Asante Gold Announces Appointment of Executive Vice President & Country Director

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | FRANKFURT:1A9 | U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (“Asante” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Frederick Attakumah as Executive Vice President and Country Director with effect from April 1, 2022.

Mr. Attakumah holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Electrical Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana) and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Henley Business School (UK). He has thirty years’ experience in the mining industry spanning project development, operations management, sustainability, and corporate affairs.

Prior to joining Asante, Mr. Attakumah was the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited. He has also held several senior executive roles including Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited and Vice President of Sustainability for AngloGold Ashanti’s operations in Ghana.

At the industry level, he held the position of First Vice President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and concurrently served as a member of the Governing Council of the Private Enterprise Federation of Ghana (PEF). He has also served as President of the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce which is focused on building bilateral private sector relationships between Ghana and Canada.   Mr. Attakumah has been a strong advocate for the positive role of the mining industry in the socio-economic development of African countries and the criticality of a multi-stakeholder approach in realizing this vision. He has contributed to several local and international panels, including the Mining Indaba, on this topic.

Commenting on the appointment, Dave Anthony, CEO of Asante stated, “We are delighted to welcome Frederick as Executive Vice President and Country Director of Asante. The extraordinary capacity this appointment adds to our team supports our intention to develop a first tier mining company in West Africa. His proven leadership capacity, skill set and ability to engage key stakeholders will be critical to the further development and growth of Asante.”

In connection with the appointment of Frederick Attakumah, the Company has granted 1,000,000 incentive stock options to purchase common shares of the Company exercisable at $1.75 per share for a term of five years, such options to vest one-quarter on the date of grant and one quarter in each of six, nine and 12 months subject to the provisions of the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan.

About Asante Gold Corporation

Asante is a gold exploration, development, and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects in Ghana, Africa’s largest and most reliable gold producer. Asante is currently focused on developing to production its Bibiani and Kubi Gold mines located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana.

Asante is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and has announced plans to co-list its shares in Ghana. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana’s Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.asantegold.com.

About the Bibiani Gold Mine

Bibiani is a historically significant gold mine situated in the western region of Ghana, with previous gold production close to 5 Moz. It is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site consisting of a 3 million tonne per annum mill and processing plant, and existing surface and mining infrastructure.

The Current Mineral Resource Estimate for Bibiani, as reported in the Technical Report on the Bibiani Gold Mine, Ghana, by Principal Author Ian M Glacken FAusIMM (CP), FAIG, CEng and Qualified Person Dan Bansah MSc, MAusIMM (CP), FWAIMM, MGIG, dated November 7, 2021, and filed on SEDAR, is Measured and Indicated 20.1 million tonnes at 2.71 grams of gold per tonne for 1.81 Moz of gold, plus Inferred 8.41 million tonnes at 2.78 grams of gold per tonne for 0.75 Moz of gold from an open pit mine. The Mineral Resource has been reported above a 0.65 g/t gold cut-off and has been depleted for both historical open pit and underground development as of August 31, 2017. The Bibiani Main Pit mineral resource has been prepared by Competent Persons (Optiro, 2017) using accepted industry practices and have been classified and reported in accordance with the JORC Code (JORC, 2012). There are no material differences between the definitions of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources under the CIM Definition Standards and the equivalent definitions in the JORC Code. The Satellite pit resource is an update completed in 2018 by Resolute Mining Limited. The Satellite pit resource is also reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t gold inside a pit shell defined at a gold price of US$1,950. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

For further information please contact:

Dave Anthony, President & CEO: +1 647 382 4215 (Canada) or +233 558 799 3309 (Ghana) or dave@asantegold.com
Malik Easah, Executive Director, malik@asantegold.com
Alec Rowlands, Capital Markets Consultant, alec@asantegold.com
Valentina Gvozdeva, Manager IR, mailto:valentina@asantegold.com
Kirsti Mattson, Media Relations, kirsti.mattson@gmail.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the resources, reserves, exploration results, and development program at Bibiani, including timing of future mine development and the start of production. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company’s inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company’s inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company’s public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Nomination d’Umit Ciftci en tant que directeur du développement commercial régional pour la Turquie

TEMECULA, Californie, 31 mars 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Le groupe Clean Energy & Industrial Gases (le « Groupe ») de Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries, qui fait partie du groupe de sociétés Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japon), est heureux d’annoncer qu’Umit Ciftci a été nommé directeur du développement commercial régional pour la Turquie et les régions avoisinantes.

