News and views about the Education in India

Weekly news updates on trends and happenings in the Indian Education scene

School education promises to be fun as Mickey Mouse steps into the scene. Good Samaritans takes elementary education places, as better education facilities for higher education is pushed for in the rural sector. Recognition, awareness and placing the highest importance on aspects like educating the girl, the minority communities, etc., awaken a promise for a better tomorrow.

- Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Cartoons to enliven school texts in Rajasthan

Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters will enliven the text books of Class I children in Rajasthan from the next academic session to help get the children more interested in studies.

The Rajya Pustak Mandal has decided to print cartoons on the cover pages and make the books more colourful.

"Mickey Mouse would be on the cover page and if our plan is successful then we would incorporate similar changes in books for Classes 2 and 3," Vasudev Devnani, state minister for education, told IANS.

"Kids love cartoons the most. We want them to learn and enjoy at the same time," he said.

"It is a good step and would certainly help in generating the interest of students," Vivek Sharma, a father of a five-year-old daughter, said.

Despite its efforts, Rajasthan still has a high drop out rate, which as per estimates stands at over 34 percent. The state government has taken various initiatives to improve educational standards in the state, including appointing around 41,000 teachers, while the appointment of another 31,000 teachers is being finalised.

The government has improved the student-teacher ratio in primary classes and secondary classes.

Under the Shiskha Sambal Mahaabhiyaan, 1.65 million children in the age group 6-14 years were enrolled while 9.6 million children were given free text books.

September 24, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

NCERT to check low literacy rate among ST girl children

In a bid to check low literacy rate among girls from the Scheduled Tribes, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is organizing a training program for teachers to focus on improving literacy and awareness among these girl children.

The training program for "Teacher Educators from Rural Areas on Action Research Related to Gender Issues with Focus on Upliftment of ST Girls" is the initiative of Department of Women's Studies at NCERT for meeting this objective.

Teacher educators of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) from various states including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand are undergoing training at NCERT since September 5. The training program will continue till October 1. The training involves preparation of study material and planning out education policy in the district that may promote awareness on the schemes, programs and incentives launched by the Government for the benefit of ST girls.

"For the past three years we have been organising training programmes focusing on girls from Scheduled Caste categories. This is the first time that the emphasis is on ST girls. The ST girls face problems like cultural alienation and language barrier. In a milieu like this, teachers have to serve as change agents," said Mona Yadav, the program coordinator.

September 24, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

PSBTE issues certificates with scanned photographs of students

In a significant move to eliminate the possibility of forging of a certificate and its misuse, the Punjab State Board of Technical Education (PSBTE) has started issuing certificates to students with their scanned photographs on it.

The certificates printed by the board contain other than the regular information regarding the course and marks, a scanned photo of the student.

"The photographs of the students are taken during the councelling session and are kept in record to use them in certificates," said Mr Yashivir Mahajan, secretary, PSBTE. Private candidates are told to supply the board with their photos, which are scanned and printed on the certificate." "Besides students in various polytechnics, we are issuing such certificates to pharmacy and management students as well," added Mahajan.

The board takes only Rs 100 from a student for the certificate and this amount takes care of the printing and postage charges accruing to the board," said Mahajan. This fee is collected at the time of admission.

Elaborating other pioneering initiatives of the board, Mahajan said they had introduced a scholarship scheme for students from this year. Students belonging to families with income less than Rs 1 lakh per year shall be awarded a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month for the entire duration of the course.

The number of such scholarships was 50 and these would be given out to students on merit.

In a significant move to eliminate the possibility of forging of a certificate and its misuse, the Punjab State Board of Technical Education (PSBTE) has started issuing certificates to students with their scanned photographs on it.

The certificates printed by the board contain other than the regular information regarding the course and marks, a scanned photo of the student.

"The photographs of the students are taken during the councelling session and are kept in record to use them in certificates," said Mr Yashivir Mahajan, secretary, PSBTE. Private candidates are told to supply the board with their photos, which are scanned and printed on the certificate." "Besides students in various polytechnics, we are issuing such certificates to pharmacy and management students as well," added Mahajan. The board takes only Rs 100 from a student for the certificate and this amount takes care of the printing and postage charges accruing to the board," said Mahajan. This fee is collected at the time of admission.

