Page 252 - Education

Gujarat teachers told to file affidavits under school safety

Schoolteachers in Gujarat have been asked to file affidavits declaring they do not have any case related to child abuse or violence registered against them, state government officials have said. The directive, which makes submission of affidavits mandatory, covers both government and private schoolteachers, they said. The officials said by issuing the directive they are just following the Supreme Court guidelines related to the School Safety Policy, but the opposition Congress has claimed the move would demoralise teachers. As per the education department direction, all schoolteachers need to submit individual affidavits declaring they do not have any case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) or the Juvenile Justice Act registered against them in the state. In addition, all primary, secondary and higher secondary schoolteachers have to declare if they were ever found guilty of sexual offences or for any other form of violence in the ...

Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurates skill training centre in Patiala

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) here on Saturday, where 1,000 students will get free training in skill development in the multiple courses every year, according to an official statement. The students will get training in courses like hair styling, manual arc welding, plumbing, a field technician, repairing home appliances and mobile phone hardware, it said. After inaugurating the centre, the Union Food Processing Industries Minister said the youth are an asset for the nation and they will be trained in skill development to make them self-reliant and more employable. She said such centres would be set up in each identified district throughout the country for quality training in skill development. Opening of this skill development centre is a solid step towards achieving the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "making India the skill capital of the world", Harsimrat Kaur Badal said. PMKK is the flagship scheme of Union Ministry ..

Massive inspection drive taken up in J&K's Doda district to check quality of mid-day meals

Education and civil administration officials have launched a "massive" physical verification drive in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir to check the quality of mid-day meals (MDM) being served to children in schools, especially those located in remote areas. The drive was started in Bhadarwah town, officials said Saturday, adding that the verifications will be carried out across the district. The drive was planned after repeated complaints from the people regarding poor quality food grains, they said. "We have formed a team of senior officers from the education department and civil administration. They will conduct random checks at all schools to ensure regular delivery of hygienic meals to the children," Chief Education Officer, Doda, Mohammad Sharief Chouhan told PTI. As part of the drive, a detailed verification of in-charge teachers and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) dealers in Bhadarwah zone was conducted yesterday but no variation in any of the records were ...

SC directs Haryana to grant MBBS admission to 2 differently-abled students

New Delhi [India], Oct 13 (ANI): The Supreme Court has come to the rescue of two differently-abled students by directing the Haryana government to grant them admission in an MBBS course in a government medical college.A bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Vineet Saran granted relief to two candidates, Parmod and Sachin, and said they should be admitted in a government medical college next year.Advocate Jeetender Gupta, appearing for the two students, had told the court that they were earlier denied MBBS admission by the Haryana government in spite of the candidates meeting all necessary qualifications and being in the merit list under the physically handicapped category.The candidates had approached the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. However, the High Court did not grant them admission in MBBS as the seats were filled for academic session 2018-19 and the seats reserved for the physically handicapped category were also converted to general categories and filled.The apex court ..

Block grant teacher defer strike till Nov 30

The agitating block grant school and college teachers in Odisha on Saturday deferred their strike till November 30. The Odisha School College Teachers and Employees United Forum made this announcement after holding a discussion with chief secretary A P Padhi. The state government has assured the forum to look into demands, said Pabitra Mahala, one of the leaders of the forum. He said the strike is temporarily put off till November end. The teachers under the banner of Odisha School and College Teachers and Employees United Forum were on strike since August 16 demanding grant-in-aid as the government schools and colleges teachers, service condition and job regularisation and others. The agitators had also staged dharna at panchayat and block levels besides locking up schools last month to press for their demands.

JNUSU urges HRD Ministry, UGC to probe plagiarism allegations against 7 professors

JNUSU office-bearers Friday submitted complaints to the HRD Ministry and the UGC demanding an inquiry into allegations of plagiarism against seven professors of the varsity. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) cited media reports claiming that some professors, holding administrative posts, were accused of plagiarism by some students. "Some of the accused teachers hold administrative positions in the university and some are part of various committees that decide our academic policies," the JNUSU said in its complaint. "What was surprising was the complete silence on part of the administration and complete inaction," it said. The students' union has demanded an inquiry against the professors and their suspension from administrative and academic duties. JNU professor Buddha Singh, whose name figures in the complaint, said, "These allegations are baseless and an attempt to destroy the academic environment of the university." Krishnendra Meena, another professor whose ..

