To avert a major admissions crisis this September, mobile classrooms are being installed in playgrounds as the council of England is forced to expand schools. The necessity of this process is reportedly because of the rise in birth rate and influx of migrants in some areas. To top it all, the problem seems to reach its crisis point in the next four years as the students aged between four to five continue to grow. In London, where the pressure is most acute, some 64,500 primary school places are needed, while Bristol must create another 3,000 reception places. Other towns and cities such as Swindon, Luton, Southend, Coventry, Rotherham, Bournemouth, Darlington, Poole, Eastbourne and Leeds confirmed they planned to create extra capacity in the local area. Essex said 420 places were needed over the next four years at a cost of
Foreign students more in demand in Europe
With four Indian students qualifying for Gates scholarship in Cambridge University, top institutions of Europe are looking to double the number of foreign students, especially undergraduates. While Durham has plans of 97 per cent rise in international students, Exeter is proposing a 73 per cent increase across some colleges. As the tuition is subsidised by the taxpayers, government-controlled universities can now be able to recruit from Britain and European Union member states, but as fees are capped at
‘Ethical’ MBA in demand
The new Green MBA programme at Marbella University is likely to offer a graduate degree with an answer to have educated its students with knowledge of true ethics. The MBA programs entail a vanguard approach to international business with a strong focus on 'human factors' and the complexity of today's global business world as its home page reflects strong negativity — lies, deceit, cheats, fraud, seduction, manipulation and distortion
1 year over, RTE still a dream for four lakh Delhi kids
After a year Right to Education Act (RTE) was implemented, Delhi still has more than for lakh poor children who don't go to school. Implemented in April 1 2010, as per RTE, it is mandatory for the government to provide free and compulsory education to children in the age group of 6 to 14 years. The negative attitude of private schools and the lack of coordination among government departments has lead to a situation like today's, reported Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR). The commission received 12,400 complaints from children last year, out of which over 9,000 complaints were from children belonging to economically weaker sections. These children were denied admission by private schools on flimsy grounds. 96 complaints were from children who were denied admission under the quota for poor children (as per the RTE Act, all private schools are suppose to reserve 25% seats for economically weaker children). While 329 children could not go to school because of the extra fees demanded by school authorities, 268 poor children had to discontinue their studies because their schools hiked their fees. “Almost all the complaints we received were from children belonging to poor families and concerned private schools. So far, around 60% of the complaints have been solved and the rest are under process. However, we have our limitations and cannot take direct actions against the schools,” said Satyendra Bhardwaj, media manager of DCPCR. The commission claims to have addressed 3,219 cases out of 9,789 complaints about private schools refusing to give admission to poor children. The commission has a helpline number (011-23862686) and divides the children's complaints into 20 categories. “Lack of cooperation from various government departments is a major reason behind children staying out of school. There have been numerous cases in which the government has either delayed or denied action. However, there are other problems such as fewer schools in largely populated areas like Sangam Vihar and no identification records amongst children from below poverty line families,” added Bhardwaj. When asked about this sorry state of affairs, Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, “Private schools are bound to enrol children from weaker sections and disadvantaged communities in their incoming class to the extent of 25% of their enrolment by simple random selection. No seats in this quota can be left vacant. We have not received any complaints so far, but will take stern action in case a school defaults.”
Haryana to implement 3-tier education system
Haryana Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal said three tier system of education would be implemented in the state to further improve the quality of education. Interacting with reporters after paying obeisance at Shri Mata Mansa Devi at Panchkula near here, she said some organisations were opposing the implementation of this system and a meeting had already been held with their representatives to resolve the issue. She greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Navratas and prayed for their well-being and prosperity. She appreciated the Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula for making all necessary arrangements for the devotees coming from various parts of the country In reply to a question, Ms Bhukkal said the state government was committed to providing qualitative education to the students, adding that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda various schemes had been implemented to provide quality education to the students. She said Haryana was emerging as an Education Hub. Right to Education was also being implemented in the state to raise the standard of education, she added.
