Sunday, August 1, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
children will die before their first birthday
NEW YORK, 28 September 2004 – The first comprehensive study of the situation of children and women in Afghanistan in nearly a decade has been released today. It shows that fewer infants are dying and more children are going to school. But it also shows that the majority of the country still has no access to clean water, and mortality rates remain high.
More than 20,800 households were involved in the nationwide statistical survey, which was carried out by the Afghanistan Central Statistical Office with support from UNICEF. All 32 provinces were covered, although a small number of areas were still too dangerous and inaccessible to reach.
Key points
• 1 in 9 children will die before their first birthday
• 1 in 6 children will die under five
• 45 per cent of primary aged children don’t go to school
• 30 per cent of under fives are affected by diarrhoea
• 60 per cent of homes don’t have safe water
“A survey like this gives us insight into a number of key indicators – particularly things like the infant mortality rate, the under-five mortality rate, access to education, access to water, access to health care and so on,” says UNICEF Communications Officer in Afghanistan Edward Carwardine.
The survey shows that four million children are now attending school and there have been great improvements in health-related indicators. The number of cases of polio and measles has declined.
But there are still millions of girls who don’t go to school and a large portion of the population has no access to clean water. Diarrhoea causes the death of many children and health care for women in rural areas is limited.
“This survey is a really good snapshot of the condition of children today in Afghanistan and clearly identifies where there are needs, and where UNICEF needs to prioritize its activities to move Afghanistan forward to create a better standard of life for its children,” says Mr. Carwardine.
Afghanistan is emerging from 30 years of conflict and isolation and UNICEF says the government must be supported in its efforts to improve health and education and to protect the rights of children.
Progress of Provinces: Results of the 2003 Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey is the result of 12 months work by the Afghanistan Central Statistical Office.
Experts say primary students should be tested every eight weeks
Primary school children should be taught in ability groups and tested every eight weeks to stop pupils from poor homes falling behind, research recommended today.
And the law limiting infant class sizes to 30 pupils should be scrapped to allow more "flexible" lessons, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) study said.
The think-tank warned that many children from poor homes lose ground at primary school, despite Government schemes to improve nursery education.
The report said schools must focus on making sure these pupils master basic reading and writing, otherwise they will find it "impossible" to study other subjects.
SMF director Ann Rossiter said: "Some primary schools are ensuring that disadvantaged children keep up with their peers, against the odds.
"But more needs to be done to support those schools and apply the lessons they are learning across the country."
The report recommended:
• An intensive focus on teaching literacy, with short bursts of one-to-one lessons from the age of five;
• Grouping children by ability in literacy classes with tests every eight weeks to measure progress;
• Extending the daily literacy hour to 90 minutes;
• A more flexible approach to class sizes. The SMF report backed Tony Blair's flagship Sure Start pre-school education policy.
But problems in primary schools were undermining the progress which children from disadvantaged homes make at nursery.
The report's author, Claudia Wood, said: "Pre-school programmes like Sure Start are hugely important in giving disadvantaged children the right start in life.
"However, for some children an early boost just isn't enough.
"The Government must look hard at its primary provision to ensure it offers adequate follow-up support for vulnerable children."
The study looked at the work of the Kobi Nazrul Primary School in Tower Hamlets, east London, where 95 per cent of the children do not speak English as their first language.
The school introduced a scheme for intensive literacy classes devised in the United States called Success for All.
Children at Kobi Nazrul are placed into ability sets for their literacy lessons, which last 90 minutes, and sit informal tests every half term.
Despite teaching so many pupils who do not speak English as their first language, the school has outstripped regional and national averages in test results.
Last year, 85 per cent of pupils reached the ability level expected of their age group in English and maths at the school.
The SMF report said the most effective form of setting by academic ability was arranging children into different groups within larger classes.
Schools should reassess children's abilities and move them from one group to another depending on their progress, the report suggested.
This would help reduce the "stigma
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Boy with The Long Name (short story for children)
Once upon a time, a long time ago, it was the custom in China to give firstborn sons great, long, important names. Second sons were given only little, short names.