Elaborating other pioneering initiatives of the board, Mahajan said they had introduced a scholarship scheme for students from this year. Students belonging to families with income less than Rs 1 lakh per year shall be awarded a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month for the entire duration of the course.

The number of such scholarships was 50 and these would be given out to students on merit.

September 24, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

AICTE introduced tution fee waiver for Punjab colleges

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced tution waiver scheme for women, economically backward and physically handicapped meritorious students in technical institutions in Punjab.

AICTE has been empowered under the AICTE Act to formulate schemes for promoting technical education for women, handicapped and weaker sections of the society. As per the AICTE guidelines regarding tuition fee wavier scheme, the Punjab government has issued notification for 24 Engineering Colleges, three management colleges and 10 Pharmacy College which can admit the students fall under the scheme. For this purpose the AICTE has allotted additional seats to these colleges in different branches and courses. 

Punjab Technical University (PTU), Jalandhar and Director Technical Education and Industrial Training, Punjab will jointly monitor the process of admission during or afterwards the admission has taken place. This scheme is voluntary and available only to those institutions that have opted for the scheme. Only those economically weaker students can take admission under the respective category whose annual income of parents or guardian is less than Rs 2.50 lakh.

September 24, 2007 
Source: Punjab Newsline

A new science curriculum soon for competitive needs

Buoyed by the results of this year’s Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for admissions to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the State Education Department of Gujarat has decided to revise the science curricula to align it with the requirements of competitive exams.

Of the 3,103 students that appeared for JEE-2007, 106 from Gujarat cleared the test, with 82 finally making it to the IITs across the country. This is the first time so many students appeared for the competitive test from Gujarat, and got admitted to the prestigious technology institutes, said Principal Secretary (Education) P Panneervel.

In addition to this, over 11,000 students from the state appeared for the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), of which 427 qualified and got admitted to the National Institutes of Technology (NIT).

Officials maintain that this is the result of changes made in the entrance system in Gujarat that has filled the students with a new confidence. “There are many reasons like the introduction of an entrance test (GUJCET) in place of a merit list, and changes made in the curricula that have impacted the mindset of students taking the JEE. We want to strengthen the trend and that is why a team of professors is being sent to the IIT-Powai,” said Panneerval.

The government has also decided to exchange science and technology education with the US. Under this, a team of professors from the United States would be visiting Gujarat and examine the pedagogy of technology teaching so that it can be brought in line with US standards. “The idea is to attain equivalence in the degrees issued by our institutes and that of the United States,” says an official.

September 25, 2007 
Source: ExpressIndia.com

508 madrasas get minority institution status

The state government declared the 508 state-run madrasas, affiliated to West Bengal Board of Madarasa Education, as minority institutions. Minister of State for Minorities Abdus Sattar formally announced the decision at the Writers’ Building today.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who takes care of the Minorities Development and Welfare and Madarasa Education departments, said the madarasas will now be eligible for availing facilities meant for such institutions.

Sattar said with the bestowed status, mandatory recruitment of candidates from the reserved categories will not be a restriction any more.

The move is expected to help in filling posts of Arabic and theology teachers, at present vacant due to reservation norms.

Further, the madarasas, with an annual budget of Rs 203 crore, will also be able to avail financial assistance from the Union government.

Though majority of madrasa students are from the Muslim community, the institutions were treated at par with government schools.

The state government has also set up a committee to draft rules on how private educational institutions run by minorities can avail the status as well.

The committee, comprising academicians, has been asked to submit the report within the next two months.

September 28, 2007 
Source: Expressindia.com

IITians run school for children of migrant labourers

The children of Bidokhar village call it Apna Skool, or our school. An NGO - formed by the faculty and student of Kanpur's Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - has set up the non-formal school in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh for elementary education of children of migrant labourers.

Jagriti has been providing education to children of migrant labourers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh through a number of centres at the brick kilns adjoining the IIT campus, reports Grassroots Features.

