Cabinet nods for MoU between ICAI, Netherlands’ VRC

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November 25, 2020

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Netherlands-based Vereniging van Registercontrollers (VRC).

The MoU would help in strengthening and development of accounting, financial and audit knowledge base between the Netherlands and India, according to an official release. “The engagement between the premier institutes of both the countries would help to generate greater employment opportunities for Indian chartered accountants and also greater remittances back to India,” it added. VRC is a voluntary professional organisation and members offer services in management accounting, financial accounting, integrated reporting, strategic control and risk management, and corporate governance.

Also read: ICAI to SC: Will assess feasibility of conducting CA exams

ICAI, the chartered accountants’ apex body, has over 1,500 members in the European region and around 80 members in the Netherlands. “The contemplated MoU, for providing assistance to VRC, the Netherlands, shall benefit the ICAI members in the region and would provide an additional impetus to prospects of the ICAI members to get professional opportunities in the Netherlands,” said.

upGrad acquires The Gate Academy (TGA)

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November 25, 2020

Ed-tech firm upGrad, has acquired The Gate Academy (TGA) for an undisclosed amount. The new move will help the company establish its presence in the Rs 40,000 crore test preparation market in the country.

upGrad also plans to invest over Rs 100 crore into the test preparation business and will develop over 20,000 hours of content in multiple languages to provide access to at least one million test-takers annually.

Bengaluru-based TGA operates 57 coaching centres across the country and has had 76 million video hours consumed by its almost two lakh-enrolled learners for GATE and other entrance tests for various public/government sector jobs.

Also read: Fintech firm Eduvanz acquires edtech startup Klarity

upGrad Co-founders Ronnie Screwvala and Mayank Kumar, in a joint statement, said the acquisition of TGA provides upGrad a non-linear growth opportunity in a new segment entry, and deeper penetration in the semi-urban and rural markets.

“…(This) is in line with our core vision of making Bharat employable by adopting the mantra of lifelong learning. With every strategic move, we are ensuring that upGrad leads from the front as India emerges as the teaching capital of the world,” they said.

The company cited industry data to state that just the government exam prep market sees around 40 million applicants every year spending in a range of Rs 10,000.

This opens a new Rs 40,000 crore market for the company, it added. Post the acquisition, TGA will operate as a subsidiary of upGrad and will continue with its brand name.

TGA founder Ritesh Raushan will take on the role of CEO of the subsidiary to build this business line with upGrad providing its proprietary online learning solution and tools as well as sales, marketing, and content.

Sisodia: No chance of Delhi schools resuming soon

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November 25, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said schools in the national capital which are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic are unlikely to reopen until a vaccine is available.

Universities and schools across the country were closed on March 16, when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“Until we get some vaccine, schools (in Delhi) are not likely to open,” Sisodia, who is also Delhi’s Education Minister, told. He had announced on October 30 that schools will remain closed until further orders, saying parents were not in favour of sending their ward to schools yet.

Also read: Sanskrit should play a role in nation building: Manish Sisodia

“We keep getting feedback from parents that they are really concerned about whether it is safe to reopen schools. It is not. Wherever schools have reopened, COVID-19 cases among children have risen. So we have decided that as of now schools in the national capital will not reopen. They will continue to be closed till further orders,” Sisodia had said then.

A nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25. While several restrictions have been eased in different ‘unlock’ phases, educational institutions continue to remain closed.

According to ‘Unlock 5’ guidelines, states can take a call on reopening schools in phases. Several states also began the process of reopening schools. While some of them announced closure again due to rise in coronavirus cases.

Elets Technomedia to organize 17th World Education Summit & Awards 2020

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November 25, 2020

Higher education has offered distance instruction as an option for decades. With Corona pandemic, many colleges have suddenly shifted to a forced kind of distance education—to keep teaching while everyone stays at least six feet apart to avoid spreading the virus.

That is raising tough questions for Higher Education Institutions: What is the best way to rapidly spin up online courses or deliver exams online? How can colleges ensure that all students have access to the technology needed for remote studies? What happens if the health crisis extends into the fall?

In this unprecedented moment, college leaders and professors are stepping up to jointly create resources online, share best practices, rapidly train faculty in a mode of remote teaching they may never have done, and adapt to a constantly changing environment.

