Clinton says Iran scientist free to come and go

July 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri had been free to come and go from the United States.

“Mr. Amiri has been in the United States of his own free will and he is free to go,” Clinton told reporters. “In fact he was scheduled to travel to Iran yesterday but was unable to make all of the necessary arrangements to reach Iran through a transit country,” she said.

Clinton called on Tehran to release three American hikers being held in Iran and to provide more information on former FBI agent Robert Levinson who disappeared during a business trip to Iran.

Referring to Amiri, Clinton said: “He’s free to go, he was free to come, these decisions are his alone to make.”

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Paul Simao)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kazakhstan cancels KazakhGold stake sale to Polyus

July 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 12 (Reuters) – Kazakhstan on Monday annulled the sale of shares in KazakhGold (KZGq.L) to Russia’s Polyus Gold (PLZL.MM), potentially putting in jeopardy the plans for a merger of the two groups to create a gold-mining giant.

“Due to newly discovered information regarding violations of the law on mineral resources during the purchase of the stake in KazakhGold by the Russian company Polyus Gold, the competent authority has cancelled the previously taken decisions to allow the sale of KazakhGold shares,” the Kazakh Industry Ministry said in a statement.

“For the same reason, there is a ban on the additional share issue by KazakhGold.” (Reporting by Masha Gordeeva; Writing by Toni Vorobyova; Editing by Maria Kiselyova)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strasburg sharp in 8-1 romp over Giants

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Stephen Strasburg returned to form and won his first game in nearly a month with the aid of a pair of Adam Dunn home runs as the Washington Nationals cruised to an 8-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

Strasburg improved to 3-2 with his first win since June 13, having endured a pair of losses and three no-decisions since overpowering the Cleveland Indians in a 9-4 victory.

After giving up a leadoff home run to Andres Torres in the first inning, Strasburg allowed just two more hits and a walk, while striking out eight in six innings.

“After that I was like, ‘You know what, bottom line, if they’re going to beat me, they’re going to beat me. Me calling my own game’,” Strasburg told reporters. “I just put it all on my shoulders.”

Dunn was three-for-four with three RBIs and three runs scored. His solo home run in the third inning broke a 1-1 tie, and his two-run blast in the seventh was part of a four-run inning that put the game out of reach for San Francisco.

“I think every hitter, especially every power hitter, goes through a stretch where they hit home runs,” said Dunn. “That’s kind of what’s happening right now.”

After falling behind in the top of the first the Nationals countered with a run in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a throwing error by pitcher Matt Cain on an attempted pickoff at second base.

Washington added two more runs in the sixth.

Giants starter Matt Cain (6-8) gave up 11 hits in over six innings, allowing all eight runs while striking out six and walking three.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by Ian Ransom)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strasburg sharp in 8-1 romp over Giants

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Stephen Strasburg returned to form and won his first game in nearly a month with the aid of a pair of Adam Dunn home runs as the Washington Nationals cruised to an 8-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

Strasburg improved to 3-2 with his first win since June 13, having endured a pair of losses and three no-decisions since overpowering the Cleveland Indians in a 9-4 victory.

After giving up a leadoff home run to Andres Torres in the first inning, Strasburg allowed just two more hits and a walk, while striking out eight in six innings.

“After that I was like, ‘You know what, bottom line, if they’re going to beat me, they’re going to beat me. Me calling my own game’,” Strasburg told reporters. “I just put it all on my shoulders.”

Dunn was three-for-four with three RBIs and three runs scored. His solo home run in the third inning broke a 1-1 tie, and his two-run blast in the seventh was part of a four-run inning that put the game out of reach for San Francisco.

“I think every hitter, especially every power hitter, goes through a stretch where they hit home runs,” said Dunn. “That’s kind of what’s happening right now.”

After falling behind in the top of the first the Nationals countered with a run in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a throwing error by pitcher Matt Cain on an attempted pickoff at second base.

Washington added two more runs in the sixth.

Giants starter Matt Cain (6-8) gave up 11 hits in over six innings, allowing all eight runs while striking out six and walking three.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by Ian Ransom)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aker Solutions ASA: Lieungh leaves Aker Solutions

June 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

16 June 2010 – Simen Lieungh is stepping down from his position as President & CEO of
Aker Solutions. Chief Financial Officer Leif H. Borge will act as President until
Lieungh’s successor has been recruited. During this period, Mr Øyvind Eriksen will in
his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Aker Solutions Board take on the CEO role.