In a small village there lived a mother with two sons. The second son was called Chang, which means "little or nothing". But the first son was called Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip pen pembo, which means "the most wonderful boy in the whole world".
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Every morning the mother went to the river to wash the clothes and her sons went with her. Near to the river was a well, and here the boys liked to play. Their mother said to them, "Do not play near the well, or you will fall in." But the boys did not heed her.
One day, when they were playing around the well and even walking on the well, Chang fell in! Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo ran to his mother and said, "Oh, honoured mother, Chang has fallen into the well."
"Speak up, my precious son. I cannot hear you," said the mother.
"Chang has fallen into the well," shouted Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo.
"Chang has fallen into the well," repeated the mother. "What a foolish boy. Run to the Old Man With the Ladder and he will get him out," said the mother.
So Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo ran to the Old Man With the Ladder.
The Old Man was sleeping beneath a tree and Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo shook him awake and said, "Oh, Old Man With the Ladder, Chang has fallen into the well. Please will you come and get him out."
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The Old Man stood up, fetched his ladder and went to the well. He put the ladder into the well and climbed down step by step by step until he found Chang. Then he carried the boy up out of the well, step by step by step. He laid Chang on the ground and pushed the water out of him and pumped air into him and soon Chang was the same as he had always been.
The brothers vowed they would not play near the well again.
But several months later, after the Festival of the Eighth Moon, they went to the well to eat their rice cakes. They were sitting on the edge, dangling their legs, when Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo slipped and fell in.
Chang ran to his mother and said, "Oh, honoured mother, Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well!" "I cannot hear you. Speak up more clearly," said the mother.
"Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bad ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well," said Chang.
"What!" said the mother. "Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo, my precious son, the most wonderful boy in the world, has fallen into the well! We must do something at once. Go to the Old Man With the Ladder and ask him to help."
So Chang ran to the old Man With the Ladder who was sleeping peacefully beneath a tree.
"Oh, Sir," shouted Chang."Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well."
"What is this noise that disturbs my sleep?" said the Old Man.
"Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well," repeated Chang.
"Somebody has fallen into the well?" said the Old Man. "What did you say his name was?"
"Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo, my brother," said Chang again. "Please come and help to get him out."
So the Old Man rose from the grass and fetched his ladder and went to the well with Chang.
He put the ladder into the well and he climbed down step by step by step until he found Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo.
Then he carried the boy up out of the well, step by step by step.
The Old Man laid Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo on the ground and he pushed the water out of him and pumped air into him and pushed the water out of him and pumped air into him until Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo opened his eyes. But because Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bah ruchi pip peri pembo had been in the water for so long it was many moons before he was the same as he had always been.
And nowadays you will find that people in China give all their children little, short names instead of great, long, important ones.
In a small village there lived a mother with two sons. The second son was called Chang, which means "little or nothing". But the first son was called Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip pen pembo, which means "the most wonderful boy in the whole world".
google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);
Every morning the mother went to the river to wash the clothes and her sons went with her. Near to the river was a well, and here the boys liked to play. Their mother said to them, "Do not play near the well, or you will fall in." But the boys did not heed her.
One day, when they were playing around the well and even walking on the well, Chang fell in! Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo ran to his mother and said, "Oh, honoured mother, Chang has fallen into the well."
"Speak up, my precious son. I cannot hear you," said the mother.
"Chang has fallen into the well," shouted Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo.
"Chang has fallen into the well," repeated the mother. "What a foolish boy. Run to the Old Man With the Ladder and he will get him out," said the mother.
So Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo ran to the Old Man With the Ladder.
The Old Man was sleeping beneath a tree and Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo shook him awake and said, "Oh, Old Man With the Ladder, Chang has fallen into the well. Please will you come and get him out."
google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);
The Old Man stood up, fetched his ladder and went to the well. He put the ladder into the well and climbed down step by step by step until he found Chang. Then he carried the boy up out of the well, step by step by step. He laid Chang on the ground and pushed the water out of him and pumped air into him and soon Chang was the same as he had always been.
