Education

He also challenged big companies and corporations to follow his lead.

Schools in the US city are being threatened with early closure this summer or laying off staff because of funding shortages.

Speaking to reporters he said: "This isn't about politics, this isn't about posturing, this is about taking care of the kids."

Chance handed over a giant cheque to students at a primary school in the West Chatham area of Chicago, part of its infamous South Side.

He grew up the area and his lyrics often reference his childhood.

And it is January of the new year, slowly winding down; when February comes, you know you should let them go. In the end, you know it’s part of life and you have gone through this yourself.

Loop Lifestyle has put together a few tips from Parents magazine to help you prepare your child for his or her first day of school.

Here are four little lessons kids need before starting school:

Before your child starts pre-school or kindergarten, be sure he's schooled in these basics.

1.Bathroom Skills 101

The training was conducted by Ronda Zelezny-Green, the Senior Digital Learning and Content Development Manager of a group called GSMA, based in London.

Zelezny-Green’s role was to help local public servants understand and explore the use of mobile phones as a socio-economic development. Her focus was mostly with what happens in the classroom once people become more open to having technology play a part in the learning process for students.

NOLA is a non-government organization dealing with the promotion of equal rights of persons with disabilities and one of the few to prioritize young people in knowledge and capacity building initiatives.

"That is the main focus and it is to ensure that these young people's disabilities isn’t a barrier to stop them from doing the things that they can do, such as acquire a job, creating a business, and any other developments they desire," said Forum member Jenny Tupito.

"This is an initiative that the government is always trying to push forward more with each year," said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

"We need to establish the right focus," he said.

A bill has been passed in parliament, creating the body to oversee the work of local teachers.

The Prime Minister says the council will bring teachers in line with other professions such as dentists, accountants and engineers.

CEO Matafeo Falanaipupu Tanielu Aiafi says the creation of the council will benefit the children of Samoa.

In partnership with the Government of Samoa and funded under the Australian Government's Cyclone Recovery Project, the new school was built at a cost of 1.4 million tala.

During a budget review the College's acting president, Dr Rosevonne Pato, says a remedial programme had shown some success.

She says about 60 percent of the students who eventually graduate from the College have had some remedial assistance under what is called the CAP programme.

But Representative, Meauta Mageo, who is a former high school teacher, says the system is still failing the territory's children.

Twenty two positions are currently being advertised including five jobs for principals and eight jobs at the main secondary school Tereora College.

There are also seven other vacancies at primary and secondary schools in the country.

A Director of Human Resources with the government Terry Utaga says an example of the problem is the field of accounting where potential applicants for an accounting teacher job prefer to stick to higher paying jobs outside teaching.