Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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US Launches African Textbook Initiative
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=109EA6B:3919ACA First Lady Laura
Bush announced plan during visit to Ghana

The Bush administration has joined six American universities with six
African nations to develop new primary school curricula. U.S. first
lady Laura Bush announced the plan during a visit to Ghana.

The partnership matches American universities in the states of
Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and
Alabama with educators in Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Tanzania, South
Africa and Ethiopia.







Laura Bush, right, sits with Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufuor at
the Accra Teacher Training Center They will develop individual
curricula for children between kindergarten and eighth grade,
ultimately producing 15 million primary schoolbooks.

"These textbooks will be created in Africa, so they will represent the
unique experiences of African students," the first lady explained.
"The text will be written with African cultures at the center, and the
illustrations will depict African scenes."

Mrs. Bush says the subjects will include reading, mathematics,
science, and language arts, with additional funding to produce flash
cards, charts, and teaching guides to give instructors more options
for individual students.

Its part of the Bush administration's Africa Education Initiative, a
$600 million plan to provide books, scholarships, school uniforms, and
teacher training.



Speaking at the Accra Teacher Training College, Mrs. Bush said the
initiative includes funds to train 920,000 teachers in 20 Sub-Saharan
countries.

It is also focused on getting more African girls in school with
550,000 primary and secondary school scholarships for tuition, fees,
books, and uniforms.

"The American people support these scholarships because we believe
that investing in a child's education will produce benefits many times
over in the future," she said. "An educated woman is better able to
provide for her family economically, and to be an advocate for her own
children's education. She has the knowledge and the skills to find new
ways to improve life in her community. She is prepared to be an active
participant in society, and perhaps even a national leader."

Laura Bush attended Monday's inauguration of Liberian President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state. The first lady
said the new Liberian president is an example for young women around
the world as she rose to the top of her government through hard work,
faith in democracy and belief in the power of education.