The brothers vowed they would not play near the well again.
But several months later, after the Festival of the Eighth Moon, they went to the well to eat their rice cakes. They were sitting on the edge, dangling their legs, when Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo slipped and fell in.
Chang ran to his mother and said, "Oh, honoured mother, Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well!" "I cannot hear you. Speak up more clearly," said the mother.
"Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bad ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well," said Chang.
"What!" said the mother. "Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo, my precious son, the most wonderful boy in the world, has fallen into the well! We must do something at once. Go to the Old Man With the Ladder and ask him to help."
So Chang ran to the old Man With the Ladder who was sleeping peacefully beneath a tree.
"Oh, Sir," shouted Chang."Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well."
"What is this noise that disturbs my sleep?" said the Old Man.
"Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well," repeated Chang.
"Somebody has fallen into the well?" said the Old Man. "What did you say his name was?"
"Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo, my brother," said Chang again. "Please come and help to get him out."
So the Old Man rose from the grass and fetched his ladder and went to the well with Chang.
He put the ladder into the well and he climbed down step by step by step until he found Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo.
Then he carried the boy up out of the well, step by step by step.
The Old Man laid Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo on the ground and he pushed the water out of him and pumped air into him and pushed the water out of him and pumped air into him until Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo opened his eyes. But because Tikki tikki tembo nosa rembo chari bah ruchi pip peri pembo had been in the water for so long it was many moons before he was the same as he had always been.
And nowadays you will find that people in China give all their children little, short names instead of great, long, important ones.
What Islam Says About Children God Guarantees the Rights of Children
Islam is a religion revealed by God for all people, in all places, at all times. As such, Islam is accessible to everybody and is particularly mindful of the importance of respect, rights, and responsibilities. The words of the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, contain the rights and responsibilities granted by God to humankind. They are not subject to the whims and desires of men or women therefore they do not change. These unique rights mentioned in Islam also include the rights of children. Children’s rights are not guaranteed by the actions of their parents, their communities, or even their governments. God Himself guarantees children’s rights.
Islam establishes a legal framework, and embodies a code of ethics, designed to protect the rights of an individual including his or her right to live in a secure society. For children, security is of the upmost importance. The rights of a child begin even before birth; in fact they begin before conception. The Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad make it clear that two people should not enter into a marriage carelessly. A great deal of thought and preparation is necessary before man and woman commit to each other and to the family that may result from their union. Prophet Muhammad was heard to say, “A woman may be married for four reasons: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty, and her religious commitment. Marry the one who is religiously committed.”
If a man and a woman have both dedicated their lives to worshipping and pleasing their Creator then the rights of any children they may have are automatically guaranteed. Worshipping God means obeying His commandments and His commandments include securing the rights of the child. By marrying rather than having an illicit relationship the couple has already begun to secure the rights of their future children. A child has the right to know and understand his or her lineage.
Once a child is conceived, it has the right to life. The Quran makes it very clear that all life is sacred. It is never permissible to terminate a pregnancy because one fears being unable to financially support a child or another child. It is God, who is the Provider and Sustainer of all life.
“...kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them”. (Quran 6:151)
When making a decision to terminate a pregnancy it is important to remember that having a child is a blessing from God and all such blessings should be accepted with joy and gratitude. There are many people in the world today who are not able to have children, therefore when God blesses a family with one, it should be a cause for celebration and happiness. However, children are not toys or possessions. With them comes great responsibility.
The Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, speak clearly about the responsibility that comes with raising a child. It is an obligation upon the believers to raise and care for children by bringing them up as moral, righteous human beings. Secure in the knowledge that they are valued members of the human race, and their particular families. Neglecting this duty could potentially lead a person away from the path of righteousness and away from God.
“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from God, but do that which they are commanded” (Quran 66:6)
Prophet Muhammad said, “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s household and is responsible for her flock”.[1]
Caring for and raising children in the proper manner is a duty on parents and it is not always easy. In fact, God reminds us in the Quran that children may even be a great trial for their parents. The triumphs and tribulations of life are a test and children are no exception. They can bring great joy and at times they can bring great sadness as well. God in His infinite wisdom never leaves a human being alone and unable to face all of life’s trials.
“Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas God, with Him is a great reward (Paradise).” (Quran 64:15)
Following the teachings of Islam enables a believer to face all life events including the trials the tribulations and the triumphs. The correct Islamic advice for raising and rearing children covers all aspects of life. Just like Islam itself, it is holistic advice. Physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing are all of equal importance. It is interesting to note that Islam has always covered the rights of children. The Islamic view of childhood states that it is a unique period in an individual’s life.[2] This is in sharp contrast to western/European ideology where the concept of childhood was not addressed until the 16th century.[3] It is not that the west did not have children or young people but rather they considered them to be small adults with the same needs and wants as adults.
Throughout Islamic history and in Islamic literature the rights and responsibilities pertaining to children are clear cut. Parents, families, and communities have certain responsibilities towards children. Many of them are obligatory, and on the Day of Judgement, God will question adults about the treatment of their children.
The late Islamic scholar, Sheikh Uthaimeen, may God have mercy on him, described children as a trust given to parents by God. He also said that children are to be well fed, well-groomed, properly dressed for seasons and appearance. Children are entitled to education, religious learning, and spiritual guidance. Their hearts must be filled with faith and their minds entertained with proper guidance, knowledge, and wisdom. With that in mind, the following series articles will guide us through child care in Islam.
رضايت
ښوونځي زده كوونكو د ښوونځي په بڼ كې تر شنه اسمان لاندې د شعر درس وايه، په دې درس كې نه كومه ستونزه وه، نه هم جبر، نه پوښتنه او ځواب. زده كوونكو به په خپله غوښتنه قدم واهه، كښېناستل، يا به هم پر چمن غزېدل، ويل به يې او اورېدل به يې، يا به هم غلي په چورتونو كې ډوبېدل.د بڼ
او اسمان ښكلا، د زده كوونكو خوشحاله خبرو، د ښوونكي مهربانو خبرو او په ځانګړي توګه فكري ازادۍ او د كومې ستونزې نشتوالي په هغه ساعت كې ذوق راپاراوه هېڅوك هم د شعر پر جوړونه او نه جوړونه ټينګار نه كاوه، د اجورې او پايلې خبره هم نه وه، له همدې امله هغه جملې چې د زړه په نازكيو جوړېگدې، كه د شعر په تله به پوره ختلې، په مانا او حقيقت كې به شعرونه وو.يوه ورځ د مريم په نامه يوې نجلۍ چې مور و پلار يې بېل شوي وو او دا ډېره غمجنه وه، وويل:"څومره تياره ورځ! خو زه په دغه تياره كې بيا هم خوشحاله يم، داسې نه ده چې د نېكمرغۍ په تمه يم، بلكې په دې خوشحاله يم، چې دا هيله نه لرم. د بل چا پرځاى زه واوسم. يانې زه دې بل څوك واوسم. همدا چې زه يمه، ښه يمه. نه غواړم چې ته له دې پرته بل څوك واوسې، همدغسې چې يې، خوښ مې يې".