Page 418 - Education
Over 1 lakh students quit BMC schools for lack of class 8?
A city-based activist has filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) claiming that over one lakh students of BMC-run schools have dropped out for lack of class 8 in many schools. Acting on the complaint of Ghanshyam Sonar, the NCPCR has directed the Maharashtra Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) chairperson to look into the matter. Sonar today said as per the information obtained by him from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) through RTI queries, as many as 1017 rpt 1017 schools out of the total 1,195 schools do not have class 8 facility. "As per the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for the year 2017-18, the BMC had 1195 schools for class 1 to 12. Out of them, 167 schools have a provision for class 1 to 4 while 850 schools for class I to 7. A total of 1017 schools do not have the facility for class 8," he said. During 2003-04 to 2009-10, over one lakh students dropped out .
CBSE Paper leak: Three more accused sent to judicial custody
The Delhi Karkardooma Court on Thursday sent three more accused in CBSE Paper leak case has been sent to judicial custody.On April 4, The Centre formed a panel to examine the conduction of examinations and suggest measures to handle the same.This decision from the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry comes days after Class 10 Mathematics and Class 12 Economics board papers were leaked online on March 28 and 26 respectively.The CBSE had earlier announced to re-conduct the examination of Class 10 Mathematics in Delhi NCR and Haryana and Class 12 Economics paper; however, the education board later decided not to conduct the Maths paper.A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice S. A. Bobde dismissed five petitions over CBSE paper leaks after not finding any merit in their respective pleas.
MPs seek HRD Minister's intervention in JNU quota policy
Parliamentarians from across parties on Thursday urged Human Resource Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, to intervene in the alleged bypassing of reservation system for SCs, STs and OBCs at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
More students opting for science subjects: HRD
There has been an increase in the number of students opting for science subjects at the higher secondary level, the HRD ministry said today. "As per Unified District Information System on Education (UDISE) 2015-16, there has been an increase in the enrolment of students in science subjects at the higher secondary level from 62.18 lakh in 2014-15 to 79.52 lakh in 2015-16," the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Upendra Kushwaha, said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha. Kushwaha informed the Upper House that the HRD ministry had in 2015 launched the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA), a convergent framework to encourage children to learn science and mathematics. "The Niti Aayog is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India under the Atal Innovation Mission. The objective of the scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning,
MPs write to Javadekar to restore reservation policy in JNU
More than 30 parliamentarians today wrote to Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking his intervention to mend the alleged violation of reservation policy in Jawaharlal Nehru University. The MPs from both Houses of Parliament belong to the CPI(M), CPI, Congress, NCP, RJD and the YSRCP. The letter said, "Clauses in the Admission Policy and Procedure 2018-19 (Annexure 1) has made written examination a qualifying paper and Viva the sole criteria for selection." "A committee constituted by the varsity in 2016 to study discrimination in the admission process recommended reduction of Viva marks from 30 to 15 to mitigate the discrimination pattern. This shows that the varsity has violated fundamental rights, Central Education Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act 2006 and SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989," the letter said. Yesterday, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) petitioned Lok Sabha to restore reservation benefits awarded to students belonging to backward ...
Medical colleges to have P-G courses from academic year 2020-21
All existing medical colleges will have to start P-G courses from academic year 2020-21, according to amendments made to the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, of the Medical Council of India (MCI). The regulations will also apply to new medical colleges, besides dealing with existing private and government colleges, and they will have to start P-G courses within three years of receiving recognition for running undergraduate courses. Institutions failing to do so will lose their recognition, a senior Health Ministry official said. The ministry has approved the amendments and the new regulations would to be notified soon. "The move is aimed at addressing the scarcity of doctors in the country. Once the amendments get implemented, around 10,000 post-graduate seats would be created over the next four years," the official said. The official said medical colleges will have to apply for new seats for starting P-G courses. The MCI will conduct an inspection before giving its .
Women tend to underestimate their intelligence
Women tend to underestimate their intelligence while men perceive themselves as smarter, even when their academic grades are similar, a first-of-its-kind study has found. The study shows that gender greatly impacts students' perceptions of their own intelligence, particularly when they compare themselves to others. Katelyn Cooper, a doctoral student in the Arizona State University in the US talked with hundreds of students as an academic adviser and those conversations led to this research. "I would ask students about how their classes were going and I noticed a trend," said Cooper, lead author of the study published in the journal Advances in Physiology Education. "Over and over again, women would tell me that they were afraid that other students thought that they were 'stupid'. I never heard this from the men in those same biology classes, so I wanted to study it," she said. Researchers asked college students enrolled in a 250-person biology course about their ...