Elets Technomedia in association with DigitalLearning Magazine doing the best to share resources and will be conducting a five-day summit to learn from experts and share their knowledge.

Elets Technomedia is organizing 17^th World Education Summit & Awards, from November 26 to 30, 2020. The summit will also focus on integration of vocational education into mainstream education which is vital for the growth of India. It will also aim for creating a framework for institutionalizing skill development and vocational education within the education system.

It will be Asia’s biggest summit on Innovation in Education and will witness participation from a large number of policymakers, thought leaders, opinion makers and industry experts from the Higher Education sector.

With a rich legacy, the 17th World Education Summit aims to foster innovations, investments, technology transfers and global partnership opportunities in the education domain.

IT Major Dell Technologies will be its Presenting Partner, while Education department Government of Gujarat will be its State Partner, Ghana High Commission will be its Country Partner and Government of Telangana will be its Host partner.

The summit will be graced by many leaders and policy makers from the Central and State governments.

NIOS board exams registrations begins, exams by Feb

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November 24, 2020

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has started the registration process for board exams 2021. The candidates can apply till December 10 without any late fee at the official website – nios.ac.in. The facility to apply will remain open till December 15 with a late fee of Rs 100 per subject and till December 21 with an additional fee of Rs 1500 per learner, as per the official notice.

While several state boards are postponing their exams, the NIOS in the notice has stated that it will hold the board exams 2021 by January- February. “NIOS October-2020 public exams for secondary and senior secondary courses will be conducted during January-February 2021. Date sheet for the same will be announced shortly,” the official notice said.

Also read: Union Education Minister reviews activities of NIOS

Over one lakh candidates had applied to appear for class 10 and 12 board exams last year. This year too, the number is expected to go over a lakh. Last year, NIOS could not hold all the exams due to the pandemic and the result was announced based on a special scheme. Under the scheme, average marks obtained in the best three performed subjects for which exams were conducted was counted in place of subjects for which exams could not be held.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal had also held a review meeting with officials of the open school board and asked them to take up several reforms including “strengthening the examination mechanism”. Suggestions were made about drafting the NIOS syllabus on the lines of NCERT.

AICTE asks institutions to Set up National Academic Depository Cell

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November 24, 2020

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has asked all the technical institutions to upload the academic awards including the degree and certificates, institution Digilocker, under the National Academic Depository (NAD).

According to the circular issued, the AICTE has asked the institutions to appoint nodal officers and set up a dedicated NAD cell for the implementation of NAD and uploading all the academic details on the website. The AICTE has also suggested that the institutions advise the students to register on the NAD website.

Also read: AICTE: Institutes to decide on tech degree nomenclature

The Central Government in 2016 authorized the University Grants Commission for implementing the NAD project under which the academic institutions including the central universities, state universities, private universities, school boards, and others are uploading the academic awards on the NAD portal.

According to the AICTE, the students are using NAD to access their academic awards online and entities asking to verify these records are also using the NAD. The National Academic Depository was being implemented through NSOL Database Management Limited and CDSL Ventures Limited which was discontinued by the Ministry of Education in March 2020. The AICTE has also asked the institutions not to use the previous model for uploading data and de-link all the applications presently using the NAD portal through NDML, CVL and linking them through Digilocker only.

CISCE council asks schools to put a limit on number of online classes

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November 24, 2020

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has directed schools affiliated to the board to put a limit on the duration and number of online classes conducted in a day as recommended in the digital education guidelines issued by the centre. According to the Pragyata guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education of the Centre the council wants the schools to follow not more than four sessions of 30 to 45 minutes each day for the students from classes 9 to 12.

The students from classes 1 to 4 will not have more than two online classes of 30 to 45 minutes each day while the pre-primary class students can interact with parents for not more than 30 minutes in a day as per the circular issued by the CISCE to the heads of all the affiliated schools. In the circular issued, the board has further recommended that there should be a break for 10 to 15 minutes after each session in case more than one class is conducted in a day.

Also read: CBSE and CISCE mull to reduce syllabus for Class 10 and 12 exams

One of the main objectives of the Pragyata guidelines released by the education ministry in July was to place a cap on the duration and number of classes conducted in a single day to make sure the mental and physical health of the students who are at home since March 2020.