Basé à Istanbul, en Turquie, il sera responsable de la gamme complète de produits du groupe et fera ses rapports à Ole Jensen, NCE&IG GmbH Allemagne.

M. Umit Ciftci a obtenu un diplôme en ingénierie de gestion, qui lui a apporté une solide expérience en ingénierie, ainsi qu’en affaires et en finance. Fort de plus de 25 ans d’expérience dans le domaine de l’air comprimé, M. Umit Ciftci a occupé divers postes, notamment celui d’ingénieur commercial, de supérieur hiérarchique marketing et commercial en Turquie, et celui de responsable du développement commercial aux ÉAU pour Atlas Copco.

« L’expérience d’Umit, ainsi que les connaissances du marché et de l’industrie, seront très bénéfiques pour NCEIG GmbH, alors que nous travaillons au développement des opportunités potentielles sur ce marché. Nous attendons avec impatience ses contributions positives », a commenté Ole Jensen, vice-président de NCEIG Europe.

Avec cette nomination, Nikkiso poursuit son engagement d’avoir une présence à la fois locale et mondiale pour ses clients.

À PROPOS DE CRYOGENIC INDUSTRIES
Cryogenic Industries, Inc. (aujourd’hui membre de Nikkiso Co., Ltd) et ses entreprises membres fabriquent des équipements et de petites usines de traitement du gaz cryogénique pour les secteurs du gaz naturel liquéfié (GNL), des services d’entretien de puits et du gaz industriel. Fondée il y a plus de 50 ans, Cryogenic Industries est la société-mère d’ACD, de Cosmodyne et de Cryoquip, ainsi qu’un groupe administré en commun comptant une vingtaine d’entités opérationnelles.

Pour tout complément d’information, veuillez consulter les sites www.nikkisoCEIG.com et www.nikkiso.com.

Contact auprès des médias :
Anna Quigley
+1.951.383.3314
aquigley@cryoind.com

Umit Ciftci Nomeado Gerente Regional de Desenvolvimento de Negócios para a Turquia

TEMECULA, California, March 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (“Grupo”) da Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries, parte do grupo de empresas da Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japão), tem o prazer de anunciar a nomeação de Umit Ciftci para Gerente Regional de Desenvolvimento de Negócios para a Turquia.

Com base em Istambul, Turquia, ele será responsável pela linha completa de produtos do Grupo e se reportará à Ole Jensen, NCE&IG GmbH Alemanha.

Umit é formado em Engenharia de Gestão, que fornece uma sólida formação em engenharia, bem como negócios e finanças. Ele tem mais de 25 anos de experiência em Ar Comprimido, ocupando vários cargos, incluindo de engenheiro de vendas, gerente de linha de marketing e negócios na Turquia e Gerente de Desenvolvimento de Negócios da Atlas Copconos nos Emirados Árabes Unidos.

“A experiência de Umit, bem como o seu conhecimento do mercado e da indústria, serão de grande valia para a NCEIG GmbH, pois trabalhamos para desenvolver as oportunidades potenciais neste mercado. Estamos ansiosos por suas contribuições positivas”, disse Ole Jensen, Vice-Presidente da NCEIG Europa.

Com esta adição, a Nikkiso dá continuidade ao seu compromisso de ser uma presença global e local para seus clientes.

