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Uganda is accusing schools backed by Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates of “teaching pornography”
For much of the past year, Bridge International Academies has faced tough criticism of its operations and business model in Africa. With its scripted teaching plans, Bridge offers standardized education in developing countries through its chain of low-cost private schools. But critics contend that the startup, which is backed by investors including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and the World Bank, hired cheap teachers and ran its schools amid poor sanitary conditions.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Digital Tools for Impact and Scale to Reduce Extreme Poverty
Ana Pantelic writes that Fundación Capital is using tablet-based applications and e-learning platforms to change the way that families living in extreme poverty – and the program mentors who work with them – access information and build local capacity. By integrating digital solutions into its work, the organization has improved and standardized the quality of training, and as a result, scaled national responses to eliminating poverty.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
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MovingWorlds’ Next Move In Social Enterprise ‘Experteering’
The developing talent is perhaps the biggest challenge for social enterprises. No matter how well-rounded the team, there are just going to be skills that prove elusive. MovingWorlds, a platform for connecting social business novices with established business people was formed four years ago to bridge that gap. This month the firm launched MovingWorlds Institute to help skilled professionals transition to social impact careers.
- Categories
- Education
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Kenya teachers seek to follow Uganda and ban UK-backed private schools
Kenyan teachers want the government to ban a chain of low-cost private primary and nursery schools, backed by Microsoft's Bill Gates and Britain's aid budget, after it faced criticism from a court in neighbouring Uganda for hiring unlicensed teachers.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How Technology Can Provide Microentrepreneurs With Simple – and Much-Needed – Rules of Thumb
Microentrepreneurs have the potential to be a growth engine for developing countries, but they often lack business and financial management training. A recent project suggests that behavioral design has the power to unlock the potential of these microentrepreneurs, markedly improving their financial practices and business outcomes and leading to the financial well-being of their families.
- Categories
- Education
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Pupils, Parents of Bridge International Schools Storm Parliament Over Closure
Parents and pupils of Bridge International Academies on Monday stormed parliament protesting against government's decision to close the schools. Uganda's High Court on Friday ordered the closure of 63 Bridge International Academies on grounds that the private schools provided unsanitary learning conditions, used unqualified teachers and were not properly licensed.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Uganda is shutting down 63 schools backed by Zuckerberg and Gates
Uganda’s High Court has ordered the closure of more than 60 primary schools run by a U.S. education company backed by Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates and Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Peer Mentorships Helping Colombia Write Its Next Chapter
Peer learning provides mutually beneficial relationships that advance the knowledge and well-being of all participants. In the second post in our series on the Graduation model of alleviating poverty, Fundación Capital explores the power of local peer mentors in supporting the income-generation projects of individuals affected by the violence in Colombia.
- Categories
- Education
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