News and views about the Education in India

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

Education continues to be the unifying force in today’s world, as Indian institutes reaches out globally. In the home front special institutes set up for the special people brings forth the humanitarian aspect. The fashion police invade the education sector as their new targets are the teachers.

-Chillibreeze Business Research Team

JNU plans to spread wings to SAARC countries

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), one of the premier universities in the country, plans to open entrance examination centres in all the SAARC countries, with the newest one in Pakistan.

"We want to attract students from all over the world to study in our university. Hence we are planning to open our entrance examination centres in Pakistan, and consecutively in all the SAARC countries soon," H.B. Bahidar, chief proctor of JNU, told IANS.

As of now, JNU has its examination centres in three South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries - Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The SAARC has eight countries as members - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan.

This initiative of JNU will help aspiring students from India's SAARC neighbours to appear for the entrance examination in their own countries and then come here to pursue studies.

The proposal, however, is yet to be given a green signal by the academic council of the university.

Bahidar said that the university gets a good number of overseas students, with those from Bangladesh topping the list.

"Many students from Sri Lanka also come to the university to pursue studies in Buddhism," he said.

The varsity also has plans to open an entrance centre in Bahrain to attract expatriate Indians from the Gulf region.

September 03, 2007 
Source: IANS via indiaedunews.net

Delhi nursery admission age fixed at four years

Thousands of tiny tots in the capital will now have to stay away from school bags for one more year. The Delhi Government on Monday fixed four years as the minimum age for children's admission to nursery classes, and five years for class one.

The Delhi cabinet in its meeting decided that the minimum age norm for the nursery admission would be binding on all schools in the capital, and the class one admission criterion would be applicable to all Government schools, an official statement said.

Last month, the Delhi High Court refused to consider the city Government's request to change the cut-off age for nursery admissions from three years to three-and-a-half years. The court asked an expert committee to discuss the issue with the education department of the Delhi Government.

September 04, 2007 
Source: IANS via indiaedunews.net

Vegetables from school gardens for midday meal

The Education Department has come up with a home-grown plan to enhance the nutritional content of the midday meals being served in government and aided schools across the State.

The department will encourage government and aided schools to develop “bio-intensive gardens” around their buildings wherever there is availability of space and water. High-yielding varieties of vegetables such as brinjal, drumstick and curry leaves will be grown here, which will go into the midday meals cooked to feed the children. Children, staff and the community at large will participate in maintaining the garden.

Commissioner of the Department of Public Instruction G. Kumar Naik told The Hindu that some schools in rural areas were already trying this out and there was good participation from the community as well.

Predictably, the response has not been very enthusiastic in urban centres, especially Bangalore. Part of the reason for this is non-availability of space and water compared to rural areas. The fact that schools in Bangalore are supplied cooked food by non-governmental organisations such as ISKCON, through a centralised kitchen, is another reason for lack of response. “The department is trying to discourage schools from giving children food such as “chitranna” (lemon rice) that is poor in vegetable and dhal content. We want children to eat more vegetable as part of their meal. No better way to ensure this than make it available in their backyard,” said Mr. Naik. The Karnataka Government introduced the midday meal scheme programme in June 2002 in seven backward districts. This was extended to all government and aided schools in a phased manner, covering about 58 lakh children. The government extended the scheme to high schools in the last budget.

Most high schools, Mr. Naik said, have started serving midday meals.

September 04, 2007 
Source: The Hindu

Orissa to introduce 'dress code' for teachers

After introducing a dress code for college students across the state, the Orissa government has decided to ask teachers of some state-run and aided high schools to adhere to uniform attire.

Official sources said the dress code for teachers would be introduced in 1,440 of the total 7,200 high schools in the state.

"A notification in this regard could be issued on or before the Teachers Day on September five," a senior education department official said.

When contacted, director of secondary education Debendra Mishra said that the teachers working only in school complexes would be asked to maintain uniform dress.

He said educational premises having primary, middle and high schools would soon be accorded status of school complex. "Special emphasis would be given on such school complexes," Mishra said.

Both men and women teachers in school complexes along with students would have to maintain uniform dress, he said, adding each school complex would decide the colour and type of dress for its teachers.

"The government will not force any particular dress on teachers," he said adding women may wear sari or salwar kameez of their choice.

Similarly, teachers wearing dhoti and kurta would also be allowed to do so. "But all dresses would of one colour," he said.

September 04, 2007 
Source: The Times of India

School for children with HIV, AIDS

For these children, the world is full of discrimination and their childhood replete with many challenges.

But a few nuns from the Deena Seva Sabha have taken it upon themselves to make the world a better place to live in for these children with HIV/AIDS. As many as 45 children, some affected with HIV/AIDS while some of them orphaned after their parents died of the scourge, were provided shelter by the nuns at the Infant Jesus Home. Now a voluntary organisation called Needz, started by a few women from the city of Bangalore, has envisaged a school, especially for these children. Needz announced the launch of the school here on Sunday.

The oldest of these children is around 15 while the youngest is just a few months old. They are being rehabilitated by the nuns, who also provide them with education.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok said that as there was no cure for HIV/AIDS, there was greater need for spreading awareness about the disease. The Government was in the process of opening more counselling centres for HIV/AIDS patients and those at risk.

September 04, 2007 
Source: The Hindu

IGNOU extends its wings to 35 countries

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the world's largest institute for distance learning has extended its reach to 35 countries with 38 education providers.

An 'international partner institutions' meet' was organized in the capital where delegates from Saudi Arabia, Doha, Bahrain, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Oman and the UAE were present.

In the meet, delegates were given comprehensive knowledge about the various courses offered by the university.

IGNOU vice-chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, while inaugurating the meet, emphasized on creating avenues of newer delivery mechanisms through information and communication technology-enabled education.

He introduced the School of Journalism and Media Studies, Gender and Development Studies and Tourism and Hospitality Service Sector Management.

IGNOU currently serves approximately 1.4 million students in India and 35 countries abroad in eleven schools and a network of 58 regional centres, 7 sub-regional centres, 1400 study centres, and 41 overseas centres.

The schools of inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary studies offer courses on social work, vocational education and training, extension and development studies, foreign languages and translation studies and training.

September 05, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

Govt. to provide education loans without any installment option

Students seeking higher education may soon get the benefit of getting education loans without the obligation of paying it back.

As proposed by the Planning Commission, students can avail a loan write-off by serving for a specified period in a Government agency.

For example, a doctor who seeks an education loan can get a waiver by working in a Government hospital for a specified period. As per the proposals, even a simple graduate can avoid the installments by teaching in a Government-aided institution.

The details of the plan are yet to be finalized by the Government.

According to the proposal, the Government would set up a National Student Loan Guarantee Corporation which will provide a guarantee to students of certified institutions who avail of a bank loan.

The motive behind the plan is not just to check brain drain from the country but also ensure that the Government employs well-qualified students who have been moving to the private sector for earning larger salaries.

September 05, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

IIT-JEE to be conducted in Dubai

For the first time, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will conduct its Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) outside the country.

The IIT-JEE will be conducted simultaneously in Dubai on April 13th next year.

Last year 120 foreign students appeared for the IIT-JEE. However, only six candidates could clear the examination.

According to the provision of admission to B.Tech courses, the IITs can admit 10% foreign students. "The exam could have been conducted in Dubai right from last year but due to logistical problems, that was not possible,'' said an IIT official.

The Human Resource Development Ministry has been asked to set up a centre in Dubai on the lines of the seven IITs to encourage foreign students for its academic programs.

September 06, 2007 
Source: IANS via indiaedunews.net

Education website short on updates

The website of UT Education department (www.chdeducation.gov.in) seems to be in a complete mess, with no attention being paid to the data uploaded.

Though the present District Education Officer (DEO) is Khushwinder Sharma, if we go according to the information available on website it is Kamla Bains, who was the DEO earlier. This is not the only error that an individual will come across on visiting the website.

Several heads of different government schools have been promoted and many have been transferred, but the website still holds the name of former school heads. Rajesh Minhas, Kushwinder Sharma, Saroj Mittal, Anil Kumar are a few heads of different government schools that have been promoted or transferred from their schools. But the website still holds their names against their former school.

Besides this, the website also provides false information to its readers about midday meal scheme, as it states that midday meal has been extended up to Class VIII. However, the scheme is still applicable only up to Class V. The phone numbers also mislead the individuals calling for a particular head as they have been transferred from the school.

The website also states that posts are lying vacant with the Adult Education Department, but the fact is that Saroj Mittal is the incumbent now.

Three government high schools of Behlana, Maloya and Khuda Lahora have been upgraded to senior secondary schools, but those are still under the category of government high schools. It has not updated the names of awardees.

September 07, 2007 
Source: Chandigarh Newsline

Higher education, higher fees: all set for a 20% hike

Fees in government-aided universities and colleges are set to rise by 20 per cent, with the reluctant Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry agreeing to the long-standing proposal for a revision mooted by the Planning Commission and other agencies, including the National Knowledge Commission.

