rural areas

South Africa’s COPE Raises Concerns Over Gauteng Education Department’s Online Registration System

In S.A, the Congress of The People in Gauteng says it is concerned by the provincial Department of Education's online registration system, especially its impact on communities and parents. The party’s, Tom Mofokeng, says the online system has failed to effectively serve the people. He says the system is particularly disadvantageous to parents and learners from townships, rural areas, and informal settlements:

15 January, 2025 36

Health / Medical

INTERVIEW: The Nutrition Alliance of Namibia Director, Ben Schernick, Speaks on Addressing Malnutrition and Food Security

As Namibia faces its election season followed by the festive period, the country must confront a pressing issue: malnutrition. From December to March, the peak season for malnutrition, it’s a time of heightened awareness and urgency, particularly in regions most affected by food insecurity. Ben Schernick, the Director of the Nutrition Alliance of Namibia, sheds light on the current state of malnutrition in the country, emphasizing the need for […]

13 November, 2024 42

Africa

Bicycles can change lives, especially in rural Africa – new report looks at their use in Ghana and Malawi

Bicycles are particularly valued for carrying loads. peeterv/Getty Images, CC BY By Daniel Frey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) To many people around the world bicycles are a crucial means of transport, especially for carrying loads in rural areas. While their benefits are huge and many organisations are working on making access to bicycles a reality, a range of barriers still prevent them from being more widely […]

11 June, 2024 23

Local

Small businesses big impact: Boosting SMEs to drive economic growth

In the face of a recovering economy, soaring inflation, and high interest rates, small business owners in Namibia are navigating challenging times. Now more than ever, supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is imperative, given their significant contribution to the Namibian economy. It is estimated that there are over 40 000 SMEs in Namibia, supporting the livelihoods of more than 200 000 people and contributing approximately […]

28 May, 2024 18

Namibia

Swanu wants a fixed payday for old-age pension

https://youtu.be/56nP6x9xi0I By Josia Shigwedha Swanu president Evilastus Kaaronda has criticised the current system of old age pension payment, labelling it an insult to senior citizens. Kaaronda calls for a fixed payday rather than being paid on the first Tuesday of every month. Kaaronda made the remarks during a media conference today where he touched on a number of issues affecting the Namibian people, highlighting the difficulties faced […]

3 May, 2024 126

Africa

How to get vaccines to remote areas? In Sierra Leone they’re delivered by foot, boat or motorbike

By Niccolo Francesco Meriggi, University of Oxford In Sierra Leone almost 59% of the population live in remote, rural areas. Roads may be non-existent or in bad condition, making it very difficult for rural dwellers to access healthcare. This is one of the key reasons why COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country are low. During an innovative vaccine programme mobile vaccine clinics were dispatched to the furthest […]

19 April, 2024 39

South Africa

Social media for sex education: South African teens explain how it would help them

Social media platforms can provide safe, accurate and confidential information about sex to teens. Nattrass/Getty Images By Ayobami Precious Adekola, University of South Africa Most teenagers dread talking about sex with their parents. Their parents feel the same way. In some societies it’s considered taboo to even broach the subject. And, even where sexuality education is taught at schools, research has shown that effective communication between young […]

18 April, 2024 97

Africa

Diet and nutrition: how well Tanzanians eat depends largely on where they live

By Hannah Ameye, University of Bonn Cities are growing faster in sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere, with an annual urban population growth rate of around 4% compared to the world average of 1.5%. Across the continent the urban share of the total population is projected to increase to 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2050. Urbanisation is associated with lifestyle changes such as less physical activity and less […]

9 April, 2024 50

World

Hundreds of Nigerian children are being kidnapped – the government must change its security strategy

By Al Chukwuma Okoli, Federal University Lafia School abductions have been a trend in Nigeria. The latest took place in Kaduna and Sokoto states, both in the north-west region, when over 300 children were abducted at different times in March 2024. Previous prominent cases have included the Chibok, Dapchi and Kankara abductions, which insurgents claimed to have perpetrated. As a security scholar and analyst who has researched and […]

25 March, 2024 27