Education

Nepal closes schools as deaths from heavy rains hit 129

Published

7 months ago

September 29, 2024

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By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) -Nepal has shut schools for three days after landslides and floods triggered by two days of heavy rain across the Himalayan nation killed 129 people, with 62 missing, officials said on Sunday.

The floods brought traffic and normal activity to a standstill in the Kathmandu valley, where 37 deaths were recorded in a region home to 4 million people and the capital.

Authorities said students and their parents faced difficulties as university and school buildings damaged by the rains needed repair.

“We have urged the concerned authorities to close schools in the affected areas for three days,” Lakshmi Bhattarai, a spokesperson for the education ministry, told Reuters.

Some parts of the capital reported rain of up to 322.2 mm (12.7 inches), pushing the level of its main Bagmati river up 2.2 m (7 ft) past the danger mark, experts said.

But there were some signs of respite on Sunday morning, with the rains easing in many places, said Govinda Jha, a weather forecaster in the capital.

“There may be some isolated showers, but heavy rains are unlikely,” he said.

Television images showed police rescuers in knee-high rubber boots using picks and shovels to clear away mud and retrieve 16 bodies of passengers from two buses swept away by a massive landslide at a site on the key route into Kathmandu.

Weather officials in the capital blamed the rainstorms on a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal extending over parts of neighbouring India close to Nepal.

Haphazard development amplifies climate change risks in Nepal, say climate scientists at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

“I’ve never before seen flooding on this scale in Kathmandu,” said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, an environmental risk official at the centre.

In a statement, it urged the government and city planners to “urgently” step up investment in, and plans for, infrastructure, such as underground stormwater and sewage systems, both of the “grey”, or engineered kind, and “green”, or nature-based type.

The impact of the rains was aggravated by poor drainage due to unplanned settlement and urbanisation efforts, construction on floodplains, lack of areas for water retention, and encroachment on the Bagmati river, it added.

The level in the Koshi river in Nepal’s southeast has started to fall, however, said Ram Chandra Tiwari, the region’s top bureaucrat.

The river, which brings deadly floods to India’s eastern state of Bihar nearly every year, had been running above the danger mark at a level nearly three times normal, he said.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Education

Harvard sues Trump’s administration over slashed billions in funding

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Donald Trump

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Harvard University has sued the Donald Trump administration for freezing $2.2billion in grants.

The school bemoaned what it believes is an “unprecedented and improper” control.

“The consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting,” Alan Garber, Harvard president, said on Monday.

The suit was filed in the federal district court in Massachusetts. It accuses the Trump administration of flouting the First Amendment and other federal laws.

The 51-page complaint is asking a federal judge to declare Trump’s “freeze order” unconstitutional and to order a reversal.

Last week, the US president announced a freeze of federal funding after Harvard refused to accept demands that the administration has said aim to address antisemitism on campus.

“The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” the lawsuit said in part.

Education

Abia teachers to begin strike Thursday over unpaid salaries

Published

3 days ago

April 20, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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‎The Abia State Standing Committee of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has concluded plans to embark on strike action on Thursday over what they described as “stringent measures on teachers” by the state governor, Alex Otti.

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‎They stated that the government and education stakeholders have refused to treat them well, they lamented that:
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‎(1) teachers in Abia state are not paid the minimum wage in March and the teachers salary structure wasn’t used
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‎(2)Teachers are still being retired by ASUBEB, despite His Excellency’s approval of the 65 years/40 years service extension. Promotions are released haphazardly without coordination.
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‎(3)Non-payment of arrears to teachers in basic schools remains part of the problem. Since their colleagues in SEMB have started receiving parts of their arrears, it would be justifiable for basic school teachers to be considered as well.”
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‎The strike action is expected to begin on Thursday, 24/04/2025.
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Education

Six IMSU Law Graduates Bag First Class at the Nigerian Law School

Published

5 days ago

April 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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In what has been described as a historic academic feat, six graduates from the Faculty of Law, Imo State University (IMSU) have emerged with First Class honors in the recently released November 2024 Bar Part II examination results by the Nigerian Law School.

The distinguished students—Ekwereike Sunshine, Mezu Ifeanyi, Aretola Ade Daniel, Duru Vera, Iwuoha Amarachi and Obijiaku Precious—have etched their names in gold, not just for themselves but for their alma mater and Imo State at large, as IMSU takes the lead with the highest number of First Class graduates from a single institution.

This outstanding achievement has drawn widespread commendation for the #PeoplesGovernor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, whose administration has continued to demonstrate unwavering commitment to educational development and youth empowerment in the state.

Observers and stakeholders in the education sector have attributed this success to Governor Uzodimma’s consistent financial support to state-owned institutions and his visionary leadership, which has ensured a conducive learning environment and the provision of critical infrastructure and resources for academic excellence.

Under Governor Uzodimma’s watch, Imo State University has seen massive improvements in academic standards, welfare of lecturers, and student empowerment programs. This has evidently translated to global competitiveness for IMSU students and graduates, as reflected in their recent success at the prestigious Nigerian Law School.

Education analysts describe this record-setting performance as a product of deliberate investment and strategic policies of the Uzodimma-led administration, which continues to prioritize human capital development as a core component of the 3R agenda.

With this feat, Imo State has once again reinforced its position as a citadel of academic excellence in Nigeria, thanks to the foresight and support of Governor Hope Uzodimma—a true champion of the Imo youth.

As congratulatory messages pour in from across the country, the achievements of these six young legal scholars remain a beacon of what is possible when visionary leadership meets academic dedication.