The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its in-principle approval to set up Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in every district or block with more than 50 percent Scheduled Tribes (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.
To implement the revamped scheme effectively, the committee has approved Rs 2,242 crore funding for 2018-19 and 2019-20. In addition to that, an Autonomous Society on lines of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will run the EMRSs, stated an official release by the Government.
According to the official statement, 462 new EMRSs will be established in 102 blocks across the country.
Under the The new scheme, the construction cost of EMRS from has been raised from Rs 12 crore to Rs 20 crore with an objective to improve the construction quality and ensure better facilities for the students, the release added.
“EMRS is an excellent approach for imparting quality education to ST children. Apart from school building including hostels and staff quarters, provision for a playground, students’ computer lab, teacher resource room, etc are also included in the EMRSs. This initiative will benefit ST students immensely,” the release further said.
“By focusing on specific intervention to cater to the educational needs of STs, the quality of life of STs is expected to improve to the level of rest of the social groups and a visible impact by 2021 Census,” it added.
Skype in the Classroom allows students to experience new cultures, language, in or outside the classroom as well, writes Shimmi Sharma, Language Educator, Sunbeam School, Lahartara, Varanasi.
Skype in the Classroom is “a free global community” that allows teachers to collaborate on classroom projects and share skills and inspiration around specific teaching needs. Teachers can use Skype in a variety of ways to enhance their students understanding of a certain topic in a way that will be more exciting and memorable.
How to use Skype in the Classroom?
Shimmi Sharma, Language Educator, Sunbeam School, Lahartara, Varanasi
After teachers create a profile that describes their interests, teaching specialties, and location, they can begin to create projects that act as a way for teachers to connect with other teachers and classrooms across the globe. On this global platform, teachers can either ask for help or offer help. Skype in the Classroom also provides the opportunity for guest speakers to be present in the classroom without ever having to take a trip or even leave the office!
What are the benefits to using Skype in the Classroom?
Provides opportunities for students for social interaction with people outside of the classroom
It offers the opportunity to connect people and objects that are not in the same physical environment
Allows guest speakers to stay at the office or not travel in order to come speak to a class
Improved learning strategies
Greater perseverance, and reduced need for help from the instructor
Social interaction provides critical opportunities for learners who are learning at a distance
Internet technologies offer opportunities to connect people and objects that are not in the immediate physical environment. Using Skype in the online classroom improves social interaction and helps to create an authentic peer review environment
Videoconferencing in the Classroom – Utilising experts, authors, and guest instructors who would never otherwise be able to visit the school. Through this we can get the eminent personalities of the world in the four walls of the classroom.
Virtual Field Trips – Using video chatting to bring the Field Trip into the classroom – for example, visiting The Ancient Museum Egypt, Pyramids and Fossil Park and many more places. The students can get connected to far off distance places through the spectrum of internet.
Foreign Language Learning and Cultural Exchange – Teachers use Skype to connect local students with native speaking students from other countries. When the students from one communicate with the students of other country they come out of inhibitions and there is a development of a global community which crosses the borders safely. Skype allows students to see in real-time what people’s lives, homes, schools, weather, and more look like in other countries. This also encourages the cultural development and global citizenship in the learners.
Social interaction allows the learner to reflect and reconsider, get help and support, and participate in authentic problem solving. Classroom teachers can leverage the potential of disruptive technologies like Skype and other technology immersion initiatives to increase student motivation to communicate with authentic audiences, spend more time on assigned tasks, and develop essential literacy skills needed for vocational and lifetime success in the twenty-first century.
There are so many stellar learning opportunities out there when we open the world to our classroom. There will always be the rare individual who is against new technology or who suffers from techno-panic. Teachers across the world have already arranged many enlightening and unforgettable conferences, demonstrating the extraordinary potential ofSkype in the classroom. Skype enables students to connect, collaborate, and communicate with other students across the globe. It creates an opportunity for students to learn from each other, to have authentic audiences for their work, and to meet others who can further their learning. There are many educators who are working together to with the aim of promoting peace and global understanding.
Classroom-to-classroom Skype conferences have also proven valuable in teaching foreign languages. Students are afforded the chance to practice speaking the language with native speakers. The one-on-one Skype sessions provides the learners with not only valuable grammar and pronunciation practice, but also improved the conversational skills, such as negotiating meaning, that are essential to excelling in a foreign language.
As an educator, it’s our responsibility to build a strong foundation of global citizenship by incorporating 21st Century Skills that is to build up Communication, Creativity, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. Let’s get connected to this world of e-learning.