Lieungh’s departure, with effect from Wednesday 16 June, has been agreed with the Board
of Directors. The Board will now start the process of identifying and engaging his
successor – a process they expect will take some time.

“Aker Solutions has moved forward under Lieungh’s leadership. Despite some challenging
projects, the company has produced record results and today the order book is in good
shape” says Øyvind Eriksen. “Leif Borge and I will work closely together, keeping a
steady course until the new CEO is in place. There will be no change in strategic
direction,” continues Eriksen.

Lieungh has been with the company for 22 years. After his early days as a planning
engineer, he was rapidly promoted to project director and then executive director,
before becoming President & CEO of the company.

“My departure from the company is the result of an understanding that the Board and I
have arrived at over some time. It is not a result of any specific issues related to
operations or projects. I don’t intend to discuss this in any more detail but will say
that I am sorry not to be part of Aker Solutions’ continuing success, and that I look
forward to seeing the results of the work that we have started together,” says Simen
Lieungh.

In his interim role Øyvind Eriksen will not take part in any decisions that concern Aker
Solutions’ commercial or business relations with Aker ASA or other companies owned by
Aker.

Øyvind Eriksen will continue as President & CEO of Aker ASA.

The Aker Solutions Board has appointed director Mikael Lilius as deputy chairman. He
will take an active role in the company’s ongoing strategy work. Board member Lone Fønss
Schrøder will take Eriksen’s place on the audit committee until in the new President &
CEO is in place.

Lieungh will receive six months’ salary in lieu of notice and the equivalent of a
further 14 months’ salary as severance pay. His annual salary is NOK 4.5 million. While
acting as president, Leif Borge’s salary will be increased by the equivalent of NOK 1
million per year.

More information about Aker Solutions’ Board of Directors and Executive Management Team
is available at www.akersolutions.com http://www.akersolutions.com/ .

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Media
Geir Arne Drangeid, Exec Vice President, Communications, Aker Solutions ASA. Tel: +47 67
51 30 36

Investor relations
Lasse Torkildsen, SVP Investor Relations, Aker Solutions ASA. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39

Career opportunities
Visit http://www.akersolutions.com/Internet/CareerCentre/default.htm

http://www.akersolutions.com/Internet/CareerCentre/default.htm

Aker Solutions ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Aker Solutions”), is a
leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products
and integrated solutions. Aker Solutions’ business serves several industries, including
oil & gas, refining & chemicals, mining & metals and power generation. The Aker
Solutions group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Solutions is
used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian
Securities Trading Act)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gazprom says no plans to replace export chief

June 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 7 (Reuters) – Russia’s gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said on Monday its management and board had no plans to terminate the contract of export chief Alexander Medvedev.

Energy

Business daily Kommersant quoted on Monday unnamed sources as saying Medvedev could be soon be replaced by a manager close to deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin or oil trader Gennady Timchenko as part of Gazprom’s export strategy overhaul.

“Although some people may badly want it, there are no such decisions or such plans,” Gazprom quoted its chief executive Alexei Miller as saying.

(Reporting by Tanya Mosolova, writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Editing by John Bowker)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trichet: ECB not favouring French banks -TV

June 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

May 31 (Reuters) – There are no grounds to claim that the European Central Bank’s bond-buying programme would benefit especially the French banks, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Austrian television.

Bonds | Global Markets

When asked about German reports that the ECB enables above all French banks to get rid of their holdings of Greek government bonds, Trichet told Austrian national television ORF: “It’s absolutely false. All our decisions were made by the Governing Council to ensure the proper transmission of monetary policy.”

Trichet also repeated the ECB would not compromise on its price stability goal. (Reporting by Sakari Suoninen; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Obama to act on offshore oil after report Thurs

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The decision on whether to resume issuing offshore drilling permits will be made after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar sends his report on the BP oil spill to the White House this week, a department official told Reuters on Monday.

Shortly after BP’s massive oil spill in the Gulf, President Barack Obama ordered that no new offshore drilling permits be issued until Salazar’s 30-day review of the spill was completed.

“All decisions will be made after he submits the report to the president,” said the official on whether permits will be issued again.

The White House said it expects to get Salazar’s report on Thursday and that President Obama would likely talk publicly about it when the report arrives.

Some U.S. lawmakers have called on the administration to lift the ban on new permits in the shallow waters of the Gulf, and leave it in place for the deep waters where the BP accident occurred.

Salazar’s report could also recommend whether the department should go ahead with its next lease sale in the western Gulf of Mexico scheduled for Aug. 18. Salazar said last week the department was considering whether to delay that lease sale.

The 18.8 million offshore acres that would be offered to oil companies in the lease sale could produce between 242 million and 423 million barrels of crude oil.

(Reporting by Tom Doggett; additional reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Modi’s lawyer to submit show-cause reply

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Lalit Modi, suspended chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), will not personally submit his reply to the chargesheet slapped on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

In an e-mail to BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan, Modi said his lawyer Mehmood M. Abdi would deliver the reply to the show-cause notice with relevant documents at the BCCI headquarters at Wankhede Stadium here Saturday between 2.30 and 3.30 p.m.

Modi requested Srinivasan to depute some authorised person to ‘receive and acknowledge the documents by providing adequate receipt.’

Modi was earlier considering handing over the reply personally if the Board chief or the secretary were there to receive it.

The chargesheet, giving him 15 days to reply, was served on Modi April 26 after he was suspended at midnight soon after the IPL final. The BCCI later agreed to give Modi time to reply till Saturday.

The showcause lists charges of financial irregularity, but Modi has maintained that all decisions were taken collectively by the IPL Governing Council.

The five main charges against Modi include receiving kickbacks for allotting TV broadcast rights and manipulating bids.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pak’s good show in T20 WC ‘perfect launch pad’ for tough assignments ahead: Bari

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 16 (ANI): Though defending champions Pakistan have crashed out of the ICC World T20 Championship, Wasim Bari, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) believes that the team’s performance in the Caribbean has given itself a perfect ‘launch pad’ ahead of a busy calendar this year.

Bari said he was ‘impressed’ by Pakistan’s performance in West Indies, adding that it would help them prepare better for some tough encounters ahead which includes the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Test Series against England and Australia.

“We may have lost in the semifinal, but I believe that the way we’ve played in the event has provided us with a great launch pad and will help us do well during the rest of the year,” The News quoted Bari, as saying.

“We have a very tough season coming up and the team will benefit from the confidence it will derive from its performance in the West Indies,” he added.

Pakistan looked all set for a third consecutive appearance in the World T20 final after posting a challenging total of 191 runs against Australia in the semi-final, but Michael Hussey’s breathtaking knock of 60 off 24 balls denied Afridi’s men a chance of a clash with England in the final of the coveted tournament.

Bari, however, denied commenting on whether the PCB would retain Afridi as captain for the upcoming Asia Cup, as the flamboyant all-rounder has been criticised for some of his decisions during the T20 World Championship.

“The thing is that the team is still in the West Indies and we will only sit down and talk about such issues once its back home,” he said.

He also refrained from commenting about reports regarding leg-spinner Danish Kaneria being arrested in London over match-fixing charges, saying the PCB is yet to receive any official report regarding the case from English authorities.

“We’ve heard about it from media reports today but haven’t received anything in writing from the authorities in England. The Board is monitoring the case but will only decide its course of action after getting something in black and white from the concerned people,” Bari said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Knights, Mackay won’t return for Crows

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Adelaide forward Chris Knights and wingman David Mackay have been ruled out of returning from injuries for Sunday’s AFL match against Richmond.

Knights (foot) and Mackay (groin) will remain sidelined for the match of the two winless clubs.

The losers will assume bottom spot of the AFL ladder, a position the Crows are not even discussing.

“That is the first time anyone has brought it up, was you mentioning it just then,” utility Scott Stevens said on Wednesday.

The Crows have tweaked their training schedule, with no sessions on match eve for the first time in Neil Craig’s six-year tenure.

“We had to look at everything we are doing,” Stevens said.

“And if we did change something, we were changing it for the right reasons, we weren’t just changing it for change’s sake.

“The game has got quicker and we think we need to train against that sort of speed of defence, and with that sort of speed of attack.

“So we shortened the sessions so we can train at that speed and still get the recovery we need to play well on the weekend.

“As a leadership group and as a playing group, we are always looking for ways we can get better and we are disappointed, upset, frustrated as anyone with the start to the season.”

Stevens said the change of routine was decided after discussions between players and coaches.

“In the end the coaches have the final decision on most things but there is good healthy discussion,” he said.