SOBRE A CRYOGENIC INDUSTRIES
A Cryogenic Industries, Inc. (agora membro da Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) fabrica equipamentos de processamento de gás criogênico projetados e plantas de processo de pequena escala para as indústrias de gás natural liquefeito (GNL), serviços de poços e gás industrial. Fundada há mais de 50 anos, a Cryogenic Industries é a empresa controladora da ACD, Cosmodyne e Cryoquip, e de um grupo comumente controlado de aproximadamente 20 entidades operacionais.

Para mais informação visite www.nikkisoCEIG.com e www.nikkiso.com.

CONTATO COM A MÍDIA:
Anna Quigley
+1.951.383.3314
aquigley@cryoind.com

Laserfiche Recognized as a 2022 Gartner® Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice for Content Services Platforms

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation — has been named a Customers’ Choice in the 2022 Gartner Peer Insights ‘Voice of the Customer’: Content Services Platforms report. According to Gartner, “Gartner Peer Insights is a free peer review and ratings platform designed for enterprise software and services decision makers. Reviews go through a strict validation and moderation process in an effort to ensure they are authentic.”

Laserfiche is the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation.

“Customers are at the heart of everything that we do at Laserfiche and their passion for finding innovative ways to use our products is inspiring,” said Laserfiche Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and CIO Thomas Phelps IV. “We’re honored to have been recognized by our customers on Gartner Peer Insights for our product capabilities, sales and support experience, and deployment experience —helping us to achieve the Customers’ Choice designation for three years in a row.”

Gartner defines content services platforms (CSPs) as integrated platforms that provide content-focused services, repositories, APIs, solutions and business processing tools to support digital business and transformation. Laserfiche continues to evolve its offerings beyond traditional enterprise content management (ECM) capabilities, building on Laserfiche’s strengths in content-centric business process automation, electronic forms, dashboard analytics, records management and audit trail. This includes the Laserfiche API, Microsoft Teams integration, Laserfiche Vault, Workflow Bots, Smart Invoice Capture and Direct Share.

This year, the company introduced the Laserfiche Solution Marketplace, expanding on a collection of more than 100 solution templates with downloadable tools for rapid deployment of automated solutions. The marketplace enables customers to accelerate innovation and enterprise transformation through industry-specific solutions, core business processes such as new employee onboarding, as well as templates that help users automate processes related to COVID-19.

In the ‘Voice of the Customer’: Content Services Platforms report, Laserfiche received the highest average overall ratings (4.5 out of 5), as of 31st Jan 2022 based on 86 reviews, of the vendors included. Laserfiche is also a Customers’ Choice in the Midsize Enterprise and North America categories, and a Strong Performer in the Asia/Pacific category.

“MPI embraces the innovation tools that enable us to provide the best possible experience for our participants and our employees,” said Joel Manfredo, CIO at Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans (MPI). “Laserfiche is a visionary partner whose robust platform and customer-centric approach align with our strategic technology plans while inspiring innovative initiatives for advancing our digital transformation.”

To learn more about how customers rated Laserfiche, download a complimentary copy of the 2022 Gartner Peer Insights ‘Voice of the Customer’: Content Services Platforms report here.

About Gartner Peer Insights
Gartner Peer Insights is an online platform of ratings and reviews of IT software and services that are written and read by IT professionals and technology decision-makers. The goal is to help IT leaders make more insightful purchase decisions and help technology providers improve their products by receiving objective, unbiased feedback from their customers. Gartner Peer Insights includes more than 350,000 verified reviews in more than 340 markets. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/reviews/home.

Gartner Disclaimers
Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.

Gartner, Gartner Peer Insights ‘Voice of the Customer’: Content Services Platforms, Peer Contributors, 29th March 2022

Gartner® and Peer Insights™ are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Laserfiche
Laserfiche is the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation. Through powerful workflows, electronic forms, document management and analytics, the Laserfiche® platform accelerates how business gets done, enabling leaders to focus on growth across the enterprise.