Dayawati Modi Academy (DMA) strives for excellence in all directions of child education and hence it offers a comprehensive package of activities to bring out the best potential of students, says Dr Ritu Dewan, Principal, Dayawati Modi Academy, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
What is the vision and mission of Dayawati Modi Academy (DMA)?
Dr Ritu Dewan, Principal, Dayawati Modi Academy
Our vision is to become an institution of learning within a conducive environment. To nurture global citizens, the school nurtures students’ personality holistically imbued with value system. Our mission is to ensure that student learning remain the chief priority and all students can learn as per their potential. The students will develop their individual talents, critical thinking and technological skills by being actively engaged in the learning process.
How does DMA help students develop their innate talent?
The academy provides a holistic, congenial and conducive environment, where the students’ development process is being accentuated through proper guidance. At the academy, young minds are groomed and inspired, intellect sharpened, talents discovered and skills honed to complement academics. In this era of competition, it has been our constant endeavour to nurture global citizens armed with knowledge who are willing to venture beyond boundaries and work towards progress and welfare of mankind.
What smart or technology-based solutions are adapted by DMA to enhance learning among students?
Merely, operating knowledge of computer is not enough for students to survive in this competitive world. Computers in any institution are like the boxes if not used by the students in dayto- day processes. Detailed knowledge of technology is a must for every student to use it for best outcomes. Keeping in mind this, Dayawati Modi Academy, Meerut, emphasises on use of computers and adaption of modern IT techniques.
The four IT Labs for students are equipped with eight high configuration servers along with 160 working nodes. We also have a digital library integrated with school ERP system. Students can have e-subscription of around 5,500 books from anywhere. The library is also equipped with Kindle devices and 20 workstations to read audio-visual books. We are also exploring feasibility of Virtual Reality (VR) classrooms to take digital learning to the next-level.
How does the academy ensure that its teachers remain abreast with the latest happenings in the education world?
Well structured training modules conducted for teachers include motivational workshops as well as building strength in content and pedagogy. Teachers’ professional development and knowledge upgradation is done through their training with the renowned mentors and master trainers.
Group discussions among teachers, students and parents, help teachers identify the requirements and adapting the suitable approach to meet the demands. Teachers are also observed during their lecture delivery in the classroom to understand their level of interactions with students, classroom management, and for identifying areas where improvement is required.
How is DMA inculcating skills that may prepare them for the competitive world ahead?
To meet the societal changes in the form of increased individualism and excessive exposure to digital world, DMA works on various dimensions of child through various life skills be it communication, problem solving or making connection to oneself or to the society. Meticulously planned activity charter of academy makes teaching more meaningful for children. The essence of languages is garnered through debates, speeches, extempore, overpowering hesitation and nervousness of public speaking.
Life at MDIS centres on a shared commitment to academic excellence, intellectual growth, art, athletics, and high standard of ethical awareness, sportsmanship, and community service, says Ritu Kochhar, Principal, MD International School, Bijnor, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
What learning practices are adopted at M D International School to achieve academic excellence among its students?
Ritu Kochhar, Principal, MD International School, Bijnor
To ensure academic excellence among our students, we have adopted a number of learning practices such as syllabus completion on time, maintaining discipline within school premises and emphasis on the holistic development of students.
How the school ensures an eco-friendly infrastructure that helps students to learn in a friendly environment?
School buildings, food, waste and even school curriculum support a connection to the healthy environment in school. Our school is far away from city and it’s totally pollution free. Clean green campus, high standard of hygiene and health facilities, proper drainage system and proper arrangements to remove toxic materials from places where children learn and play, are the activities help us to maintain an eco-friendly infrastructure.
What are the various measures taken by the school to ensure safety and security of students within and outside the premises?
The school premises is under round the clock CCTV surveillance. We also ensure that every school bus has a woman teacher throughout the commutation and also no girl student is left alone with any male staff. We also conduct session on regular basis to make students aware about good and bad touch.
How extracurricular activities are conducted at the school for holistic development of students?
Various activities such as – Fruit Party, Summer camp, Paper boat making activity, Red day activity, Janmashtami celebration, Oral hygiene awareness activity, Mother’s Day celebration, Eco-friendly bag making competition, Tricolour activity and Flag making competition, Portrait making of national leaders activity, The Investiture Ceremony, Earth Day celebration and many more. Our students have participated in number of sports activities at District, State, National and International level and received many trophies and medals.
We have exchanged and shared a good number of cocurricular activities with students in different countries and the school has been awarded with the “International School Award” by British Council for the period 2017-2020. School is ranked number one in bijnor under the category- CBSE City-Wise and Parameter-Wise for “Co-Curricular Education” through a survey conducted by Education Today.
What is the vision and mission of the school?
Our vision is to provide value based education with new innovations and ideas so that our pupils grow into aesthetically rich, intellectually aware and integrated young people, capable of fulfilling their dreams and aspirations. We want to encourage mutualism, develop global vision, enhance value based education and capacity among students to take decisions in difficult times.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive education for holistic development of individual personality with a human touch and visionary outlook. We aimed to provide an atmosphere where every child finds itself comfortable to unlock its latest talent and develop an inquisitive mind.
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2018 (UGC NET) is scheduled to start from December 19 across the country.
UGC NET is conducted for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the post of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellowship in Indian universities and colleges.
This year, the examination will be conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT). The entire test will consist of two papers. Both the papers will consist of only objective type questions and will have to be attempted with a break of 30 minutes between them.
To be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), on the behalf of UGC, the whole procedure of (UGC NET) is expected to last five days.
Across the country, examinations centres in 94 cities have been set up.
The mission ‘Inspiring Excellence’, the motto of Ajanta Public School, is a reflection of its ethos and a desire to usher a new era of knowledge, says Vaibhav Kapoor, Principal, Ajanta Public School, Gurugram, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
Tell us a bit about Ajanta Public School’s initial journey and its guiding mission.
Vaibhav Kapoor, Principal, Ajanta Public School, Gurugram
Ajanta Public School was established in 1999, with a dream to enlighten the torch of education in the lives of children in Gurugram and to empower them with the power of knowledge. As we provide quality education to all the students, our focus revolves around imparting value based learning, we want to create good leaders and digital citizens for a digitalised nation.
The Mission ‘INSPIRING EXCELLENCE’, the motto of APS, is a reflection of its ethos and a desire to usher a new era of knowledge wherein every child, however different, has the right to education.A mission to give equal opportunities to each and every child for personal growth through ‘value added’ education.
Tell us something about the industry best practices being followed at Ajanta public School (APS) to nurture students’ inherent talent and potential.
Our school aims to help children develop their physical, mental, emotional, psychic, and spiritual facets through learning by exploration and discovery. To nurture student’s inherent talent and potential we, at Ajanta, enforce certain practices ,which are as follows:
We are a MASP school, with innovative and latest technology. Teachers at Ajanta share their notes online and teach the students using Bloom’s Taxonomy, core skills, critical thinking through ONE-NOTE.
We provide access of different clubs to our students so that they can become efficient professionals. HACT club, English Language lab, Yammer and Minecraftare to support our students for actively working in a competitive way, to solve problems and challenges. Teachers use this as an opportunity to build digital citizenship skills among students. Another skill we seek to develop in students is using appropriate tools in a strategic way.
Scholarship is provided to our sports enthusiast students along with the guidance and coaching by professional and well learned coaches during morning and evening hours.
Tell us about the assessment methods being followed at APS and how they give a holistic idea of a candidate’s performance?
Today’s students need to know not only the basic reading and arithmetic skills, but also skills that will allow them to face a world that is continually changing. They must be able to think critically, to analyse, and to make inferences. Changes in the skills base and knowledge that our students need, require new learning goals; these new learning goals change the relationship between assessment and instruction. Entire syllabus is divided in such a way where learning becomes natural for the students. Formative, Summative, Class-test and oral assessments are conducted to validate the learning outcome of each student.
What are the IT-based solutions being adopted by APS for students?
A Digitalised nation requires more educated youth who can be enabled in many fields including education and will adopt IT based solutions for holistic development of students. Ajanta being a MASP school provide a platform to its students with the various tools available through Microsoft to get a better hand on knowledge about technology in coming future.
Going forward, what are the key priorities of APS?
We aspire to become one of the “Green democratic and participatory school “, that provides an excellent opportunity to its students to become global citizens who march forward to create this world a better place to live in. We want to create awareness and use of council recycling facilities to improve district recycling rate. Saving Environment is the top most priority of our institution. We have adopted and inculcated “SDG-GOALS” to bring an ecofriendly change in society with its 17 projects
St. Teresa School intends to make its students full of optimism so that they develop positive traits and thus enrich their skills consistently, says R R Khanna, Director, St. Teresa School, and Vijay Kumar Gulati, Director, St. Teresa School, Ghaziabad, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).
What is the vision and mission of the school?
R R Khanna, Director, St. Teresa School, GhaziabadVijay Kumar Gulati, Director, St. Teresa School, Ghaziabad
St. Teresa, with its motto of trust, serve and love, focus on value education so that the students are reinforced with the conviction to achieve their maximum potential. St. Teresa aspires to enable each child to handle the vicissitudes of the life boldly by providing an amalgamation of ethics and values. Such a blend of embellished and ethical education empowers students to deal effectively with their environment, and successfully discerning available opportunities for a balanced, humanitarian and empathetic approach.
Education for us is not just the knowledge from books and learning about morals and values, rather it is more about infusing moral principles in a child. The prime focus of the school is to transform the tedium of classroom teaching into a creative and experiential learning process through our rigorous student centric approach.
What practices does St. Teresa School follow to boost students’ innate talent and potential?
We are committed to nurturing our students as the ones who can serve the society. To fulfil the learning needs of every student, we have adopted a diagnostic approach and allotted first 50 minutes of each day for the same. During this time, teachers assess weak areas of students to work upon, resulting into transformation of an individual as a confident graduate than being a dependent individual. It also helps us to connect with the students individually and assess their learning levels.
Our prime focus is on self-driven learning of different topics. It is done by stimulating curiosity among students. The research done by students to understand a topic helps them to resolve their queries automatically and learn a concept in the best possible way.
Peer instruction, group discussions, and collaborative problem solving is actively taken upon by involving all the students of a class directly. Such activities provide students a platform that recognises their approach towards any challenge or problem.
St. Teresa, with its motto of trust, serve, and love, focuses on value education so that the students are reinforced with the conviction to achieve their maximum potential.
What sort of Information Technology (IT) based solutions have been adapted by St. Teresa School to improvise learning experience for students?
As being committed to groom the students with all possible aids, Information Technology is included in school curriculum not only as a subject but as medium of imparting education and active learning. Our school is equipped with smart boards, projectors, language and computer labs. Technology is very helpful for students to learn languages, concepts of science, mathematics and social sciences. In our 3D Science Theatre, we have adapted flip learn technique.
Our teachers are connected with parent through Edumagix App for online exchange of student related information. In addition to that, comprehensive CCTV surveillance of campus, GPS & CCTV enabled buses ensure safety of enrolled students.
What measures have been undertaken by the St. Teresa School to keep its teachers abreast with the latest methodologies and teaching paradigms for students’ grooming as future leaders?
To nurture confident personalities, a school requires efficient and well trained mentors. For this, the school organises in-house seminars for teachers with renowned guides to train them. The school also ensures participation of teachers in seminars and workshops organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It helps teachers to upgrade their skills and provide them an edge over others.
How is St. Teresa School working on nurturing life skills s they are being encouraged across the globe along with studies?
For holistic development of students, it is important to inculcate life skills among students along with academics. We have a wide array of curricular and extracurricular programmes to develop students with multi-faceted personalities.
Our physical education programme is designed to inculcate the true sportsman spirit and discipline. We support students to nurture their hidden talents, making them a global citizen aiming at providing international exposure to our students.
Our collaboration with Ghana, Nigeria, Jordan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Malaysia is an opportunity for the students to imbibe best global practices. As we are resolute to shape out globally competitive students, our approach includes diverse ways of improvement and perfection. We have also collaborated with The International Award for Young People (IAYP) and Ted-Ed for the same.
SchoolHandy is a unique platform for real-time communication and exchanging information that enables real-time and seamless communication between schools, teachers and parents, says Chirag Palande, Founder and CEO, SchoolHandy, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
It looks SchoolHandy comes very handy in case of parents missing any education-related useful information. What inspired you to introduce such a useful app?
Chirag Palande, Founder and CEO, SchoolHandy
The thought of introducing SchoolHandy came over a dinner table discussion. We as a parent were conversing about the communication gap between schools, teachers and parents and the possible solution for bridging the existing gap to get more involved in our daughters’ academic progress.
Today, in spite of the advent of internet, social media, apps and smartphones have revolutionised the way we communicate, there still is a large gap while communicating between schools and parents. Hence, we came up with an idea of bridging this gap by introducing SchoolHandy.
SchoolHandy is a unique platform for real-time communication and exchanging information. It has cutting-edge technology that enables real-time and seamless communication between schools, teachers and parents.
How would you describe SchoolHandy app? Do you feel such an innovative approach is the need of the hour?
SchoolHandy is a comprehensive cloud-based application. The app helps you stay connected via digital communications and real-time chat forums. It is designed as a perfect tool because kids do not always relay important messages and parents do not always remember every notice that schools issues.
It is vital to address the growing concern over the safety of kids and the quest for increased interaction between parents and teachers regarding knowledge on the kid’s development at school. That was the motivation for developing SchoolHandy.
What are the prominent features of this app?
