What's New

Online applications are a hit with college-bound students

College applications are up this year, thanks to the Internet and an increase in high school graduates. While few schools let students apply directly online, many colleges and universities have forms available that students can print out and send in. In addition, the number of high school seniors is increasing 3 percent annually, and more students are applying to college. Experts predict the number will reach close to 3 million graduates next year. With federal financial aid shrinking, experts say students are also applying to more schools to see which ones give the best financial-aid packages.

Class size to be cut in New Hampshire

Manchester, N.H. - Last week President Clinton earmarked $5.6 million in federal aid for New Hampshire school districts to reduce class size. Under Mr. Clinton's 100,000 New Teachers program, the federal government will allocate $1.2 billion for American school districts. The goal is to cut the pupil-teacher ratios in the first through third grades by hiring 100,000 new teachers over seven years. The national average now is 22 students per teacher; Clinton wants that reduced to 18 or fewer.

India's government wants students' help

Gauhati, INdia - An Indian student group is helping to broker peace talks between government officials and separatists in northeastern India. The government asked the politically active All Assam Students' Union (AASU), with an estimated 500,000 members, to help communicate with the rebels. The tribal separatist groups are fighting for independent homelands and among each other.

In Haiti, cries of 'Come back and teach'

Port-au-prince, Haiti - Demanding their teachers return to work, hundreds of students protested a teachers' strike that closed public schools here. Teachers want an 80-percent pay increase promised by the government last year, but Haiti's government can't afford the raise, said acting Education Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis. Primary-school teachers earn about $125 per month, and secondary teachers earn about $375.