Faith schools: good or bad?

Britain’s first government-funded Hindu school opens this coming Monday, and encouraging “faith schools” has been a key part of recent UK education policy. But does religion have any place in education? Do faith schools help to create successful schools, with strong, vibrant identities? Shouldn’t parents be able to choose from a wide range of schools? Or do faith schools divide communities – and should education be purely secular?

Talking Points 9th September

Goodmorning it’s Karnie with you today…thank you Robert in the UK for looking after the blog for us. Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has been sworn in as Pakistan’s president.

Talking Points 5th September

Hello, it’s Karnie with you today.  Thank you to Kelsie in the US for looking after the blog for us. First up, 3 teenage girls in Pakistan defied their families and chose not to marry men of their (the family’s) choice. They were buried alive in “honour killings”.

Talking Points for 27 August

Goodmorning, it’s Karnie with you today. Thank you to Will in Canada for looking after the blog overnight.
Russia’s recognised the independence of two breakaway republics inside Georgia. The backing’s being condemned by the US, Britain, France, Germany and other western countries.

Talking points 19 August.

Goodmorning it’s Karnie again…Thanks to Nelson in Nigeria, Steve in the US and Robert in the UK for looking after the blog over night.

We talked about President Musharraf of Pakistan accepting resignation yesterday instead of facing impeachment and we asked: Would the world be more dangerous without Musharraf? Ahmad on the whys blog would like to look at this topic again but he would like to focus on: A Democratic Pakistan. He says: “A Democratic Pakistan is the greatest benefit for the World.”

Talking points 18th August

Goodmorning it’s Karnie today…

Thanks to Andrew in Australia and Abdi in Kenya for looking after the blank page over the weekend. I must admit I haven’t yet had time to look at your suggestions but will do so shortly. In the meantime here’s a story worth discussing..it’s just come through:

On air: Do the strongest countries always get their way?

Russia has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia, after restoring what the Kremlin calls security for civilians and peacekeepers in South Ossetia. According to a statement, President Medvedev told his defence minister and chief of staff that “the goal has been attained”, but so far Russian troops haven’t withdrawn from Georgia. BBC Correspondents say this a ceasefire rather than a peace deal.

So Russia has got it’s way? Is it the case across the world that the biggest military and economic powers in any given region hold all the cards?

On air: Can anyone stand up to Russia?

 

The White House is increasing pressure on Russia to stop the escalating conflict with Georgia in South Ossetia. And as diplomats press for a ceasefire, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has warned that his country will never be a “passive observer” of developments in the Caucasus region. Here are a timeline of events.

Talking Points August 8

Goodmorning, it’s Karnie..

Thanks to everyone who stepped in last night to moderate the blog!

As the International Aids conference in Mexico comes to an end, Red Cross representative, Dr Mukesh Kumar says that despite unprecedented financial support for the disease, this was still not good enough. He says: “We are still confounded by the fact that we’re not doing enough against the epidemic”.

More than Five Friendlies

We’ve been in Beijing for 24 hours now and one thing’s for certain; if anything goes wrong with the Olympics it won’t be caused by lack of man power.