The school in Bidokhar village is different from the regular schools. Since children had to accompany their parents to distant work places, many of them were left out of the regular schools. This is why Jagriti has come forward to help the children complete their education through these non-formal schools. Currently, about 700 children are enrolled in 24 centres.

During monsoons, when the brick kilns are closed, the families go back to their native villages and the schools remain closed.

"The break also causes interruption in their studies since the children forget what they learn," says Mahendra Dwivedi, who supervises the centres.

To find an answer to the problem, the team visited the villages of the workers in Nalanda and Nawada in Bihar and Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh and contacted local NGOs for support in their endeavour.

But with no fruitful alliances in sight, the team decided to take up the challenge themselves and started two Apna Skools in Bidokhar and Banki villages in Hamirpur, from where a large number of socially and economically backward families migrate to Kanpur every year to work at the brick kilns.

"We had regular meetings with residents of the two villages and all of them agreed to provide help within their means. So we asked them to arrange a place where we could start Apna Skools," says Jagriti volunteer R.N. Sharma.

The Apna Skool in Bidokhar has 26 children, all belonging to Scheduled Caste. "They are studying in classes I, II and III and the centre runs for three hours from 3.30-6.30 p.m.," says the teacher Chandrabhan, a post-graduate and a resident of the village.

Rambaran Anuragi, the teacher at Banki village, is an arts graduate and a resident of the village. "The centre is run from a room of a private house, since the Panchayat Bhawan is far from where most children live," he says.

At Apna Skool, the children find an opportunity to develop their skills. They learn reading, writing and basic arithmetical calculations with the help of teachers, whom they affectionately called as 'Bhaiya Ji' or 'Didi Ji'.

The project has also helped fight the practice of child labour.

While introducing the children into the world of letters, Jagriti is also making the parents aware of their rights.

In December last year, it held a demonstration with migrant workers and children in Kanpur to demand right to education and health care. Jagriti volunteers realise the enormity of their task and they are ready for the challenge.

"The outcome of our efforts will be visible only in their next generation. Since by then, they would know the importance of education and would do something for their children," says Pranab Mahapatra of IIT, one of the leading members of the initiative.

September 28, 2007 
Source: Mangalorean.com

Better education facilities in rural areas sought

A higher education awareness programme organised in New Delhi over the past two months has ended with a vigorous appeal to the Government to provide better higher education facilities in Delhi’s rural areas and a better compensation package, including a portion of developed land, to villagers whose land is acquired by the authorities.

During its near two-month run, the programme organised by All-India Congress Committee member Naresh Kumar covered 150 villages of Delhi. Two huge public meetings were also organised during the programme that primarily sought better education facilities in the rural areas so that the children living there pursue higher education and become gainfully employed.

As part of the campaign, Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna was urged by Mr. Kumar to intervene in the matter.

September 28, 2007 
Source: The Hindu

IT education to get a boost in Salem schools

The school education department is strengthening computer education in Government Higher Secondary Schools in the district by providing them with modern systems. The department has also plans to provide Internet connectivity to the schools.

The Government has sanctioned 10 computers with latest configuration, a laptop, a printer and a liquid crystal display projector to 97 Government Higher Secondary Schools in the district.

The configuration in the existing computers in many of these schools is outdated. Distribution of the laptop and the projector to the schools has already been completed. The computers are now being distributed through the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu and the internet connection will be given shortly after equipping the laboratories, officials say.

With Tamil Nadu being touted as a favourite destination for IT-related investments, it is important to strengthen IT education in schools.

About 8,000 students study computer science in government schools in the district. A majority of them come from economically backward families.

Internet connectivity will enable them to learn through the World Wide Web and enhance their learning experience.

“We are also exploring the possibility of conducting virtual classes at the district level,” education department officials said.

The officials are also planning to introduce paperless administration in higher secondary schools.

Heads of the schools will be asked to use e-mail and other web tools for communication and filing of various documents.

“We have already trained the heads of the schools in the basics of computers, office tools and internet browsing,” the officials said.

September 29, 2007 
Source: The Hindu