King Hamad ICT awards presented at Paris

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January 15, 2009

Under His Majesty's patronage, the Unesco-King Hamad Award for the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education, were presented at a glittering ceremony at the world body's headquarters in Paris yesterday. The King deputised Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi to attend the celebration. Unesco Director-General Koichiro Matsuura praised the Royal initiative and hailed Bahrain's efforts to upgrade education in line with the Millennium's Goals.

He also praised Bahrain's co-operation with Unesco to achieve common objectives. Senior Unesco officials, Bahraini Ambassador to France Nasser Al Balushi, representatives from member countries, among others, were present. He praised His Majesty's continuous follow-up and support to education and thanked the international jury for the efforts in selecting the winners. The Shanghai TV University won the first place for building a digital lifelong learning system in Shanghai. Dr Hoda Baraka, of the Egyptian Communications and IT Ministry, received the award for her leadership in the implementation of several educational projects. Honourable mentions were given to the Schools Online Curriculum Services of Western Australia's department of education and training and the 'one laptop per child programme' of the Education Ministry of Peru. The event featured a documentary on Bahrain and its achievements, especially in education and switchover to e-education through His Majesty's Future Schools Project, and an exhibition on the kingdom.

Two lakh Bihar teachers Underpaid

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 15, 2009

A group of school teachers in Bihar, some of them even holding post-graduate degrees, will draw a salary less than that of peons after the state government's announcement of new pay scales for its employees. There is a Rs 4,000 gap between the minimum salary drawn by a primary school teachers of the group, appointed on a consolidated salary, and the fourth grade employees. Teachers of 10+2 schools in the group also draw Rs 1,000 less than the peon. The Bihar Government had on December 23 implemented revised pay-scales in consonance with the recommendations of the 6^th pay panel for its nearly 4.5 lakh employees and 3.42 lakh pensioners. The new scales will take effect soon.

While implementing the new pay-scales, the government did not heed the grievances of the two lakh teachers from primary to plus-two level appointed on fixed pay ranging from INR 4,000 to INR7,000, the group had lamented. State's Human Resources Development Minister Harinarayan Singh said the 'dynamic leadership' of the state will take up issue to contain the widespread resentment among these teachers.

Becta urges school to use technology

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 14, 2009

Schools have been urged to use technology both in their everyday operations and in the education process by the British schools IT agency (Becta). Yesterday the agency unveiled its Next Generation Learning Charter, which focuses on 'giving pupils an enriched and enhanced learning experience through the use of technology.'

Schools will be encouraged to sign up to the charter to improve their educational processes. By signing the charter, they will have to meet certain expectations over the next three years including developing a shared vision for the use of technology and the greater integration of ICT and technology into the curriculum to enhance learning and support. The charter's mission is that through the use of technology students will improve learning and progress in the education process.

Boards make a big hole in parents

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 14, 2009

If you thought only IIT, PMT or CAT preparation costs a fortune, sample this. Preparing for CBSE Boards alone can cost anything between INR 5,000 and INR 1.5 lakh these days. A student's tuitions , sample papers, reference material and other facilities like internet and printing cartridges all add up to an exorbitant amount. And, parents don't mind spending over and above the school fees for that 'good' aggregate. Manju Tripathi, whose son studies in Class XII in Naval Public School, pays around INR 500 per hour for her son's private tuitions. 'Education is expensive. We don't mind paying because a good percentage will only help my son get into a good college. But it hurts to see tuitions become so commercial and the tutors are not dedicated,' said Tripathi.

The cost of helping their child gear up for Boards has gone beyond limits for many couples, specially those who are single-earners . But since a good aggregate is 'indispensable' and school teaching is hardly sufficient, some parents even take a loan to bear the expenses . Peer pressure also comes in play for parents as they want their child's preparation to be better than their friends' child.

Intel delivers programmes in 50 countries

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 14, 2009

The Intel

Enrollment is not Equal to Education

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 14, 2009

Pratham, the non-governmental organisation engaged in education, has come out with its fourth Annual Status of Education Report (Aser) for rural India. The results are as interesting as in previous years: there is a steady increase in school enrolment and attendance, but not much (if any) improvement in the level of education attained. Drop-out levels remain high, and the majority of students in Class V are unable to do the work that they should have mastered three classes earlier. These are decidedly mixed results when there has been massive recruitment of teachers, and more money spent under a variety of schemes, including the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan for building the physical infrastructure for schools.

IIT-M turns down Right To Information plea

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 14, 2009

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has taken a position different from the other IITs in a case under the Right to Information Act. IIT, Madras has imposed a blanket ban on providing information under RTI to the media. In a reply to similar RTI applications filed in all seven IITs, IIT-M said the information sought could not be provided because a journalist represents a media organisation and the RTI doesn't allow providing information to a company Quoting section 3 of the RTI Act, the Public Information Officer and Registrar of IIT-M, said, 'since you're representing the press, the information asked for can't be furnished to you.'

To buttress its case, IIT-M also provided a copy of a Central Information Commission order stating that a company cannot seek information under the RTI Act under its name. This has not been clearly stated in the law but the CIC said since the law provides the right only to citizens, companies could not seek the information directly. What IIT-M overlooked was that several CIC orders had said a citizen working in a company has a right to seek information. These observations were made by CIC in appeals where the PIOs rejected RTI applications on similar grounds.

Government balm for school fee hike

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 14, 2009

Delhi government has assured that the hike, when it is worked out, will not amount to more than Rs 150-200 on an average. 'In some cases it may be as low as INR50. In case of schools that already charge a high fee and have cash reserves in excess of its expenses, there may be no hike,' a highly placed government source told HT.

The five-member committee headed by former bureaucrat S.L. Bansal that Delhi government set up to look into the private schools' de- mand for higher tuition fee submitted its report on Tuesday recommending a cap of Rs 500 on any hike. The government plans to fine-tune this further and prepare a system for fee increase that will not only consider a parents' income, but also a school's assets and income while deciding the hike. 'Of the 1,500-odd private recognised schools, 800 have said they don't want a hike as their students would not be able to afford it. Only about 200 schools are asking for a substantial hike. The government will study their cases individually to ascertain how much they really need to hike,' said the source. The remaining 500 do not want substantial hikes. Schools and parents have reacted differently to the Bansal Committee recommendations and the government's reactions.

IGNOU to set up a Centre on corporate training

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 13, 2009

Corporate training is now an essential component of almost of companies under the Human Resource Management work domain.

The regular problem of attrition and new recruits in companies has created a need for regular training sessions and knowledge of corporate management. IGNOU keeping the needs in mind has launched its new initiative under the Centre for Corporate Education, Training and Consultancy' to develop programmes on corporate education consistent with the requirements of the corporate sector and industry.

The centre will educate human resources, boost their capacity and train them on-the-job in an industry set-up. It will also develop insights into corporate management, governance practices, strategy formulation and related law, besides their delivery mechanism among others. Apart from an educational facet the Centre will provide consultancy to l educate human resources, boost their capacity and train themselves on-the-job in an industry set-up. It will also develop insights into corporate management, governance practices, strategy formulation and related law, besides their delivery mechanism amongst others.

Digital Library for Nagpur schools

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 13, 2009

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) keeping the growing need for computer literacy has initiatied computer training for school students in the city.

NMC in collaboration with Everonn Systems India and Computer Business Management would offer computer training in schools and assist students to appear for the Maharashtra State Board for Technical Education (MSCIT) examination, a compulsory certification required for job seekers in Maharashtra.

NMC education committee chairman Kailash Chute informed that the partnership will see installation of over 1,500 computers in 220 schools which can also be used for providing computer education to dropout school students and illiterate students while employees of civic body and women self help group members will be trained in nominal fees.”
Further we have planned to rope in NGOs for rejuvenating adult literacy programme in city.

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