Sources in the HRD ministry said the government will soon take a formal decision on this issue when the Planning Commission meeting on higher education — chaired by the Prime Minister — takes place later this month.

The implementation of the fee hike is expected to take place from next academic year. The HRD ministry had opposed the proposal to hike fees arguing that higher education should not be made “unaffordable” for the poor. But after a recent round of meetings between Ministry officials, Planning Commission advisors and members, the Ministry was told that the Plan panel is expected to raise the fund allocation four to five times for the education sector in the Eleventh Plan.

To cushion the fee hike, the Ministry has, therefore, been asked to announce a range of scholarships, fellowships and loans. “With the Planning Commission increasing fees and suggesting a number of schemes for the poor and needy, the ministry had little to resist,” said a senior official.

The 20% hike was mooted by the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) in 2005 and was backed by the National Knowledge Commission in 2006.

September 07, 2007 
Source: The Indian Express

NCERT proposes online examination for class X and XII

The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) is preparing a reform strategy to reduce the examination pressure on students appearing for class X and XII board examinations.

As per the proposal made by the council's Department of Educational Measurement and Evaluation (DEME), students may be able to take the tests online and even choose the dates according to their convenience.

The DEME will soon discuss the matter with different educational bodies like the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya and state boards at the annual meet likely to be held at the end of this year.

"The format will be like GRE, GMAT and TOEFL, so that students are better prepared while undergoing minimum stress," said a senior NCERT official.

According to the plan, students can appear for the Class X board exams at any time before the start of their next academic session.

Those appearing for the Class XII boards can appear for the tests in accordance with their college plans.

NCERT is going to implement online test in the National Talent Search Examination this year on an experimental basis.

September 07, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

Science remains the favourite among plus two students – Study

A survey conducted by the Development and Consultancy Division of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) has revealed that Science is the most sought after stream among students at the senior secondary level.

The survey named as "Academic Opportunities and Career Options" had made an analysis on the subject streams offered by schools at the senior secondary level and response of students in opting the streams.

As per the survey, science stream is offered by most of the schools and humanities stream is largely offered by girls' schools. The commerce stream is relatively more popular with boys' schools.

As per the report, among the subjects of Science stream, Physics and Chemistry are equally popular, being offered by 97% of the schools. Subjects like Mathematics, Computer Science and Business mathematics are popular among boys.

The survey also states that almost one third of the students, who went abroad after class XII, took admission in Engineering, Medicine and Business Management.

The report says good career prospects are associated with science subjects, interest of students and parental pressure, governing the decision of students to opt for a particular stream at plus-two level.

September 07, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

School-cum-home for beggars' daughters in Patna

An innovative school-cum-home for daughters of beggars will soon come up in Patna to provide them a safe shelter and training in vocational courses, officials said on Friday. The centre, likely to be called Balika Grih, will be set up soon, said Vijay Prakash, state welfare department secretary.

"It will be the first of its kind in Bihar with the sole aim of providing an opportunity for personality development to these girls," Prakash said.

The Bihar government has approved the project, which will cost the state exchequer Rs.2 million annually.

"The blueprint of the Balika Grih has been prepared and submitted to the government," welfare department sources said.

One of the main aims of the Balika Grih for girls below 14 years of age is to prevent them from begging. A recent study on beggars revealed that most of their daughters were also forced into begging due to lack of job opportunities.

Apart from education, they will also be trained in dance, singing, handicrafts and fine arts.

According to officials, the move will also help to control trafficking of girls from the state.

A study on street children in Bihar revealed that nearly 200,000 kids, including 50,000 minor girls, were engaged in begging.

September 07, 2007 
Source: indiaedunews.net

Priority should be given to girls' education: President Patil

Concerned over high male-female gap in literacy rate in the country, President Pratibha Patil on Saturday said priority should be given to girls' education to break the pattern of social gender discrimination.

"It is a matter of concern that the male-female gap in literacy rates continues to be unacceptably high. This divide is sharper in rural areas. Women's literacy and education has to be made a priority," she said at a function to mark International Literacy Day.

Literacy would enable women to be self-reliant and the beneficial impact on society would be manifold, Patil said adding it has been observed that where the women were literate, the rate of infant mortality has come down and the quality of life showed improvement.

"When women are taught how to read and write they in turn begin to send their girl child to school, breaking the pattern of social gender discrimination, which is a strong barrier to girls' education,” she said.

It was important that in schools, girls must get equal opportunity to study and acquire necessary skills and knowledge.

September 08, 2007 
Source: The Times Of India