“All the decisions we make are performance decisions, how are we going to win … we’ll continue to review it and review everything we do so we can improve.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I won’t torture myself over Man U’s failure: Ferguson

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 5 (ANI): Manchester United’s failure to lift the Premier League title will not agonise boss Alex Ferguson over where he went wrong.

Speaking at the club’s annual awards last night, Ferguson said: “I used to look at every game but you can torture yourself with that.”

“We lost at Burnley at the start of the season. That was three points and we also missed a penalty,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

“If we had scored that we might have won or at least got a draw that might have made a difference,” Ferguson said.

“We had a couple of refereeing decisions against Chelsea. You could look at all things.

“You can twist and torture yourself but it happens. We get breaks ourselves sometimes,” he added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lady luck, poor bowling choices by Afridi behind big Australia loss: Mudassar

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 4 (ANI): Former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar while criticising skipper Shahid Afridi for making some wrong moves against Australia during their encounter in the ICC T20 World Championship, has said that lady luck also did not favour the captain.

“In the match against Australia, I think Afridi did not have any luck with all the decisions he took,” Mudassar said.

He however blasted Afridi for opting to open the bowling with part time spinner Mohammed Hafeez and giving a three over spell to fast bowler Mohammed Aamer.

Mudassar said Aamer is a kind of bowler who is more effective in the dying stages of the game.

“If Aamer is believed to be good in opening the spell, he is more lethal bowling the last few overs because of his angle and reverse swinging yorkers, which he amply demonstrated in the last over,” The Nation quoted Mudassar, as saying.

Aamer gave 23 runs without any success in the first three overs of his spell in the match, which the defending champions lost by 34 runs, but in the last over of his quota he grabbed three quick wickets.

The eventful last over of the Australian innings produced five wickets, including two run outs.

Mudassar pointed out that the batting and fielding remains the area of prime concern for Pakistan, adding that Afridi’s own bad patch with the bat was also a cause of worry.

“Afridi’s poor form is alarming even for himself. But I believe he is good enough to recover and would surely make a difference in the next games,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Button favourite to win McLaren battle against Hamilton: Sir Jackie Stewart

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 30(ANI): Former Scottish Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart believes that reigning champion Jenson Button is the favourite to beat Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and potentially become the first Briton to claim back-to-back world titles.

Stewart had earlier said that Button had entered a “lion’s den” by choosing to join McLaren, a team that brought Hamilton through the ranks of world motorsport and made him Formula One’s youngest ever world champion in 2008.

However, after two wins in his first four races for the team, Stewart admits he was wrong about Button’s move.

“It is working much better than I think anyone could have expected,” The Telegraph quoted Stewart, as saying.

“I did say that Jenson would be walking into the lion’s den. What he has proved is that he can handle that den very well. That is not to say that he is better than Lewis or vice-versa, but Jenson is in that zone at the moment where he is making the right decisions at the right time.”

“I think if he keeps driving the way he is I would have to say he is the favourite of the two,” he added.

Stewart further said that there does not seem to be any fireworks between Button and Hamilton, as anticipated before the start of the season.

“The drivers themselves seem to get on very well together. There is a good communication there,” Stewart said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sex education not needed in Malaysian schools: Deputy Education Minister

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 28(ANI): Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Dr. Puad Zarkashi said sex education is not needed in schools across the country, and will not be introduced.

Dr. Zarkashi said elements of sex education were already being taught in schools in a subject called Social and Reproductive Health Studies (SRHS).

“Social and reproductive health studies is taught under Health Education and encompasses curricula of a wide variety of subjects such as Biology, Science, Additional Science, Moral Studies and Religious Education,” the New Straits Times quoted Dr. Zarkashi, as saying.

“There is no need for a specific subject called Sex Education,” he added.

Dr. Zarkashi said this in the Parliament, while replying to several ministries and organizations supporting the idea of teaching sex education.

He further said that SRHS teachers had attended courses held by experienced trainers, which were designed to expose the teachers to the proper approach needed to teach the subject.

“Our present syllabus also includes modules on the importance of making the right decisions where sex is concerned,” he added.

Dr. Zarkashi also stressed that parents should also play their role in discussing sex with their children and advise them accordingly.

“This will lessen sensitivities related to sex. Parents cannot leave the issue of sex for teachers to handle, they must also speak to their children about it,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB chief Butt must stop his ‘one man show’: Sohail

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr.21 (ANI): Criticising Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt for running a ‘one man show’ in the board, former opening batsman Aamir Sohail has asked the PCB boss to put an end to the practice.

