School seeks 25mn dollars compensation to rebuild playing fields

K-12

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March 3, 2011

A school in Australia's Brisbane city has sought $25 million as compensation from the Brisbane City Council to rebuild its playing fields. Years after losing a huge tract of land to the Inner City Bypass, Brisbane Grammar School, one of the city's elite private schools, is facing the resumption of another oval to the Brisbane's newest tunnel – Northern Link tunnel, known as Legacy Way, the Courier-Mail reported. The proposed tunnel will run five km providing two two-lane links to the Airport Link and ultimately through to the Brisbane Airport. It is planned to open in the second half of 2014. The Brisbane Grammar School Board of Trustees' chairman, Howard Stack, in a letter to parents said what would be left of the playing fields after the second resumption would be “virtually worthless to us”. Stack said Queensland Rail had approved the school's engineering design for the new fields but the issue of funding was still being fought out with the council in the Land Court. The matter is listed for review and directions Friday.

Teachers worry as DU mulls semester for arts, commerce

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 3, 2011

The Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) and the university administration argued over the introduction of semester system in 13 science courses last year. They are now again disturbed over the semester system, as the varsity hopes to introduce it in humanities and commerce courses from the new academic year that begins in July. The teachers had opposed the switch from annual to semester mode citing reasons such as dilution of courses, lack of infrastructure and teachers. But, finally, after a court order in November 2010, the varsity adopted the semester for the science courses. The new vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh, who took charge in October, had said that all due process would be followed and teachers would be consulted before the semester system is introduced in humanities and commerce streams. The teachers, however, said they were not consulted while the courses were restructured, despite such assurances. And the department is yet to begin the process of restructuring the English syllabus. The vice-chancellor had called a meeting of all heads of departments to discuss the semester issue. They, in turn, were asked to meet the teacher in-charge in each college. However, in the meeting with their respective heads of departments, the English and the economics teachers in-charge demanded a general body meeting to discuss the new system. The history and philosophy teachers in their meeting rejected the semester system. An economics teacher said that at least substantial time is needed for proper syllabus revision, but on February 9, the V-C sent a letter to departments asking them to prepare an interim syllabus by March 4. The teacher further raised questions that how can something as serious as syllabus change is done in such a hurried manner? Vice-chancellor Singh, however, said no rules were violated. He explained that the university cannot run in dual mode. Hence, along with sciences, the humanities and commerce are also switching to semester this year. He further also said that there were no syllabus changes as of now, unless the department wants it. But, there will just be a simple bifurcation of syllabus at the moment, so that in the coming two-three years, the teachers can revise the courses properly. With the semester system, the workload will increase and hence more permanent positions will be created for teachers, the V-C said.

New Business Courses at Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University from new session

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) will now be introducing three new courses – MBA ( Hospitality Management ), MBA ( Financial Market ) and BBA ( Finanacial Market)- from the academic session 2011-12. Admission to the various courses will be conducted through 48 common entrance test (CET) this year for seats across 11 schools of the university and 103 affiliated institutes. MBA ( Financial Management) and BBA ( Finanacial Market) will be run in collaboration with the National Stock Exchange. The university is offering 20,000 seats this year for 85 programmes and it started its sale of form from Tuesday. GGSIPU is planning to conduct the CETs for its four most sought after courses-MBA, MBBS, BTech and MCA in 13 cities across India including Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bhopal, Jalandhar, Nagpur, Shimla, Muradabad, Hissar and Dehradun. For the remaining courses, the entrance test will be held only in Delhi. Applicants this year need to fill the admission form in his/her own handwriting, which will be further cross checked at various stages of admission process. Students will also be required to paste a bigger colour photograph with white background. D.K. Bandhopadyay said that this are all part of examination reforms carried out by the university to maintain transparency in the admission process. The admission forms are available at 44 designates branches of only Indian Bank-22 centers in Delhi and 22 outside Delhi. Students can also submit the CET application form online, along with the CET fee, at http://ipu.admissionhelp.com and the last date is April 25, 2011.

900% fee hike by McGill University fuels anger

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

Canada's world-famous McGill University, which is the first-choice destination for Indian and other foreign students seeking to study in this country, faces fine for 900 percent hike in tuition fee for its MBA programme. The Montreal-based university had announced last spring to raise the tuition fee from $1,673 per semester to $29,500 a year for its two-year MBA programme. While students earned an MBA degree until now by paying just about $6700, they will now have to shell out $59,000 to earn the degree. The university said the hike was aimed at self-funding the MBA programme, rather than banking on government subsidies. The government of Quebec province has been giving $28,000 per student to the university to subsidize their education. McGill started charging the hiked fee from this year. Cracking the whip on its famous university, the Quebec government says McGill will be fined for flouting the limit imposed on tuition fee. Education Minister Line Beauchamp was quoted as saying Tuesday that McGill would face the music for its massive fee hikes that go well beyond the provincial limit of $1,673 per semester. Tuition fees in Canada's French-speaking Quebec province are lower than other jurisdictions in Canada because the provincial government imposed a freeze on hike for 15 years. With the freeze time lapsing in February last year, McGill announced the 900-percent hike in tuition fee for its highly popular MBA programme. Though their numbers are not known, McGill is the first-choice university for Indian students coming to Canada. There are only about 3,500 Indian students currently studying in Canada, but their numbers are set to rise steeply as Canadian universities and colleges increase enrollment from India. More than 36,000 students from nearly 150 countries study at McGill University which offers about 300 study programmes on its two campuses in Montreal.

CBSE board exams on, physics paper disappoints students

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations started on Tuesday on a disappointing note to many, with several class-12 students complaining that the physics paper was too lengthy to finish in three hours. According to students, the physics paper, though easy, could not be completed as the questions marked 2 and 5 were a bit too lengthy. “The paper was easy but lengthy and I could attempt only 70 percent of the questions,” said a nervous looking Ankit Kumar, a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in the capital. Some of the students found the questions twisted. “There were no direct questions and we had to draw graphs in several questions. It took a long time. I only wish the other papers are not too lengthy,” Rajul Pandey, a student of Balwant Rai Mehta Vidya Bhawan in Greater Kailash II. According to teachers, students were not satisfied with their performance on the first day. “My students are really not happy. Most of them could not attempt all the questions,” said Asha Singh, physics teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya, JNU. Parents accompanying their wards were also seen trying to calm them down after the examination. “I told my son to forget the physics paper and start preparing for the March 7 chemistry paper. I hope he does well from now on,” Manisha Singh, mother of a class-12 student, said. Some residential schools held prayer meetings for students appearing for the board exams. “Before the start of the exams, we held a prayer meeting in the school and students chanted the 'Saraswati Mantra',” said a psychologist-cum-counselor with a residential school in south Delhi. Over 1.8 million students are sitting for the board examinations across the country and abroad. This year, 1,061,566 students of Class 10 will appear for continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) under the CBSE. As many as 769,929 students – 454,131 boys and 315,798 girls – are appearing for class 12 board exams.

Mumbai Court verdict offers respite to 52 PGDM institutes on AICTE Notification

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

The Mumbai Court has offered its interim verdict on the recent AICTE Notification. The verdict came in favour of two petitioners

J&K govt warns college teachers taking private tuitions

Policy Matters

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

The state government of Jammu and Kashmir has warned college teachers taking private tuitions. The government said strict action will be taken against teachers who are giving private tuitions, in view of the blanket ban on such practice in the state. “Strict action shall be taken against those who indulge in private tuitions as government has imposed a blanket ban on private tuition by college teachers,” an official spokesman said. Though the government has allowed government school teachers and lecturers to take private tuitions, “No school teacher shall be allowed to take private tuitions during school hours,” he said. According to government estimates, there are 72 private coaching centres in Kashmir valley where nearly 30,000 students are enrolled each year.

Bhagalpur University Prof suspended on molestation charge

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

Prof Manish Chandra Verma is suspended by the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University administration in Patna. The professor has been suspended on the basis of an interim probe report on allegations of sexual harassment of a research scholar by him. Verma who is a senior teacher in the university is accused of harassing a PhD scholar. The scholar also lodged a complaint with police besides making a representation to the SP in January 2011. She has written to the governor-cum-chancellor of the universities, the Chief Justice of India and various rights bodies. After the issue came to the fore the university authorities constituted a probe panel to look into the issue. It comprised of five Deans of Faculties and proctor Ratna Mukherjee. TMBU public relations officer Iqbal Ahmed said the teacher was suspended on March 1, 2011 on the basis of the probe panel's interim report. The suspended teacher has been transferred to Murarka College at Sultanganj till the panel submits its final report; Ahmed said and refused to divulge the contents of the “confidential” interim report. He also informed that the university administration has nominated three more women members to the probe panel. They are Harpal Kaur, Kiran Singh and Archana Kumari. Kaur and Singh are members of the university syndicate. Meanwhile, the suspension has evoked protests from the teachers' body. University Department Teachers Association secretary Dr Jagdhar Mandal said the association seeks withdrawal of the suspension order till the probe is completed. “You cannot punish anyone till the accusations against him are proved,” he said. Police, meanwhile, have registered a case under different IPC Sections and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the teacher.

IGNOU provides healthy space for faculty

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has claimed that In the past four years, the university has not only doubled its student strength, but has also contributed significantly to the nation's knowledge pool. It has, at the same time, ensured that its faculty is provided with the best of facilities to pursue research and remain at the vanguard of the academic community. The period between 2006-07 and 2009-10 saw student strength rise from 1.5 million to over 3 million and the number of programmes on offer go up from 129 to 486. The Open University claims that it has strived to become a more academically vibrant space. It has invested in academics, ensures that the faculty enjoys significant career growth. It has also encouraged research amongst its faculty members, the publication of papers and participation in seminars and conferences. This was not just limited to existing faculty, but to consultants and researchers as well. The strength of faculty

Nursery admission Criteria for Delhi schools to be out soon

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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March 2, 2011

Government of Delhi announced on Wednesday that schools will be allowed to set the criteria for nursery admissions but said they must reserve a quarter of their seats for poor families. Parents, however, feared the freedom will be misused. Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, while making the announcement mentioned that 25% of the nursery seats have to be reserved for children of those parents, whose annual income is less than `100,000. Schools can randomly select from applicants in this category.

As for the remaining 75%, Lovely mentioned that the schools will be free to formulate their policy for admission but it should include criteria for categorizsation of the applicants. He also described that there should not be profiling of the child based on the parents' educational qualification and income. The parents, however, had doubts over the implementation. According to the guidelines, all the schools – both which are built on government land and others – will have to reserve 25% of their seats for the poor. At present, schools built on government land provide a quota of 15% to the economically weaker sections. Delhi has around 2,000 schools. The admission process will begin on January 1, 2011 and will be completed by March 31, 2011.

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