An Extract I suggest the president take a look at a modest country across the Atlantic that’s turning into the world leader in rethinking education for the 21st century. That country is Portugal. Its economy in early 2005 was sagging, and it was running out of the usual economic fixes. It also scored some of the lowest educational achievement results in western Europe. So Prime-Minister Jose Socrates took a courageous step. He decided to invest heavily in a “technological shock” to jolt his country into the 21st century. This meant, among other things, that he’d make sure everyone in the workforce could handle a computer and use the Internet effectively. This could transform Portuguese society by giving people immediate access to world. It would open up huge opportunities that could make Portugal a richer ......

HAVE you, like me, spent the last few months dreaming of your holidays? As summer approached and the fears grew that you cannot rely on the Irish weather for anything approaching a sunny spell, I started -- at first idly and then with serious intent -- scanning the internet for possible bargains. The mood in our house went something like this. First nonchalance: "Will we have a summer holiday this year with the recession and everything?" This moved quickly on to wistfulness: "It would be really nice to get away." Then on to justification: "I genuinely need a summer holiday." Finally, we arrived at desperation: "Book, book anything -- we've got to get away, who cares about the money." It was thus buoyed up by thoughts of sunshine and dining al fresco that I first visited holidaylettings.co.uk , searching for a holiday home in Spain to rent for my family. It's a website where villa and apartment owners advertise their properties directly to the public, cutting out the middlemen and keeping the costs down. On it we found the perfect house,...

Holidaymakers visiting the Algarve region of Portugal this summer will be able to enjoy all manner of cultural events, shows and exhibitions at the Allgarve 09 season. Allgarve 09, which is being held for the third time this year, brings music, sport, food fairs and more to southern Portugal. Highlights this year will include Allgarve Jazz, which will see the likes of Madeleine Peyroux, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Marsalis Brasilianos performing throughout July. Joss Stone will play at Monumento Duarte Pacheco on .....

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A deluxe south facing apartment on Club Albufeira (sleeps 6) still has availability from 05 - 20 July at a reduced weekly rate of £650 / week (saving £150). Transfers from Faro airport / discount car rental can be arranged.