Referring to the recent controversy surrounding choosing a replacement for injured all-rounder Yasir Aarafat, Sohail said it was baffling to see Butt making all decisions by himself without consulting either the chief selector Mohsin Khan, coach Waqar Younis or captain Shahid Afridi.

“I must say that this one-man show will have to be stopped.It’s the chief selector’s job to pick players in consultation with the captain and coach. But unfortunately it is the PCB who is calling all the shots,” The News quoted Sohail, as saying.

“If you have to make all the decision then why have you appointed these people. There should be distribution of power otherwise we can’t have any improvement in our cricket,” he added.

Sohail called Butt ‘adamant’, and said that there is no need for the chief selector and the coach, if decisions are to be made by the PCB chief himself.

“If you don’t want the chief selector and coach to do their jobs then why are you throwing away money by paying them salaries? It will be better for Pakistan cricket if all these players are fired because it will help the PCB chairman in his drive to cut down costs,” said Sohail, who served as Director Game Development during Butt’s tenure for some time, but resigned from the post saying he was not allowed enough freedom to carry out his work properly.(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Button having “best time” of his life after incredible start to F1 season

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 20(ANI): Reigning Formula One champion Jenson Button reckons he is having a fantastic time following his incredible start to the season.

Button is at the top of the drivers’ standings after leading home team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, and currently has a 10-point lead over second placed Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg.

“This is the best time of my life, no doubt. I’m the world champion and I’ve got the confidence that brings. I’m driving like a world champion,” The Sun quoted Button, as saying.

“I won three of the first four last year and now two out of four this season. That’s not a bad position to be in. Whatever happens in my career at McLaren now I think I”ve had a lot of fun already,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hamilton, who is at third place in the driver’s standings, denied reports that there were some problems between the two Brits.

“There are no issues. The good thing with me and Jenson is that we clearly want to beat each other,” Hamilton said.

“I’ve done it the hard way and he”s had the easier way. I’ve had great races but he has taken the right decisions and the easier route,” he added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just like humans, apes suffer from self-doubt too

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 19 (ANI): Just like humans, apes are sufficiently self-aware to doubt their own knowledge, says a new study.

As part of the research, Josep Call of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, put food in one of two opaque plastic pipes and had watching bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans pick the one with the food.

Call found that if they were made to wait, the apes sometimes forgot where the food was, but by and large they did well on the task, reports New Scientist.

To find out if the apes doubted their own decisions, Call gave them the option to peek into the end of the pipes before they chose one.

He found that the apes were more likely to check the pipes if they had to wait before picking one.

Call says this suggests that the apes had begun to doubt their memory.

The study has been published in the journal Animal Cognition. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just like humans, apes suffer from self-doubt too

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 19 (ANI): Just like humans, apes are sufficiently self-aware to doubt their own knowledge, says a new study.

As part of the research, Josep Call of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, put food in one of two opaque plastic pipes and had watching bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans pick the one with the food.

Call found that if they were made to wait, the apes sometimes forgot where the food was, but by and large they did well on the task, reports New Scientist.

To find out if the apes doubted their own decisions, Call gave them the option to peek into the end of the pipes before they chose one.

He found that the apes were more likely to check the pipes if they had to wait before picking one.

Call says this suggests that the apes had begun to doubt their memory.

The study has been published in the journal Animal Cognition. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parents wary on national testing

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tasmania’s state school parents want details about a Federal Government suggestion they could run national tests.

The teachers’ union wants to ban members running the Federal literacy and numeracy or NAPLAN tests to protest against the My School Website.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard says if that happens, parents might be asked to supervise the test.

The Tasmanian Council of State School Parents and Friend’s Jenny Grossmith says without details, parents can not make informed decisions about the proposal.

“We would see the choice should be available to parents,” she said.

“So that if they do choose for their kids to do the NAPLAN testing, then if the teachers aren’t going to be available to supervise the tests, then if parents see that they want to do that we would support that,

“As I say though it’s all about the way it’s implemented that we would be most concerned with.”

Ms Grossmith says the tests are due next month.

“We’d want to see exactly how they (the parents) would be chosen for the roles, obviously there’d need to be specific parents who had training and skills in certain areas,

“Obviously we’d also want to know about how they would get the police clearances done because they’re not always quickly obtainable.”

The Education Union is expected to vote on the boycott at a meeting of its federal executive in Melbourne today.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts