支持尼日利亚的初等教育　Supporting Primary Education in Ni-geria

News Background

新闻导读

尼日利亚联邦共和国

（Federal Republic of Nigeria），位于西非东南部，非洲几内亚湾西岸的顶点，邻国包括西边的贝宁、北边的尼日尔、东北方隔乍得湖与乍得接壤一小段国界、东和东南与喀麦隆毗连、南濒大西洋几内亚湾。尼日利亚是非洲第一人口大国，总人口1.73亿，占非洲总人口的16%，同时也是非洲第一大经济体。尼日利亚于1976年起实行小学免费教育。但由于经济困难，自1985年起改为收费。1999年9月尼政府出台全国基础教育计划，恢复小学免费义务教育。学制为小学6年，初中3年，高中3年，大学4年。全国21%的人口只受过小学教育，成年人36.7%为文盲。全国现有大学88所，著名大学有艾哈迈德·贝罗大学、拉各斯大学、伊巴丹大学、尼日利亚大学和伊费大学等；中等专业学校近200所；师范学校近250余所；商业学校80所；普通中学12，610余所；小学59，340余所。大多数学校教学设施陈旧，师资不足。

News Transcript

新闻正文

The U. S.government, through the Agency for International Development, or USAID, announced its continuing support to the education sector in Bauchi, Nigeria.This five-year memorandum of understanding, or MOU, sets out the shared and individual commitments for collaboration in the education sector made by both USAID and the government of Bauchi and provides a framework for mutual accountability for education activities in Bauchi State.The MOU supports the Bauchi state government's education goals and establishes a preliminary plan for joint monitoring and evaluation of progress.

USAID supports Nigeria's efforts to improve the quality of and access to basic education. Currently, USAID implements three activities that support Bauchi State efforts to improve the education sector：Northern Education Initiative Plus, Education Crisis Response, and the Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy and Development.These activities build state and local government capacity and systems that will teach approximately 2 million primary school children how to read and allow nearly 55，100，000 children the opportunity to attend classes in community-based learning centers by the year 2020.

“The United States commends Bauchi State for its extraordinary efforts to provide greater learning opportunities for its children，”said USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey.“This MOU will expand the partnership between USAID and Bauchi State to improve primary education in Bauchi.”The United States is proud to work with its partner Nigeria to provide a better future for the children of Nigeria.

Translaton

参考译文

美国政府通过美国国际开发署宣布其会继续支持尼日利亚包奇州的教育事业。这一为期5年的谅解备忘录阐述了美国国际开发署和包奇州政府在教育领域合作方面所承担的共同和各自的责任，为包奇州教育活动的相互问责制提供了框架。这份谅解备忘录支持了包奇州政府的教育目标，为共同监督和进度评估设立了初期方案。

美国国际开发署支持尼日利亚为提升基础教育质量、拓宽基础教育渠道所做出的努力。目前，国际开发署实行了3项活动来支持包奇州改善教育行业：北部教育行动，教育危机应答活动，领导、自强、倡导、发展活动。这些活动构筑了包奇州政府和当地政府的能力，建立了教育体系，让近200万小学儿童学会如何识字，也在2020年之前让近5，510万名儿童得以有在社区学习中心念书的机会。

“美国赞扬包奇州为孩子们提供更好的学习机会所做出的卓绝努力，”国际开发署专项负责人迈克尔·哈维说，“这份谅解备忘录将拓展国际开发署与包奇州之间的伙伴关系，提升包奇州的基础教育。”美国很骄傲能与其合作伙伴尼日利亚一道，为其儿童提供一个更加美好的明天。

Listening Comprehension

听力理解

1.The MOU supports the Bauchi state government's education goals and establishes a____plan for joint monitoring and evaluation of progress.

2.These activities build state and local government capacity and systems that will teach approximately 2 million primary school children how to read and allow nearly____children the opportunity to attend classes in community-based learning centers by the year 2020.

A. 55，010，000

B. 55，101，000

C. 55，100，000

3.The United States commends Bauchi State for its____efforts to provide greater learning opportunities for its children.

Hot Words

新闻热词

memorandum[ˌmeməˈrændəm]n.备忘录

commitment[kəˈmɪtmənt]n.承诺；责任；义务

framework[ˈfreɪmwɜːk]n.架构；体系

preliminary[prɪˈlɪmɪnəri]adj.预备的；初步的

currently[ˈkʌrəntli]adv.目前地；当前地

approximately[əˈprɒksɪmətli]adv.大约地；大概地

extraordinary[ɪkˈstrɔːdnri]adj.非凡的；特别的

opportunity[ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti]n.机会；时机

partnership[ˈpɑːtnəʃɪp]n.伙伴关系；合作关系

Listening Analysis

精彩解析

1.This five-year memorandum of understanding, or MOU, sets out the shared and individual commitments for collaboration in the education sector made by both USAID and the government of Bauchi……

set out陈述，阐述；出发

例句

He has written a letter to The Times setting out his views.

他已经给《泰晤士报》去信阐明自己的观点。

When setting out on a long walk, always wear suitable boots.

出发进行长距离徒步时，一定要穿上合适的靴子。

2.The United States commends Bauchi State for its extraordinary efforts to provide greater learning opportunities for its children.

commend for因……赞扬

例句

We commended them for their enthusiasm.

我们称赞他们的热心。

I commend UNITAID for taking the initiative to establish the Medicines Patent Pool.

我对国际药品采购机制主动设立药物专利池表示称赞。

答案

1.preliminary

2.C

3.extraordinary