Creating a new paradigm in agriculture
There has been substantial growth in agricultural productivity in India after the dawn of Independence. We adopted diverse methods of scientific agriculture for achieving this progress. Many strategies were based on the fruits of agricultural research undertaken under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The stories of Indian famines are a thing of the past. The saga of the Green Revolution is a matter of pride for us. But we have to go further ahead. It is often said that the share of agriculture in the economic growth of the country shows a downward trend, despite the fact that the majority of our work force is engaged in agriculture. We have to improve our agricultural productivity, maintaining the environment for sustainable development. Given the fixity of land, research in agriculture is the key factor for enhancing productivity. Efforts have to be participatory, since the implementation of research findings depends to a large extent on the approach of farmers. 'Farmer First' is the vibrant slogan in any activity related to agriculture. ICAR plays a major role in facing the complex challenges in the field. It keeps a committed drive for positive steps including R&D, and technological innovations.
Indian gems win Gates Scholarship at Cambridge
Altogether four Indians have won the esteemed Gates Scholarship for post-graduates studies at the Cambridge University. Sukrit Silas from Delhi will study for a Ph.D. in Pathology as would Bangalore-born Divya Venkatesh. Raghu Mahajan from Chandigarh will do Part 3 of the Mathematical Tripos and hopes to go on to do a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics while Anand Shrivastava, a product of IIT Madras, will study for an M.Phil. in Economics. The university, describing them as the “world's most brilliant students”, said they were selected from among the several thousands from 29 countries who applied for the scholarship set up in 2000. It enables academically gifted postgraduates with a strong interest in social leadership and responsibility to study at Cambridge. “This is an outstanding group of young men and women with a wide range of backgrounds, interests and career trajectories; what binds them together is a desire to 'give back' by using their education and leadership to tackle global problems and improve the lives of others. We are sure they will make significant contributions in the future,” said Professor Robert Lethbridge, Provost (CEO) of the Gates Cambridge Trust.
IIMA launches management executive course
The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, (IIMA) has recently started an one year Post Graduate Programme in Management for executives with 102 students chosen after an elaborate selection process. The sixth batch of IIM's PGPX (2011-12) was inaugurated by Prof B H Jajoo, Dean, IIM-A. Incoming students, their family members and the IIM-A faculty members attended the inauguration, an IIM-A release said. The students were briefed about the programme structure and about various courses offered by different areas during the extended inaugural session. The batch has an impressive profile with average GMAT score of 714, average age of around 34 years, average total work experience of 10 years and average international work experience of about 4.5 years.
SC grants 10-week span for to recommend deemed univs
The Centre has recently been allotted a ten-week span by the Supreme Court to recommend the status of the 44 deemed varsities which off late had been facing de-recognition for failing to maintain proper academic standards. Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma granted the additional time while directing reconstitution of the three-member panel appointed by the government to examine the recommendations of the high-powered Prof. P.N. Tandon committee which sought de-recognition of these varsities. The apex court, which was initially scheduled to hear the case on May 3, adjourned it till July 19 after Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising sought 10 weeks time for placing the recommendations. The three-member reconstituted panel would hear within six weeks the objections raised by the 44 aggrieved universities against the Tandon committee's recommendations and submit its own findings to the government.
Entrance for NDA Exam on Aug 21
Aspirants for a career in the Army, Navy or Air Force as Class 1 Commissioned Officer should pull up their socks as the entrance exam for the National Defence Academy (NDA), conducted by the UPSC, will be held on August 21. The final year intermediate education 2011-12 students or those who have taken the final examination in March last are eligible to take this objective examination which is meant only for men. The eligibility criteria also include specification of age limit and boys born between July 2, 1993 and January 1, 1996 (both dates inclusive) can apply. They should have passed 10+2 or they should be in final year or those likely to appear for final exams in March 2012. The last date for the application is May 09, 2011.