The circular issued to the schools also states that the students must be instructed not to use any electronic gadgets or continuously view the screens of their laptops for mobile phones and must move about freely and of some physical exercise.

The circular issued has also asked that the students should not be compelled to keep the webcam on or a smartphone in online mode except during class hours or for instructions at a given time making sure that the students are informed beforehand. The board has further requested that the schools must provide guidelines and counselling to the students to make them aware of Cybersafety and security.

New VCs appointed for six Universities in Odisha

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November 24, 2020

Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal appointed Vice-Chancellors of six state-run Universities. Being the Chancellor of Universities, Lal ensured that the new Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of six Universities are appointed on Monday so that they get at least seven days to join their new assignment as the tenure of the present VCs comes to an end on November 30.

Prof. Aparajita Chowdhury, Prof. Sabita Acharya, Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Prof. N. Nagaraju, Prof. Kishore Kumar Basa and Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty have been appointed as VCs of Rama Devi Women’s University, Utkal University, Fakir Mohan University, Gangadhar Meher University, North Odisha University and Khallikote University, respectively.

Lal appointed the VCs for a period of four years with effect from the date they assume office as such or until further orders, whichever is earlier, said a statement.

Also read: Bhimaraya Metri appointed as new director of IIM Nagpur

Prof. Aparajita Chowdhury was former Director, College of Development Council and Professor of Home Science, Berhampur University having more than 37 years of teaching experience.

Prof. Sabita Acharya, formerly Chairman, Post Graduate Council and Professor of Anthropology, Utkal University is having more than 31 years of teaching experience, the statement said.

With more than 26 years of teaching experience, Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo is presently serving as Professor, University of Delhi.

Prof. N. Nagaraju is presently working as Professor in English, Central University of Karnataka with 34 years of teaching experience, it said.

Prof. Kishore Kumar Basa is having 38 years of teaching experience and he was Professor (Retd.) Tagore National Fellow, University of Culture, Govt of India.

Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty, former Professor of Zoology, Utkal University is having 35 years of teaching experience.

CBSE: Not released board exams, practical dates

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November 24, 2020

Dismissing media reports on the release of the board exam dates, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) clarified that they have not announced class 12 practical exams schedule and the information shared is “fake”. As per some media houses, class 12 board practical exams 2020-21 will be conducted of class 12 will be held from January 1 till February 8.

The board secretary Anurag Tripathi earlier informed that class 10, 12 exams will happen for sure and a schedule is likely to be announced soon. “The board exams will happen for sure and a schedule will be announced very soon. The CBSE is making plans and will soon reveal how it will do test assessments,” Tripathi said.

Also read: SC rejects plea for waiver of CBSE exam fees

Meanwhile, there are demands from various quarters for cancellation or postponement of board exams. The Delhi government had written to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to not conduct the exams next year before May and further reduce syllabus as schools still continue to remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Byju’s raises $200 million in fresh funding

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November 23, 2020

Country’s biggest Edu-tech major Byju’s is raising about $200 million in fresh funding from investors, including BlackRock and T Rowe Price.

The development comes about two months after Byju’s had raised about $500 million in a round that valued the company at $10.8 billion. Byju’s has raised $200 million in a fresh round of funding that has raised the company’s valuation to $12 billion.

Byju’s has raised significant capital this year.

In June, Byju’s had raised funding from global technology investment firm BOND, while in February, it had raised about $200 million in funding from General Atlantic. The company, however, had not disclosed the financial details.

Also read: BYJU’S launches initiative to encourage digital learning

Regulatory filings by Byju’s to the Corporate Affairs Ministry in August had shown that the company has raised about Rs 909 crore in funding from billionaire Yuri Milner-led DST Global giving the entity 1.2 per cent shareholding in the edu-tech company.

In September this year, Byju’s had announced raising funds from Silver Lake and existing investors, Tiger Global, General Atlantic and Owl Ventures.

At that time, Byju’s had said it has seen over 20 million new students start learning from its platform for free since the lockdown (which was implemented in March).

The edu-tech space has seen strong growth globally with the COVID-19 pandemic serving as an inflection point.

While a number of players have raised fresh funding from investors, consolidation is also being seen in the industry with deals like Unacademy acquiring PrepLadder for $50 million and Byju’s buying WhiteHat Jr for $300 million.

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