Being home to a gamut of services, this online school ERP system enables users to access multiple functionalities available on the App once they register. It helps teachers in recording attendance in a hassle-free manner with its online attendance management system. It also helps parents in receiving important notices that schools send from time to time which the children may fail to notice. This enables parents to monitor school activities resulting in better preparation of children, avoiding the last-minute rush. Most importantly, SchoolHandy has a “Live School Bus Tracking” feature. It means both parents and school authorities would be in a position to track the movement of children on their way to school and on their trip back home.
This unique App also provides one-to-one chat platform and real-time update on forum discussions. This feature results in quicker resolution of queries. SchoolHandy also comes with the option of paying fee online.
Please share your vision with regards to SchoolHandy app.
Our vision is to grow SchoolHandy as a No.1 technology platform in the country to aid the quality of education, embracing changing technologies and leaning latest developments orbiting around the needs of students, parents and teachers.
With the concept of Mobile Kids gaining currency, do you think apps can be an ultimate game changer in education?
It is an undeniable fact that parents’ expectations vis-à-vis society has been having a peaking effect on children. We often come across reports about children crumbling under pressure and fear. So, it is time we find out innovative solutions for making learning exciting and smarter for children.
It is important for children to understand their real self. They should choose the right path as per their innate talents. While treading such a path, they may face a lot of troubles. But their grit and dedication hold the key to overcome challenges and be successful, writes Smita Dhawan, Head, The Chintels School, Kalyanpur, Kanpur, for Elets News Network (ENN).
Smita Dhawan, Head, The Chintels School, Kalyanpur, Kanpur
Children should always remember — You are loved and loved a lot by your parents, by your teachers, your siblings (even if you fight a lot), your true friends and the Almighty. You are a masterpiece, with some flaws which every human has and even Gods who incarnated as humans had.
You are born unique. There is no one on this planet like you. No one has exactly the same talents, likes, dislikes or a personality like you have. Respect others’ individuality without losing yours. Never be afraid to be yourself, and keep improving towards being a better human being.
Stand up for what’s right, even when it seems hard. Crowd of ordinary people follows the easiest route to rise. The difficult route is followed by real heroes of life. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid to choose the right thing, even when your friends are choosing the wrong one.
Don’t let others define you. Take criticism from the ones who love you in a positive manner. There will always be people who will say and do mean things. They will want you to be like them. They will try to take away your self-confidence. Don’t let them. Be what God created you to be, not who someone else tells you to be.
Be a judge of truth by yourself. The world is going to feed you all sorts of lies about strength, money, self-worth and relationships. Do not blindly believe them. Seek your parents or God when you are confused about worldly matters.
On your roller coaster journey of life, you will make many mistakes, and it’s OK. No one is an embodiment of perfection. When you mess up, pick yourself up and get back in the game. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.
Always remember! Everyone is gifted some unique talent. You are one of them. Never give up.
With an idea, a vision, a dream to impart quality education to children, the Chintels School was established in the year 1989. The school defines a child’s first decision, the first feel of the sense of responsibility, his/her first achievement, the first failure and the first lesson of perseverance.
Nandita Basak, Principal, The Chintels School
At Chintels, with the motto of “Always More, Always Better” of Jyoti (Light), Preeti (Love), Shanti (Peace) and Neeti (Justice), we strive to make this journey of our children a valuable learning experience. With hard work, grit and courage, we are continuously progressing with achievements, laurels and new feathers being added to our cap with every passing day—and there is no looking back! Our children are putting their best foot forward and moving ahead in all spheres, their wings are taking flight yet they are grounded. No matter how high we as an institute or our children as individuals soar high, our hearts and minds will be rooted and humility will never over power success.
At The Chintels School, Our approach is fully child-centric. By child centric we do not believe in information being spoon-fed but making learning a lifetime experience, making the children think on their own and make their own wise choices. Below is a motivating poem on how adults can be a support but at the end it’s the child who has to lead his own life.
YOUR DECISION
‘We care, we teach you to share, we even tell you to dare, for your bright future we prepare’.
Dear children, your family, your school, your well wishers can show you the path but how you trot on it would be YOUR DECISION.
We can teach you the difference between virtue and vice but making the choice would be YOUR DECISION.
We can give you liberty but protecting it, would be YOUR DECISION.
We can teach you to respect but will you work with dignity to get that respect would be YOUR DECISION.
We can counsel you about your friends, but choosing your true friend would be YOUR DECISION.
We can teach you about charity but been generous would be YOUR DECISION.
We can guide you through the journey of thorns but will you walk or quit would be YOUR DECISION.
We can warn you against intoxication but to act responsibly would be YOUR DECISION.