Laserfiche pioneered the paperless office with enterprise content management. Today, Laserfiche’s cloud-first development approach incorporates innovations in machine learning and AI to enable organizations in more than 80 countries to transform into digital businesses. Customers in every industry — including government, education, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing — use Laserfiche to boost productivity, scale their business and deliver digital-first customer experiences.

Laserfiche employees in offices around the world are committed to the company’s vision of empowering customers and inspiring people to reimagine how technology can transform lives.

Connect with Laserfiche:
Laserfiche Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

About MPI
The Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans (“MPI”) are Taft-Hartley trust funds established by collective bargaining agreements between many of the unions and employers in the motion picture production industry. MPI is governed by its 32-member Board of Directors and provides health and retirement benefits to more than 100,000 individuals who work in the entertainment industry.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701026/Laserfiche_Spark_Logo.jpg

LAGRIDE Kicks Off with Delivery of 1,000 GAC MOTOR Vehicles to Lagos

The Lagos State Government launched an e-hailing taxi service with 1,000 brand new GAC MOTOR vehicles

GUANGZHOU, China, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — A delivery of 1,000 GAC MOTOR vehicles to the Lagos State Government kicked off “LAGRIDE,” the state’s newest ride-hailing taxi scheme. The initiative will provide a safer and more comfortable mobility option to residents.

Distinguished guests at the rollout ceremony included Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor; Cui Jianchun, Ambassador of China to Nigeria; Jin Mingyu, Chinese Deputy Consul General in Lagos, and Diana Chan, Chairman of CIG Motor.

Two-Year Effort Brought to Fruition

LAGRIDE aims to provide a reliable means of travel at an affordable rate. Plans began in November 2019 when Governor Sanwo-Olu visited Guangdong Province, headquarter of GAC MOTOR.

The GS3 SUV and the GA4 sedan’s proven quality, spacious cabin, and intelligent technology are expected to improve the quality and safety on Lagos roads.

Two years after its initial conception, 1000 GAC vehicles set sail from Qingdao, China, in October 2021 and arrived in Lagos four months later. The blue-and-white fleet cruised over Nigeria’s Third Mainland Bridge in one of the largest road-shows in the country.

LAGRIDE is a key opportunity to strengthen GAC MOTOR’s brand reputation in Nigeria by making a positive local impact. Technologically, GAC MOTOR assists the development of Nigeria’s transportation sector. Economically, the scheme encourages vehicle purchase and promotes employment, aiding overall economic growth.

Yu Jun, Member of the Executive Committee & Director of International Business Unit of GAC Group & Chairman of GAC MOTOR International, expressed that LAGRIDE is a top priority for GAC Group and strongly supported by both Guangdong and Lagos governments. The project’s successful launch came after overcoming two years of the recurring pandemic, chip shortage, and shipping delays. Despite unfavorable circumstances, GAC MOTOR retained the spirit of craftsmanship, bringing quality transportation services to Nigeria. The brand is now an important driving force in developing the local e-hailing sector.

Commitment to the Spirit of Craftsmanship

GAC MOTOR maintains a strong presence in Nigeria. In 2021, GAC MOTOR won the country’s prestigious “Automobile Company of the Year” award. After years of cultivation, the Nigerian market has recognized GAC MOTOR as representative of Chinese craftsmanship. GAC MOTOR continues to uphold the spirit of craftsmanship and the pursuit of quality, aiming to create an enjoyable life of mobility for global users.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1777861/1.jpg

 

New Guinness® World Record – World’s Biggest Bug Hotel

World Record Bug Hotel Certificate

Highland Titles – World Record Holders

DUROR, Scotland, March 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On Monday 28th March 2022, conservation company Highland Titles achieved a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD® for the world’s biggest bug/insect hotel, which means Highland Titles are “Officially Amazing!”®

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6d0e716-dbd2-4737-934d-660fac898b70

The 199.9 cubic metre structure is located on the Highland Titles Nature Reserve at Duror in the Scottish Highlands and already houses a variety of species. It breaks the previous world record of 89.37 cubic metres, which was held by the Polish Association of Developers in Warsaw, Poland.

