Egypt: Curricula revision to be implemented soon

Cairo,

Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research will soon embark on the revision of the curricular of Colleges of Technology and those of Islamic Studies, and to set up a Higher Council for them, according to Dr. Mufid Shihab, the minister. He said the project also involved the setting up of eight Technical Colleges and 45 Islamic Studies Institutes that are expected to cost EP 175 million, adding that the relevant teaching cadres would also be trained, in order to keep abreast with the times. He said these colleges and institutes would come under the rules and regulations stipulated by the ministry, and of any other institution.

Taken From: http://www.islamicnews.org/english/index.html

Snippet on Malawi

Blantyre

Malawi has a population of ten million, with Muslims making up 35 percent of that population, though government statistics show that they only account for 13 percent only. Muslims set foot inMalawi, from Mozambique, over 400 years ago, as merchants and traders, and since then Islam has left it mark on the people of Malawi who profess this faith.

About 140 years ago, the European set foot onMalawi, and set up commercial enterprises and plantation farms, at the same time established their churches, and introduced modern education. But the Muslims declined to send their children to such schools, on the pretext that such education was Christian-oriented and was therefore forbidden to Muslims.

Thus the Muslims became the least educated community in the country, and by extension, they became the poorer class in society, with most of them working in menial jobs. Also among the problems facing the Muslims of Malawi at present is the shortage of schools and Islamic books, as well as teachers, but poverty is the main stumbling block standing in the way of Muslims’ progress in Malawi.

Taken From: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/10May2003_news22.html

SEMINAR EXPLORES ASIAN ATTITUDES

New research by the University of Leicester has revealed differences in the experiences of Asian men and women as they migrated into the city.

The study, by Joanna Herbert of the University's Centre for Urban History, found Asian women were not as passive as they are traditionally perceived. Some of her findings - based on first-hand accounts by Asian people living in Leicester - will be revealed at a seminar on May 9 held at the Centre for Urban History. She said: "The aim of my thesis has been to investigate the effect of waves of Asian migration on both the white and Asian communities in Leicester.

"A significant part of this research has involved exploring the perceptions and attitudes of Asians who migrated to Leicester in the second half of the 20th century, including their experiences and responses to racism."

Taken From: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=104417&command=

displayContent&sourceNode=104395&contentPK=5480200