EDITORIAL

In this issue, we focus on various developments in the Education sector in African countries. From Kenya, Africanews Associate Editor Zachary Ochieng analyses the effects of the free primary education policy announced by the new government.

From Botswana, Rodrick Mukumbira reports that teachers are increasingly abusing their students sexually, a scenario that has forced some students to drop out of school. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Mukumbira reports that teachers are being lured to join a controversial national service as a prerequisite of improving their measly pay.

The requirement of the English language as a pass subject has kindled a raging controversy, with opinions sharply divided, as James Hall report from Swaziland.

From Ghana, we are informed by Sam Sarpong that the churches are leading the way in the establishment of private universities to fill the void left by a deteriorating public university system.

The low morale of teachers occasioned by disastrous government policies is contributing to poor academic results in Malawi's schools, writes Charles Banda.

From the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Diane Chesla reviews a lecture delivered by researcher Filip DeBoek from the University of Leveren, Belgium. The lecture addresses the issues of street children and witchcraft as a social problem in the country's capital, Kinshasa. This report first appeared on www.AFRICAFILES.org a network of volunteers committed to promoting human rights and economic justice in Africa and to hearing African perspectives and alternative analyses for viable human development in Africa.