3 AMU students from Kashmir booked for sedition for raising anti-India slogans

Three Kashmiri students of the Aligarh Muslim University have been booked for sedition for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans and trying to hold a prayer meeting for Hizbul Mujahideen commander Manan Bashir Wani, who was killed in an encounter in north Kashmir, officials said Friday. Senior Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, Ajai Sahni said police took the action after a video surfaced showing the three Kashmiri students raising "anti-India" slogans. "Police have filed an FIR against Wasim Malik, Abdul Mir and one unnamed person. They have been identified on the basis of a video recording," he said. AMU spokesman Shafay Kidwai said that show cause notices have been issued to nine students for trying to hold an unauthorised gathering Thursday. A three-member inquiry committee has been set up to probe the incident. It will submit a report in the next 72 hours, he said. The three were suspended from the AMU earlier. Some AMU students from Kashmir had Thursday gathered near Kennedy ...

Students suffer food poisoning after eating mid-day meals

Students of two schools in Mapusa town of Goa suffered suspected food poisoning after eating mid-day meals Friday morning, government officials said. Forty-five students from Janta School and Ganesh Vidya Mandir complained of uneasiness after having their mid-day meals. All of them were discharged and allowed to go home after treatment. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Minister Vishwajit Rane said a team of FDA officials was sent to the two schools who inspected the kitchens of the two women self-help group which supply the mid-day meals. "Mid-day meals at Janata School was supplied by Shri Ram Self Help Group," he said, adding that of 438 students who had had the meals, 38 were affected. The self help group could not produce the licence from the FDA and was asked to stop operations, the minister said. The food at Ganesh Vidya Mandir was supplied by Rashtroli Mahila Mandal. At this school, seven out of 350 students were affected. "Several deficiencies were found in the

BTC exams in UP to be held between Nov 1, 3

Basic Training Certificate (BTC) examination, which was cancelled recently due to paper leak, will be held in the state from November 1 to 3, an official spokesperson said. The exam was cancelled all over the state after paper leakage in Kaushambi. It will now be held between November 1 and 3, he said, adding that Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) examination has been rescheduled to November 18. Result of both these examinations will be declared by December 10. Online registration for the TET against 68,500 vacancies will open from December 11. The exam for Teachers Bharti Pariksha will be held on January 6, 2019, he said. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with senior officials of the Education Department. The CM, according to the spokesperson, has instructed the STF and the police department to take strict action against those involved in BTC papers leak. Action like arresting, forfeiting property and imposing NSA, if required, against .

AMU acts against 9 students over Kashmir killing

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has taken action against nine students who wanted to hold a condolence meeting for former PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani who jointed militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and was killed.

Run up to student polls: 12 students injured in police lathicharge in Kurukshetra

Haryana police Friday resorted to a mild batoncharge on students of Kurukshetra University sitting on a 'dharna' outside the campus demanding direct polls to elect their union leaders, injuring at least 12 of them. Similar police action against students has been reported from Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, but it was not immediately clear if anyone was injured there. There were also reports of protest by students in Sirsa. More than 200 students affiliated with student organisations, including NSUI, had sat on a protest in front of Gate No. 3 of Kurukshetra University in support of their demands, blocking the movement of vehicles on Kurukshetra-Pehowa road. Kurukshetra Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurmaij Singh said police resorted to mild lathicharge when students held up traffic on the road. He said all students were dispersed from the site after the police action. "An FIR under various sections of IPC has been registered and police is trying to arrest the student ...

HC directs Meghalaya govt to give pension to deficit teachers

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to provide pension to the teachers of government-aided or ad hoc schools, deficit schools and colleges as per the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission. Justice S R Sen directed the Meghalaya government that the pensions would have to be given with retrospective effect and within three months. Government-aided or ad hoc schools and deficit schools and colleges are institutes that receive different types of support from the state government. These teachers should be given pension as is given to government school and college teachers as per the Government Pension Rules and the regulations could be amended to include the deficit teachers, the court said. The state government had argued that the appointment of these teachers was made by the respective school management committees, but the court rejected it. However, as the new Pension Scheme came into effect from April 1, 2010, the order will not be applicable to the teachers .

'AMU suspends three Kashmiri students for trying to hold prayer meeting for Wani'

Three Kashmiri students of the AMU were suspended after they allegedly tried to hold a prayer meeting for Hizbul Mujahideen commander Manan Bashir Wani, who was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in north Kashmir, officials said Friday. Some Kashmiri students of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Thursday had gathered near Kennedy Hall in the campus to hold funeral prayers for Wani, following which the varsity staff and student union rushed to the spot and tried to stop them, AMU spokesperson and Professor Shafey Kidwai said Friday. There was a heated exchange between the AMU Students' Union leaders and the Kashmiri students but they finally moved out of the area, Kidwai said, adding three Kashmiri students were suspended for trying to hold an unlawful gathering. He said the university has made it clear that there was zero tolerance for any act which would even remotely be described as anti-national. AMUSU president Faizul Hasan told PTI that he had always championed the ..

