Page 154 - Education
HIV spreads via premarital/extra martial sex, says Kerala textbook
Will 'pre-marital' or 'extra-marital' sex lead to the transmission of deadly Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV)? Yes, says the 10th standard biology textbook under the state syllabus being taught in Kerala schools. It is stated in Chapter 4 titled "Keeping Diseases Away" of the textbook that HIV can spread through 'premarital/extra marital sexual contact'. To the question, "What are the ways by which HIV spreads?", the text book also states that "by sharing the needle and syringe used by AIDS patients", "through body fluids" and "from HIV-infected mother to foetus". The startling fact is that the text book, prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), has been used in state schools since 2016 and no teacher or school authorities had pointed out the blunder till some netizens uploaded the snippet from it on social media platforms recently. After it had gone viral on social media, several doctors and experts objected to it. When contacted, SCERT director
Delhi Cabinet allows guest teachers to work till 60 years
In a move to help guest teachers in state government schools, the Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved a policy to allow them to work till the age of 60 - like regular teachers, Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.
3 Jharkhand districts top in Niti's development ranking
Three Jharkhand districts of Chatra Sahibganj, and Hazaribagh have topped in the ranking of aspirational districts by Niti Aayog for the December-January period of 2018-19. The ranking released by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Wednesday showed that these three districts of Jharkhand have also performed well in 'health and nutrition' parameters. Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh), Sahibganj (Jharkhand) and Chatra (Jharkhand) emerged as top three ranking districts on the education parameter. The delta rankings measures the incremental progress made by 112 aspirational districts in December 2018-January 2019 across six developmental areas. The development areas include health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development, and basic infrastructure. The aspirational district programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 5, 2018. Of 115 aspirational districts, only 112 participated in the survey. Three aspirational districts ..
North Guj University VC removed over corruption charges
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Wednesday removed Prof B A Prajapati as the Vice Chancellor of the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (HNGU) over charges of corruption and irregularities. The decision to remove Prajapati from the post of vice chancellor of the Patan-based university was taken by the CM after an inquiry by the state Lokayukta concluded that he had misused his powers and indulged in "serious irregularities and corruption", a statement issued by the state government said. Based on the inquiry report, Rupani removed Prajapati from the post on Wednesday, it added. Prajapati had been appointed as the VC of this state-run university in December 2016. Prior to that, he had served as the VC of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. The HNGU jurisdiction encompasses four districts- Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha.
Google launches reading tutor app 'Bolo' for kids in India
Google on Wednesday launched a free app called "Bolo" that parents can download to help primary grade children improve their Hindi and English reading skills.
Delhi Dy CM Sisodia writes to LG on guest teachers' issue
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia has written to Lt Governor Anil Baijal claiming that the "entire Government school system is on the verge of collapse" due to his "inaction" and informed him about an emergency cabinet meeting convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to "consider and approve a policy" in this regard.In his March 5 letter, Sisodia said appointment of teachers, hiring them or creating new posts is under the Central Government and termed it "the misinterpretation of constitutional scheme of governance."Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds charge of education, has also expressed his disappointment over alleged non-consultation with him on issues relating to the education system."You have not bothered even once to think how the Education Minister will run the Education system if he is not consulted on a matter as important and basic as the availability of teachers in schools. The immediate consequence is that while exams are going on in schools, I, ..
Partha meets SSC candidates
West Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee Tuesday said those candidates who have qualified in the School Service Commission (SSC) examination and have the requisite qualification will get call for interview in due course. After meeting the representatives of the SSC candidates at his office, Chatterjee told reporters, "I listened to what they said. They need not feel scared." "Those having requisite qualifications will certainly be called for interview in due course of time," the minister said adding he has asked the West Bengal School Service Commission to give him a detailed report on the issue. Asked about the threat by a section of SSC candidates to continue their sit-in near Kolkata Press Club, which began on last Thursday, Chatterjee shot back, "Let them do whatever they wish." The agitating SSC candidates, who alleged not being recruited as teachers in classes 9-12 despite having the requisite qualifications, first met the minister on March 2. They had ...
Cabinet nod to form SPV for Purandar intl airport in Pune
The Maharashtra cabinet Tuesday granted its approval for setting up of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the proposed Purandar international airport in Pune. The Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) has been appointed as the nodal agency for implementing the project, while the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) will be a major stakeholder in the SPV. The CIDCO will hold 51 per cent stake in the SPV, while MADC's stake will be around 19 per cent. The remaining 30 per cent will be divided between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). Pune district collector has been given the responsibility of acquiring land for the project, giving compensation and rehabilitating the project affected people. The cabinet also gave its nod to implement the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations to full-time teachers and equivalent staff of the government, aided ...
JU VC refuses to comment on students' union election
Jadavpur University Vice Chancellor Prof Suranjan Das Tuesday refused to comment on the holding of students' union election in the varsity. Das who was on leave after he was heckled during a protest by students on February 19 and hospitalised for two days, resumed his duties on Tuesday and held discussion with teachers and students union representatives on academic issues. Das told reporters he has nothing new to comment when asked about his views on holding students' union polls at the earliest as demanded by the Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU), Science Faculty Students Union (SFSU) and Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students' Union (FETSU). "I don't have anything to comment on this issue today," he said Pro-VC Pradip Kumar Ghosh had on February 25 sent a letter to the Higher Education department requesting it to facilitate a tripartite discussion among the university, students and the higher education department on the issue of students' union polls. The VC
BJD govt stalling Central projects in Odisha: Pradhan
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Tuesday accused the BJD government of "stalling" many Central projects in Odisha including the long awaited medical college built here at a cost of Rs 500 crore. "Odisha Government is obstructing operationalisation of the medical college built by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd in the say way it has been scuttling many other people-oriented Central projects," Pradhan claimed. The Petroleum and Natural Gas minister was speaking after inaugurating the academic block of the medical college and hospital in this coal town though the state Government is yet to give its clearance to the institute. Pradhan also laid foundation stone for a cancer unit in the medical college and hospital (MCH) which is yet to be made operational. Coming down heavily at the BJD government, Pradhan alleged that though the building of the medical college and hospital was ready over six months ago, but Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik "has laid hurdles in making the institute ..
ABVP protests in DU north campus against VC
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Tuesday protested in Delhi University's north campus, accusing DU's vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi of avoiding meeting the elected student representatives. The RSS-affiliated outfit said Delhi University Students' Union office-bearers have been trying to get an appointment with Tyagi over issues such as "one course, one fee" for post-graduate courses, centralised entry to hostels and accessibility in campus for specially-abled students. DUSU president Shakti Singh said, "The vice-chancellor has to end this dictatorial attitude of not listening to the problems of students. It is very unfortunate the way the problems of students are not being paid heed to." The ABVP members took out a march from the Arts Faculty to the Vishwavidyalaya metro station against the vice-chancellor.
Rise above 'narrow politics', Sisodia tells LG on Guest Teachers
Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal to "rise above narrow politics" and do justice to students and Guest Teachers of the city's government schools.
LG not owning up responsibility on regularisation of guest teachers: Sisodia
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday accused LG Anil Baijal of not "owning up" his responsibility on the issue of regularisation of guest teachers and alleged that the delay in decision-making has impacted the education of lakhs of children. In a letter to Baijal, Sisodia, who holds the education portfolio, said the LG not discussing the issues of guest teachers has brought the government school system on the verge of collapse. Sisodia's letter came against the backdrop of protests by guest teachers in the national capital. The government has convened an emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday on the issue. As many as 25,000 teachers are staring at uncertainty after their contracts ended on Feb 28. They have not yet been informed whether their services have been terminated or their contracts will be renewed. The Delhi government had passed a bill to regularise the employment of around 15,000 guest teachers (working on contractual basis) in government-run schools in October ...
Indians among London's fastest growing international students
The number of Indian students choosing London as a study destination jumped by 20 per cent in 2017-18 compared to the previous year, official statistics reveal on Tuesday. In 2017-18, London attracted 5,455 students from India taking up courses across the city's many universities, up from 4,545 the previous year. India held on to its fourth rank among London's top international student markets, after 21,350 students who came from China, 7,105 from the US, and 5,770 from Italy. Along with China, which also registered a similar 20 per cent hike, India held on to its position as the fastest growing international student market for the British capital, noted Study London, the Mayor of London's official university guide. Study London, the Mayor of London's official university guide, hailed new statistics on Tuesday which reveal that the number of Indian students jumped by 20 per cent in 2017-18, compared to the previous year. "These new statistics show that London is as big a draw as ever .
Three teachers arrested in connection with missing OMR sheets
Three teachers were arrested Tuesday in connection with missing OMR sheets of 108 students who had written the matriculation examination from a government-run school in Malkangiri district, officials said. Five persons, including four teachers and a peon, were also suspended in connection with the disappearance of the OMR sheets from SSD High School at Padia, they said. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), U C Nayak said three teachers were arrested for conspiring and taking away the OMR answer sheets from the room of the head master of SSD High School on Saturday. Those arrested were identified as Jalandhar Behera, Head Master of Nabin Chandra High School, Gothanpally, Nodal Observer Sandip Kumar Sahu and Deputy Centre Superintendent of SSD High School, he said. Students of Nabin Chandra High School were appearing for the examination at SSD High School. Behera was angry as students of his school were not allowed to copy and cheat and he conspired with others to ..
Thamarai Selvi appointed Thiruvalluvar varsity V-C
Senior Anna University professor S Thamarai Selvi has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Vellore-based Thiruvalluvar University by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Purohit, also the Chancellor of the state-run varsity, appointed the academician as V-C for a three year period, a Raj Bhavan release said Tuesday. "Thamarai Selvi has a rich teaching experience of about 35 years and is at present Professor in the Department of Computer Technology, MIT Campus, Anna University," it said.
Performance of guest teachers in exam to fill vacancies in Delhi govt schools substandard, HC told
The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) has informed the Delhi High Court that the performance of guests teachers, who are working with the Directorate of Education, was "substandard" in the examination conducted to fill the large number of vacancies in government schools. The board said that out of 21,135 guest teachers who appeared in the examination, 16,383 candidates "failed to get even minimum passing marks". The DSSSB, in an affidavit filed in a pending contempt petition by an NGO, said it was making all efforts to provide regular teachers to the Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) before the commencement of the next academic session of 2019-20. "The performance of the serving guest teachers in DoE who appeared in the examination against the vacancies... has been observed to be substandard. "Out of 21,135 guest teachers appeared in the examination of various post codes..., 16,383 candidates failed to get even minimum passing marks," the board said in
IIM Udaipur Students Complete Week-long Rural Immersion to Understand On the Ground Realities
/ -- IIM Udaipur's PGP Batch 2018-20 completed their week-long immersion in the rural and tribal regions of Rajasthan and worked closely with local NGOs to understand the challenges faced by those at the bottom of the pyramid. During the immersion, students undertook assignments on unsafe behaviour in rural areas, assessment of government's Ujjwala Yojana and common property resources. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/791394/IIMU_Logo.jpg ) Students prepared for the immersion by taking a course on the Indian Social and Political Environment. Following the course, the class was divided into five-member teams and each worked with an NGO for a week. For the immersion, IIM Udaipur partnered with multiple NGOs including Seva Mandir, Manjari Foundation, Jatan Sansthan, Gandhi Manav Kalyan Society and Ajeevika Bureau. These grassroots organizations worked as liaison and host for the students. Students conducted door-to-door surveys, focus group discussions and informal interviews in .
Cabinet likely to take up ordinance on reservation roster in universities on Thursday
The Union Cabinet is likely to take up an ordinance on Thursday on the reservation mechanism for university teachers, sources said Tuesday. "The HRD Ministry had sent an ordinance on reservation mechanism for faculties in universities for Cabinet approval and the same is likely to be taken up on Thursday," a source said. Earlier in the day, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre was committed to restore the reservation roster in educational institutions and there was "no need" for any agitation. Various students' and teachers' organisations have been urging the government to bring an ordinance to restore the 200-point roster taking college or university as a unit for reservation in teaching posts. "Few groups have decided to agitate. I would like to assure them that they need not agitate, the government will do justice. We will bring the 200-point reservation roster and how we will do it will be clear within two days," Javadekar told reporters. The ...
Anant National University Emphasises on Learning by Design
/ -- At Anant National University (AnantU), India's First Design University, a special emphasis is laid on hands-on learning across all modules. Every year, groups of students along with faculty guides visit heritage sites and cities in India for the Related Study Programme (RSP) wherein they learn to observe, measure and document the architectural styles and layouts prevalent in those zones in historic times. The field trip exposes them to deep-rooted cultures across the country and gives them insights into how the milieu has affected Design. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/625509/Anant_National_University_Logo.jpg ) Earlier this year, four groups visited Aurangabad, Mandu, Jodhpur, and Kerala respectively for an immersive outstation and showcased the outcome of their research through an exhibition in the Exhibition Gallery located on the ground floor of the campus. Aayushi Shrivastav, a first-year student who was a part of the Jodhpur RSP, says, "Exploring the Blue City was .
