Education for all

“The right to education must remain the foundation for advancing the Education for All agenda” – UN expert
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Kishore Singh, today called on world governments to ensure that the right to education guides their efforts to meet the Education for All* objectives of providing quality basic education to all children, youths and adults by 2015.
“We must make sure not just that an ever greater number of students gain access to primary education, but that governments ensure education is an enforceable right for their citizens, is of high quality, and provided equally without discrimination,” Mr. Singh said following the first UNESCO-led Global Education for All Meeting in Paris.

“We must take full care that the learning crisis is not prolonged,” the UN expert stressed. Referring to his 2012 report to the UN General Assembly on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) from a right to education perspective, the Special Rapporteur emphasized that quality imperatives are inextricably linked with TVET, which is emerging as an area of critical importance in education and learning.
The Education for All initiative provides a framework for governments to accelerate progress for meeting EFA goals by 2015. “The right to education means more than just being able to attend school,” the UN expert said. “Increasing access without ensuring the quality of teachers, curricula and schools will not improve our societies. We must also ensure schools are accessible for all students, including women, rural or economically disadvantaged students.”
The Special Rapporteur called on governments to enact legislation to ensure minimum quality standards are set for teachers and educational curricula, and to address inequalities in education, particularly for girls, minorities and poor children. “States must take their international legal obligations seriously, and must ensure that their domestic legislation meets such obligations,” he added.

(*) Education for All: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-all/

No business as usual

The Constitution has changed the environment in which people operate. Most critically it has also changed the context in which businesses are run. Present age business managers should seek to understand the change in the legal and social dynamics brought about by the new Constitution. To put it in simpler terms, its no-longer ‘business as usual’ for business enterprises.

This is particularly so for foreign investoers seeking to explore the various investment opportunities or local start-up companies

More to follow but what are your views.

Amnesty International: Staff on strike!!!!

Employees at Amnesty International do have problems in matters of employment law. They defend rights but they also need protection. This makes labour law quite interesting. I guess all of us desire individual justice.

But i was also impressed to see that A.I plans to establish a regional hub in Nairobi. Follow the link and read this captivating story.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/animosity-international-staff-on-strike-in-amnesty-offices-across-the-globe-8317303.html

Lamu Port: What of future generations?

Sign: Lamu port project

Travelled to Lamu a while back, doing investment work. Dont ask for details, its classified.

However i was amazed by magnitude of the projects the government hopes to undertake. The 'gold' rush is on, people running to purchase property and the inhabitants of Lamu eager to sell and earn monies they never dreamt of.

In all this i wondered, are we thinking of future generations?

Do we have a balanced approach to investments in Lamu?

Section of the ground cleared for the port

Police Go Slow: Does our Constitution allow??

There are reports that the Kenya police will start a go-slow next week. They are dissatisfied with their current wages. The labour market is just becoming more and more interesting. The more reason why we should move towards a balanced approach to labour relations in the public and private sectors.

I hope the matter is resolved by the government soon. Among all the strikes we have had this year, teachers and doctors, a strike by the police would be dissastrous.

Cant help but think, who is advising the government on labour relations??

Righting the Balance!!!!Social Justice

'Women and men without jobs or livelihoods really don’t care if their economies grow at 3, 5 or 10 per cent a year, if such growth leaves them behind and without protection. They do care whether their leaders and their societies promote policies to provide jobs and justice, bread and dignity, and freedom to voice their needs, their hopes and their dreams...'

See the book by -Juan Somavia at: http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/forthcoming-publications/WCMS_185369/lang--en/index.htm

Why balance?

Now this is why we should balance. This week business men are being killed in Kisumu County (my condolences).

I then asked, why investors while they are contributing to job creation and improved welfare for families and communities?

An answer started developing...it is not just about profits, since investors run their enterprises within a society or community. Therefore, the issues affecting the society (famine, insecurity, elections, school, water, environment, transport, Internet, church, floods ... the list is endless) equally affect the investor.

An investor cannot dare take an 'i don't care' attitude. What affects society, affects your business.

As an investor i have come to learn and appreciate -the balance. That is why i respect and uphold the dignity of the people working in my enterprice, my customers and general members of the community.

Convinced?

The balance!

Businesses should learn how to balance between the rights of corporations and human rights so that we can secure a safe and stable future for future generations. But ... why balance?

What profits?

Its not just about profits, but clean profits....