Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
The reasons behind this move are varying
The Holy Trinity College (HDC) in Leuven will be the first school in Belgium to offer the study of Arabic as a compulsory subject in its curriculum in the new academic year. The language will be part of the programme for sixth-graders and it comes as a means of an effort to modernize the education at the Catholic school.
Reportedly, there are different reasons behind the implementation of this change, as reported by Flemish media outlets.
For one, there will be a reduction in the number of hours for the study of Latin, economics, science and mathematics. That frees up space for the addition of a new subject.
According to Frank Baeyens, director of Holy Trinity College in Leuven, Arabic was picked due to several benefits that the educational experts thought it could bring to students.
Being a non-Indo-European language it presents an interesting challenge for learners as it shows that a language can have a different type of construction, orthography and syntax and therefore a different logic.
Learning Arabic does not focus on learning to speak the language fluently, but rather on a cultural and philosophical approach that helps students broaden their horizons.
In that respect, other languages, such as Hungarian and Chinese had also been considered but it was finally decided that Arabic held a larger social significance in Belgium given the large resident population with immigrant backgrounds from Arabophone countries.
What’s more, the school director is of the opinion that teaching Arabic would present a good example to students from such background since it would require hiring a native teacher from a similar background.
“This offers students the opportunity to identify with someone who has a successful social position and has studied further. Unfortunately, there are currently too few teachers with a migration background in education,” adds Frank Baeyens, quoted by Leuven Actueel.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital