation and independence.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A WAY TO TACKLE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Creating a job and not just taking a job is something that has been batted around for quite a while now. Since there aren’t many jobs to take, often the only choice is to make one, or preferably many!

Make your own job! There is nothing more liberating than being your own boss and doing a job you love. It is hard work and a real rollercoaster ride, but if you have the willpower and determination to see things through, it may just be the best decision you ever make.

Often it is forgotten that jobs are created by one person or a group of a few people who start off with little more than a good idea and the conviction to make it happen. You can start off creating a job for yourself, but this can often end up growing and delivering jobs for others. Entrepreneurship is the seed that grows jobs, without it we have no hope.  The global downturn has been like a mass deforestation, destroying thousands of businesses around the world; we need to act and plant the seeds again, so in the future young people have a prosperous world of opportunity with jobs for all.

It is important to note that Entrepreneurs are made and anyone can become an Entrepreneur. The word is just a label and we should not waste precious time discussing if Entrepreneurs are born or made, after all who cares? It’s not important.  Entrepreneurs will take action no matter what their situation.

What is important however is to soak in as much knowledge as possible from whatever field of business, social enterprise or charity you want to go into. You must become an expert in your field. Surround yourself with like-minded people, network and build contacts. It has never been easier to reach out to people, anywhere in the world. So, be daring, take a risk; after all we’ll only regret the things we didn’t do in life.

This is the first is a series of three blogs on Entrepreneurship as a way to tackle youth unemployment. Watch out for the second and third blogs with more practical advice on what you can do to make yourself stand out and how to go about starting a business from scratch by implementing an entrepreneurial mindset.

India's economy

A five-star problem

THE rupee’s tumble continues to grip India. On August 29th Duvvuri Subbarao, the departing boss of the central bank, told an audience in Mumbai of the widespread “dismay about the ferocity of the depreciation”. Today, on August 30th, I spoke to the boss of a big hotel in the city who says he is preparing to dollarise his business. The rupee is too flaky to operate in, he said. “It’s just like Russia and Indonesia in the 1990s.” Shortly after this, Manmohan Singh, the prime minister, addressed parliament on the matter. While part of the currency slump is a “natural” correction to reflect high inflation, he said, “foreign exchange markets have a notorious history of overshooting. Unfortunately this is what is happening”. 

That statement looks correct on a three-day time horizon. The rupee almost breached 69 per dollar earlier this week. On August 30th it bounced back to 65.7, making it the best-performing big currency worldwide that day, though still leaving it down 16% year-to-date. The vote by Britain’s parliament against military action in Syria has helped push down oil prices. That is helpful for India, a big energy importer. And some of the Reserve Bank of India’s tweaks have calmed nerves. On August 28th the central bank said it would provide dollars directly to India’s big oil-importing firms. That will stop them having to sell rupees in the spot market. It is an indirect way for the RBI to use its reserves to support the exchange rate.

Whether India’s currency has stabilised is another matter. There is plenty to worry about. The prospect of the Federal Reserve ending its purchases of bonds draws ever closer, especially with good news from the American economy this week. That means the “Great Exit” of money from emerging markets may continue. Both Indonesia and Brazil raised interest rates this week to protect their currencies, making India relatively less attractive. A foreign investor in town told me at he would not invest in India until it raised its rates. He had arrived in India expecting to allocate more funds to it now prices have fallen, but after several days he felt more pessimistic and reckoned that the slump had further to go.

As if to confirm that view, GDP figures were released on August 30th for the quarter to June. Growth slowed to 4.4%, from 4.8% in the preceding quarter. Manufacturing contracted. These figures do not yet reflect the credit crunch that has taken place over the last two months, so it seems likely that GDP growth will slow even further. A good monsoon may boost farming, but the formal, industrial bit of the economy is in dire condition. On August 27th Palaniappan Chidambaram, the finance minister, said that the government had fast-tracked $27 billion of power and other projects stuck in red tape. But I have yet to find a full account of these proposals. In the past such announcements have contained far more hype than substance, as we explained in an article in June.

That credit crunch is still pronounced, even if the rupee has recovered a little. Most measures of stress in the financial system are still flashing red, reflecting Indian banks’ bad debt problem. Credit default swaps on State Bank of India, which measure its risk, have soared. Short-term market interest rates have not come down. The government has yet to show much desire to clean up banks’ dud loans and is instead putting more pressure on them to “extend and pretend”.

Even as mayhem stalks the currency market, the election campaign is ramping up. India’s legislators may be lousy at making decisions about economic reform, but they are remarkably decisive at passing more populist measures. Early this week a new programme to increase food subsidies was agreed. Moody’s, a credit rating agency, warned that this will put more pressure on the public finances. Then the lower house of parliament approved a new law on land reform. It replaces a decrepit act that is over a century old. But businesses say the new rules will make it even harder to buy land to set up factories, with long delays becoming the norm.

If the rupee still looks vulnerable, India has three options, none very palatable. One is to let the currency fall further. In most countries a cheaper currency would boost exports and help close the current-account deficit. But India’s manufacturing industry is too small and too bound in red tape to ramp up quickly. So a turn-around in the balance of payments may take time during which investors could panic. Meanwhile the weaker currency may destabilise the domestic economy by adding to inflation and increasing the government’s subsidies on fuel and thus its borrowing.

The second option is to do the opposite and increase interest rates to attract more foreign money in, following the path of Indonesia and Brazil. But this would further hammer Indian industry, which is already in poor shape, and probably increase bad debts at banks too. If the economy slowed further as a result, equity investors might begin to worry about corporate earnings declining and pull out their roughly $200 billion of investments in listed shares. Inducing a credit crunch in India might make things even worse.

The last option is to lower government borrowing. It is running at 7% of GDP (including India’s states) and has stoked excess demand in the last few years, widening the current-account deficit. The populist political mood doesn’t make big spending cuts easy, though, and while it is often accused of epic profligacy, India’s central government has pretty low expenditure relative to GDP—about 15%. There is simply no way it can cut its way to a balanced budget. What India really needs is more tax revenues. But with a narrow tax base—only 3% of Indians pay income tax—this might mean concentrating tax rises on the formal economy, which is already reeling.

For now my sense is that the authorities’ plan is to let the rupee trade freely but hold out the threat of an interest rate rise or direct intervention in the currency market to try to scare off speculators. At the same time they will squeeze borrowing as much as is possible during an election and use administrative measures, such as higher duties, to try to cap imports. It is a bet that the economy will pick up soon and that growth will make India’s problems fade away. The trouble is that the economy is still decelerating.