The world record-breaking bug hotel was made using felled sitka spruce from the nature reserve, masonry bricks, bamboo canes, wood chips, forest bark, wildflower seeds, clay pipes and strawberry netting.

World Record Bug Hotel

The World Record Bug Hotel is 199.9 cubic metres

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f7ca5a3-5c5c-4d71-a475-daceb2ca6aff

“This record-breaking initiative is about the environmental message,” says Douglas Wilson, CEO of Highland Titles. “We bought this land in 2006 when it was a poorly performing commercial forestry plantation of non-native Sitka Spruce.

“Like much of the Highlands, it was inappropriately planted in the late 1980s with no thought or consideration given to biodiversity. Using these same trees for something that puts nature first symbolises that the world has changed, and we hope our efforts will inspire others. We’d be delighted if someone beat our record in the future!”

Nature Reserve Manager, Stewart Borland, was part of a team of 7 who were involved in its construction which started in September 2021 and was completed in early March 2022. In addition to the environmental message, Mr Borland hopes that it encourages people to visit:

“In 2019, we had more than 10,000 visitors to the nature reserve from all over the world. The pandemic really put a dent in our visitor numbers, so we hope that this – together with the new track which is adored by cyclists – will encourage people to visit now that travel is opening up again. The more visitors we get, the more people can see the work that we’re doing.”

About Highland Titles

Highland Titles began in 2006 with a mission to conserve Scotland, one square foot at a time. The conservation project – now encompassing 5 nature reserves and over 800 acres of Scottish wilderness – is funded by selling gift-sized souvenir plots of land.

The Highland Titles community of souvenir plot owners are invited to style themselves as the Lords and Ladies of Glencoe™. Over 300,000 plots of land have been sold to date.

The Highland Titles Nature Reserve near Glencoe is an official 4* tourist attraction and, according to Trip Advisor, one of the most popular nature reserves in the country.

Resources

For more information on the World’s Biggest Bug Hotel, visit here

For more photographs or video content, please email support@highlandtitles.com with your email address, name and phone number

Contact

Douglas Wilson, CEO
douglas@highlandtitles.com

Hisense “Made in South Africa” Products Debut on the European Market

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Hisense, provider of high-performance TV and home appliances, has successfully delivered its first batch of South African-made combi refrigerators to the United Kingdom. The delivery marks the first time that Hisense has exported products made in South Africa to the European market and reaffirms the factory’s ongoing transformation into a global production hub.

Hisense’s factory in South Africa was established in 2013 as a regional manufacturing base for local and export markets. Since its inception, the factory has continuously upgraded its technological capabilities and increased production capacity for TVs and refrigerators. The export of Hisense’s “Made in South Africa” refrigerators to Europe is a testament to both the caliber of improvements made and the outstanding quality of products manufactured in the region.

Meeting global quality standards with High Quality Products

All home appliance products entering the UK must comply with the UK Conformity Assessed Standards (UKCA). Hisense’s South Africa factory meets these stringent requirements with thorough pre-production planning that takes into account different materials, processes and technical requirements for the export market. Once in production, the factory implements the highest quality control processes to guarantee product standards, including daily performance and safety checks, routine inspections, and monthly testing for energy consumption and freezing capacity.

In addition, Hisense have 18 other refrigerator models also manufactured here in South Africa. The Hisense factory is capable of producing Side By Side series refrigerators with the best manufacturing technique.

Supporting the South African economy

Hisense’s factory in South Africa promotes the sustainable development of regional manufacturing by generating local employment opportunities. Hisense has hired over 1,000 local staff and, through its operations, indirectly created over 5,000 jobs in the community.

Beyond local employment, Hisense nurtures future talents with its leading development programs. In 2019, Hisense helped train approximately 1,000 unemployed youths from rural areas. The company has also built the Hisense South Africa Technology Research and Development Training Base, which has trained approximately 1,400 apprentices to date.