Bihar education official caught while accepting bribe
An education department official in Bihar was today caught by vigilance sleuths while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 65,000 in East Champaran district, a vigilance official said. Acting on a tip-off, a vigilance team arrested Block Education Officer Binda Ram, posted in Pakdidayal block of the district, against whom a middle school teacher Krishna Dev Ram had lodged a complaint, SP Vigilance Shiv Kumar Jha said. The teacher had alleged that payment of his seven months' salary was due and the BEO had demanded the sum for clearing his arrears, the SP said adding that the arrested official has been taken to Patna where he would be produced before a designated court.
Newcastle University students to visit Indian villages for academic research
Students from Newcastle University in Britain will visit remote villages in India to conduct their research on various educational reform projects run by Bharti Foundation.The findings of their research will be used to further develop and enhance ongoing programs, impacting more than 1.5 million community members across rural India.Bharti Foundation's education program currently reaches out to over 300,000 students through over 2,100 schools /centres, engaging close to 13,000 teachers across 13 Indian states.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Newcastle University in the area of student's internship and joint academic research was signed.Professor Richard Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University, said, "We welcome Bharti Foundation's support, which helps our students to gain exposure to their education initiatives. Such initiatives have proven to be very successful and sustainable models to enhance the quality of education in rural India. We believe this will be a ...
Asian-American group sue Harvard over discrimination
A group of Asian-American was suing Harvard University, saying that admission files showed a pattern of discrimination against the community that goes back decades, the media reported.
Shortage of teachers a matter of concern: Rajasthan Guv
Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh expressed concern over shortage of teachers in universities and said in such a scenario, imparting qualitative education to students is a major challenge. Stressing on the need for introducing skill-based courses in universities, he called upon the youth to avail various government schemes for creating skill-based employment opportunities. Addressing the the fifth convocation ceremony of the University of Kota here, the governor said the universities should introduce skill development courses. Regarding the shortage of teaching faculty, he said the recruitment process in universities has got stuck in several complexities, including delay in issuance of appointment orders, complaints and stay orders. Also, some of the universities do not have the number of posts as per UGC norms, Sing said, adding in such a scenario, imparting qualitative education to students is a big challenge. At the convocation ceremony, the governor awarded 56 PhD degrees, 1 ...
Cabinet appraised about India, Canada MoU on academic exchange
The Union Cabinet was today appraised about an MoU signed between India and Canada for enabling researchers from both the countries to undertake graduate-level academic research mobility and encourage cross-border industry-academic cooperation, a statement said. The memorandum of understanding was signed on February 21. Under the graduate-level academic research mobility programme, both the sides intend to support up to 110 masters students and PhD researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for a three-year period from eligible universities in India to participate in 12 to 24 weeks of research with Canadian universities and research laboratories, it said. The same number of researchers from Canadian universities will also participate in 12 to 24 week programme with research laboratories and eligible Indian universities. Under the cross-border industry-academic cooperation, up to 40 masters students and PhD researchers from each side for a three-year period .
Bill paving way for appointment of chief whip and deputy chief whip in Himachal Assembly
For the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, a bill paving the way for the appointment of a chief whip with salary on par with cabinet ministers and ministers of state was introduced in the state assembly today. The Salaries, Allowances and Other Benefits of the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip in the State Assembly of Himachal Pradesh Bill, 2018, introduced by Chief Minister Jairam Thakur proposed that the chief whip be entitled to receive salary and allowances admissible to a cabinet minister while the deputy chief whip to salary and allowances on par with a minister of state. Appointments to the posts of the chief whip and the deputy chief whip are likely to be made after the bill is passed. A bill for setting up a "cluster university" in Mandi was introduced by Education Minister Suresh Bharadwaj. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cluster University, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2018 provides for setting up the cluster university, ...
U'khand CM launches drive to transform public schools
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today launched a transformation campaign to improve the standard of education in government schools of the state. The main purpose of the campaign launched in Almora was to start smart classes in government schools and equip these institutions with all basic facilities required by students, including safe buildings, clean drinking water, furniture, fans, heaters, sports material and computers, an official said. He emphasised on the need to motivate teachers who could play a key role in helping the drive achieve its goals by encouraging creativity among students and inculcating human emotions in them, he added. The chief minister also announced the opening of one model school each in Kumaon and Garhwal regions to provide quality education to the poor and underprivileged children of classes 6 to 12, the official said. In Kumaon circle this model school will be opened in Almora, he said. Rawat asked the district administration to send a ...
SC holds Karnataka's domicile criteria for PGET-18 invalid
In a big relief to students from outsid, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held invalid a criteria in the notification issued by Karnataka making mandatory a condition of domicile on candidate for admission to post-graduate medical and dental courses in the state.
Nitish inaugurates Bihar State Education Finance Corporation
The Bihar State Education Finance Corporation, set up with a view to providing a boost the state's ambitious "students credit card" scheme, was inaugurated here today by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said "the students credit card scheme aims at raising the state's gross enrollment ratio for higher studies, which is currently 14.3 per cent as against the national average of 24 per cent. We intend to raise it to at least 30 per cent". Students credit card scheme forms a part of "seven resolves" of good governance pursued by Nitish Kumar government. The programme provides interest free loan of up to Rs four lakh to students to carry higher studies. "The students's credit card scheme is different from, and much wider in its scope than, education loans provided by banks. These loans are provided to only those opting for professional courses. This scheme is, on the other hand, available to all - even those pursuing BA, B.Sc or ...
Three students booked for insulting Principal
Police today registered a case against three students of a private college here in connection with the incident of bursting crackers and paying 'homage' to the college Principal, who will retire in May this year. The case was registered against Mohammed Aziz, Praveen M P and Sharat Damodaran, all second year students of the Nehru college, on the basis of a written complaint by the Principal P V Pushapaja. Members of the pro CPI(M) Students Federation of India (SFI) had burst crackers, rejoicing at her retirement and humiliated her by paying her 'homage' last week by putting up a poster offering 'condolences' to a teacher "who had died in the hearts of students." The Principal, who went personally to the police station to lodge her complaint, sought action against the students who had caused her 'mental agony' and 'insulted' her by their action, police said. Taking a serious view of the incident, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had informed the state assembly that
Ker assembly passes bill to regularise students' admission
The Kerala Assembly today adopted the Kerala Professional Colleges (Regularisation of Admission in Medical Colleges) Bill 2018 to regularise admissions made in certain medical colleges during 2016-17. The legislation in effect regularises the admission of about 180 students of the private Karuna Medical College, Palakkad, and Kannur Medical College, Anajarakandy. The Admission Supervisory Committee had cancelled the admissions after it found that these two colleges had admitted students in flagrant violation of norms. The High Court and Supreme Court had upheld its decision. The government brought the legislation to overcome the situation with a view that students should not be victimised. The bill was tabled by Health Minister K K Shaylaja. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said they were supporting the legislation considering the students' future and added that it was not to protect vested interest groups. Later the House adjourned sine-die after more than a two-week
Jammu university students call off strike
The ongoing strike by students in the University of Jammu was called off today after the authorities revoked suspension of five student and discussed demands raised by various student groups. A committee formed by the university and the student representatives unanimously agreed that the ongoing agitation had taken a shape that was undesirable and had no direction, a spokesman of the university said. Both parties agreed that it was in the interest of the entire university community and that the strike should be brought to an end, he added. The members of the committee and the students' representatives also agreed that the demands raised by the students with respect to university infrastructure and facilities were legitimate and the same should be provided in the shortest possible time, the spokesman said. On March 22, the university authorities had suspended five students and registered a police complaint against them for allegedly ransacking the Dean Students Welfare (DSW) office ...
Student's suicide: Child Rights commission registers case
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights today on its own registered a case in connection with the death of a student who had allegedly ended his life after school authorities reportedly decided not to promote him to the 10th standard. The commission in a press release said the parents of the student had been summoned by the private school management and they were asked to shift the boy to another school. The boy committed suicide fearing that the school would not promote him to the 10th standard next year, police said. School authorities, however, told TV channels that no such decision had been taken. According to reports, the school management had decided not to promote 12 students to the tenth standard to ensure 100 per cent pass percentage in the SSLC exam. Some activists of the CPI(M) backed Students Federation of India allegedly vandalised the school at Pambady in Kottayam district following the student's suicide on Sunday last.