ته وا دغه نجلۍ ډېره موده د ډاكټر تر څارنې لاندې وه او درملنه يې كېده، د ګلونو او شنو ورشو په ليدو سره ناڅاپه روغه او د غم له باره بېغمه شوه، دا چې كوم كار د هغې د ضمير د بدلون لامل شو، زموږ د بحث موضوع نه ده. هغه څه چې د هغې له خبرو څرګندېږي دا دي، چې هغه پر نېكمرغيو وربرابره شوې، هغه نېكمرغي نه چې زموږ تر وجود دباندې ده او بايد له بهر څخه زموږ سره مله شي، يا يې هم په تمه ټول عمر تېروو، خو بيا هم نه راځي، بلكې هغه نېكمرغي چې زموږ په وجود كې، زموږ سره مله او هر وخت مو په واك كې ده، چې هغه رضايت دى.تر دې وروسته هغه نجلۍ خوشحالي كوي:" زړه مې نه غواړي، ته د اوسني حالت پرخلاف بل كس واوسې، همدغسې چې يې، خوښ مې يې". له "ته" څخه يې موخه مور و پلار، دوست او ننني ټولګيوال، زړه او خپل ځان نه دى. دلته له "ته" څخه موخه دنيا او مافيها ده، ځكه كله چې انسان وتوانېد له يوه كس سره رښتينې مينه ولري، نو په حقيقت كې له نړۍ سره مينه كوي.د رواني ناروغيو د درملنې په لار كې لومړنى اقدام دا دى، چې ناروغ كس بايد د ځان او دنيا په منلو قانع او راضي كړو. تر هغه وروسته د ستونزو حل او د ژوند له پېښو سره مقابله اّسانېږي. هغه كس، چې له ځانه ناراضي او له چاپېريال سره په جګړه بوخت وي، يانې ځان او دنيا چې څنګه دي، هغسې نه مني، كه له دغې خواشينۍ او كړاو څخه نه وي خلاص شوي، ستونزې هم ليرې كولاى نه شي، دى تل د ژوند په لار كې د مچ له سر څخه غر جوړوي.نوى زېږېدلى ماشوم يوازې له خپلې مور سره مينه ښيي، له مور څخه بېلتون ورته له مرګ سره برابر دى، څومره چې غټېږي، په وجود كې يې د مينې كړۍ پراخېږي او هره ورځ زيات كسان مني. يا په بله ژبه انسان چې څومره د كمال په پړاوونو كې وړاندې ځي، هومره يې وجود پراختيا مومي او په ځان كې لويه دنيا ځايوي. دا په دې مانا نه ده، چې ماشوم ځوان شي نو له مور سره يې مينه كمېږي او خپله مينه نورو ته وركوي، بلكې څومره چې د خپلې مينې په چاپېريال كې نور خلك مني، دمور په وړاندې خپله مينه او ارادت زياتوي. ځكه مينه هغه ګنج دى، چې څومره وكارول شي، هومره زياتېږي.څرنګه چې هغه خواشينې او نهيلې نجلۍ وتوانېدله له نورو خلكو او دنيا سره مينه وكړي، د مور وپلار د بېلتون له رنځه خلاصه شوه او له شعر څخه په الهام سره ناڅاپه فكري ودې ته ورسېده، ځكه د پاخه فكر نخښه دا ده چې څنګه يو، ځان هغسې ومنو او له خپل نصيب څخه رضايت ولرو، كله چې له ځانه خوشحاله واوسو له دنيا او نورو كسانو سره مينه وكړو، نو د هغې نجلۍ په وينا (موږ بايد "ته" يانې دنيا او هغه څه، چې په هغې كې دي، خوښ كړو).په ځوانۍ كې هند ته په يوه سفر تللى وم او يو څه موده يوازې شوم. يوه ورځ د يوه كروندګر كور ته وبلل شوم، هغه كور د يوې غونډۍ پر سر په يوه باغ كې و، سترګې به د باغ د ګلونو، د سارا سمسورتيا او د رود ښكلا ته هر پلو كږېدلې. ما ننداره كوله او په فكر كې وم. كوربه په ژور نظر راوكتل او ويې ويل: لكه چې خوښ نه يې، په څه اړه فكر كوې؟ ومې ويل: نه پوهېږم، چې پر دغې ټولې ښكلا سربېره ولې خپه يم! ويې ويل: دا ځكه چې پلار يوازې پرېښى يې او درنه تللى دى، ته ځان يوازې او پردى ګڼې، يانې د ژوند شريك نه لرې، ته نه شې كولاى د خپلې مينې فكر له نورو سره شريك كړې، كه پلار دا درزده كړي واى، چې له هر چا سره مينه وكړې، اوس به دې زه "پلار" ګڼلم، ددغې منظرې د خوند سندره به دې راسره شريكولاى او خوشحاله به واى.
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