Looking ahead, Hisense will continue to improve production quality and efficiency of its factory in South Africa. In doing so, the company will create more local employment opportunities and showcase the quality of “Made in Africa” products on the global stage.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1777796/Hisense.jpg

Covid-19: 23 countries yet to fully reopen schools, says UNICEF

UNITED NATIONS, As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, 23 countries – home to around 405 million schoolchildren – are yet to fully reopen schools, with many schoolchildren at risk of dropping out, said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Over the past two years, nearly 147 million children missed more than half of their in-person schooling, amounting to 2 trillion hours of lost learning, UNICEF said in a report called “Are children really learning?”

“When children are not able to interact with their teachers and their peers directly, their learning suffers. When they are not able to interact with their teachers and peers at all, their learning loss may become permanent,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in a press release.

“This rising inequality in access to learning means that education risks becoming the greatest divider, not the greatest equalizer. When the world fails to educate its children, we all suffer.”

In addition to data on learning loss, the report points to emerging evidence that shows many children did not return to school when their classrooms reopened.

Data from Liberia show 43 percent of students in public schools did not return when schools reopened in December 2020. The number of out-of-school children in South Africa tripled from 250,000 to 750,000 between March 2020 and July 2021. In Uganda, around 1 in 10 schoolchildren did not report back to school in January 2022 after schools were closed for two years.

In Malawi, the dropout rate among girls in secondary education increased by 48 percent between 2020 and 2021. In Kenya, a survey of 4,000 adolescents aged 10-19 years found that 16 percent of girls and 8 percent of boys did not return when schools reopened.

Out-of-school children are some of the most vulnerable and marginalized children in society. They are the least likely to be able to read, write or do basic math, and are cut off from the safety net that schools provide, which puts them at an increased risk of exploitation and a lifetime of poverty and deprivation, says the report.

The report highlights that while out-of-school children suffer the most significant loss, pre-pandemic data from 32 countries and territories show a desperately poor level of learning, a situation likely exacerbated by the scale of learning lost to the pandemic.

In the countries analyzed, the current pace of learning is so slow that it would take seven years for most schoolchildren to learn foundational reading skills that should have been grasped in two years, and 11 years to learn foundational numeracy skills, says the report.

In many cases, there is no guarantee that schoolchildren learned the basics at all. In the 32 countries and territories examined, a quarter of Grade-8 schoolchildren did not have foundational reading skills and more than half did not have numeracy skills expected of a Grade-2 student, it says.

“Even before the pandemic, the most marginalized children were being left behind. As the pandemic enters its third year, we can’t afford to go back to ‘normal.’ We need a new normal: getting children into classrooms, assessing where they are in their learning, providing them with the intensive support they need to recover what they’ve missed, and ensuring that teachers have the training and learning resources they need. The stakes are too high to do anything less,” said Russell.

Source: Nam News Network

Bahrain keen on an enabling environment of Arab financial markets

Manama, Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa has affirmed Bahrain’s keenness to enhance promising investment opportunities whose positive impact is reflected in the progress and growth of the national economy and the achievement of financial sustainability.

Shaikh Salman pointed to the importance of supporting the creation of an enabling environment of Arab financial markets as well as strengthening their integration and liquidity at all levels,

He praised the success achieved by the “Arab Capital Markets Federation Annual Conference: Bahrain 2022” as an important platform for exchanging experiences and expertise with leaders of Arab financial markets, decision makers, regional experts and internationals from different stock exchanges.

The minister was holding a meeting with Bahrain Stock Exchange CEO Shaikh Khalifa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and members of the Arab Capital Markets Federation, including CEOs of stock exchanges in the Middle East and North Africa, financial brokerage firms, custodians and clearing houses.

The meeting, on the sidelines of the Annual Arab Capital Markets Federation-Bahrain 2022, organized by Bahrain Bourse under the patronage of the Minister of Finance and National Economy, also reviewed issues of shared interest.

Source: Bahrain News Agency