Presidency University students call off hunger strike

Agitating students of the Presidency University have withdrawn their 10-day-long hunger strike after authorities gave them a written assurance that they would be provided accommodation at a hostel, adjacent to the institute's campus, by the middle of the next month. The students have been demonstrating on the institute campus since August, seeking room allotments at two blocks of Eden Hindu Hostel. The authorities had, however, said that the hostel, which was undergoing renovation work, would be opened only after it was found to be safe for use. Sayan Chakraborty, a spokesman of the agitators, said Friday that the university has given written asurance that the hostel rooms will be made available to them by November 15. The institute also agreed to bear medical expenses of students who fell ill during the course of protest, he said. "Besides providing accommodation by November 15, the authorities agreed to allot space at the hostel for immediate shifting of belongings from

Marked Improvement Noted In Human Capital Index Components For India Over Last Five Years

There has been marked improvement in the World Bank' Human Capital Index (HCI) components for India the last five years, according to a latest update from the Ministry of Finance. The World Bank released a HCI as part of the World Development Report 2019 yesterday. The HCP programme is claimed to be a program of advocacy, measurement, and analytical work to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital.

NSUI, AISA stage protests over Baisoya's fake degree

The Congress-affiliated NSUI and Left-backed AISA held protests on Thursday against the alleged inaction of the Delhi University (DU) against DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya, who is accused of furnishing fake degree to gain admission in the varsity. Hundreds of members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) demonstrated near the Arts Faculty in DU's North Campus. The Supreme Court had ordered an investigation into the matter. However, disregarding this order and overstepping the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, this matter is being pushed aside without proper action being taken, the students' body said. NSUI activists had sought permission to meet K T S Sarao, head of the department of the Buddhist Studies, where Baisoya is enrolled. However, he was unavailable, it said. The student activists alleged that the university authorities used force to disperse the protesters and that they were detained by the police. They also claimed that false allegations were levelled against Delhi ...

India rejects World Bank's HCI report over data gaps

The Central government on Thursday rejected the findings of the World Bank's Human Capital Index (HCI), which has placed the country at 115th position out of 157 countries on various parameters, such as survivability measured by under-five mortality rate.

Increasing number of Indian students are choosing France: French envoy

The target of having 10,000 Indian students in France is within reach as an increasing number of them are choosing that country, French envoy Alexandre Ziegler said Thursday. He was addressing business leaders from both the countries at the first edition of the Indo-French Business Awards 2018 held at the Ambassador's residence here. "I am glad that a rising number of Indian students are choosing France. The target of 10,000 Indian students in France is now within reach. The Franco-Indian Education Trust, created during the presidential visit and to which some of you have already contributed, will help us in this regard," the envoy said. He said this year has been "particularly rich and meaningful" for the Indo-French business relations. "The State visit of President Emmanuel Macron in March was outstanding in many respects and particularly in its economic outcomes. It started a new momentum and your esteemed presence, with an exceptional turnout tonight, speaks volumes on the dynamic

Killed Hizbul terrorist Manan Wani was rusticated from AMU

Aligarh Muslim University' Registrar Dr. Abdul Hamid on Thursday informed that Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Manan Wani was rusticated from the University and that the varsity had no knowledge of his know-how ever since.Speaking to ANI, Dr. Hamid said, "Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Manan Wani who was killed in Handwara encounter today was once a student at AMU but he was rusticated from the University. AMU had nothing to do with him now."He also underscored that three students have been suspended after a group of them attempted to gather inside the university premises following the death of the terrorist."Few students tried to hold a gathering today over his death but we have given a clear message that no anti-national activity will be tolerated in AMU. We did not allow them to gather and 3 students were also suspended," Hamid said.An encounter broke out on Thursday morning between security forces and terrorists in Shartgund Bala area of Qalamabad. Hizbul Mujahideen's top commander ...

DU introduces system for faculty members to update personal/professional details regularly

The Delhi University has introduced a new system for its faculty members to manage their personal and professional information and update it on a periodic basis, an official said. However, some professors have written to DU's vice-chancellor objecting to the administration asking teachers to provide Aadhaar details and other personal information in the application for the system called 'University Information Management System'. According to a DU official, the system is being implemented to bring uniformity in the format of faculty members' bio-data uploaded on the website. "Department heads and faculty members have been given an OTP to login to the system and upload their details. This will be a flexible system as they will be able to update their profile on a regular basis and will not have wait to update the database annually," the official said. For instance, if a professor has finished some research paper or completed an additional course, they would be able to update the details