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Education Key Reform in Modi Govt’s Four Years

By
Akash
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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government completes its fourth year, various initiatives have been undertaken towards improving the educational experience of one and all, especially making it accessible for all sections of society. Even though much remains to be achieved, the endeavours made in this sector so far are worth taking a note of, observes Akash Tomer of Elets News Network (ENN).

Modi and his government seem to have devoted these four years at the Centre to reform India’s education sector through a new proposed education policy, made efforts to revive the rankings of our institutions, establishing 20 world class universities across the country, skilling youths for a better future, reforming regulatory bodies and taken many other initiatives.

With a promise of providing “Education to All”, the Modi Government has taken several steps to impart quality education towards strengthening a system established over the years by successive governments.

Initiatives – Higher Education

In last four years, the Narendra Modi led Government has started seven new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and two new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs).

The last one year can be considered as HRD Ministry’s most productive since 2014. The government fulfilling its promise of providing more autonomy to Higher Education Institutes has approved a new law to give IIMs unprecedented levels of academic and administrative freedom. In addition to that, a new regulation passed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted different grades of autonomy to all institutions of higher learning based on their performance.

The Higher Education Funding Agency is also set up by the Government for lending money to institutions to develop world-class infrastructure.

Initiatives – School Education

As far as schools education is concerned, construction of toilets in all government schools and conducting the first National Achievement Survey (NAS) are two significant achievements.

The first of its kind largest sample survey was also conducted by the Government to observe the learning outcomes of students in classes III, V and VIII.

The ministry has made Board examinations compulsory again for Class X in CBSE. The Right to Education Act has been amended by Parliament extending the deadline to train all unqualified school teachers till March 2020. The Government as per its promise to introduce a mechanism to monitor performance of states under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has launched the online platform “ShaGun”.

Setting up world class institutions

To improve the international ranking of Indian institutions, the Government is assisting 20 institutions, 10 public and 10 private, to break into the global top-100 list. The 10 public institutions will also receive Rs 1,000 crore each from the ministry to improve ranking. The “Institutions of National Importance” are proposed to have greater autonomy compared to other higher education institutions.

Education for Girls

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: The initiative aims to enhance the sex ratio and the status of the girl child along with their enrollment in the education. The initiative was rolled out by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and supported by the Department of School Education and Literacy An award is being instituted from the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” Abhiyan for School Management Committees which achieve 100% transition of girls at different levels of education.

UDAAN: it is an initiative of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to enable disadvantaged girl students and other students from SC/ST and minorities to transit from school to post-school professional education especially in Science and Mathematics. It aims to reduce the quality gap between school education and engineering education entrance systems with focus on three parameters –curriculum design, transaction and assessment.

Providing Assistance for Girls’ Advancement in Technical Education Initiative (PRAGATI):  The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) scheme envisages selection of one girl per family where total annual income is less than 6 lakh. The selection will be done on the basis of ranks obtained by girls in the qualifying examinations to pursue technical education. The scholarship amount is Rs. 30,000 or tuition fees or actual whichever is less and Rs. 2000/ month for ten months as contingency allowance.

Persons with Special Needs

SAKSHAM Scholarship for Differently abled children: AICTE has decided to award 1,000 scholarships every year to differently abled students to pursue technical education based on the ranks obtained by them in the qualifying examinations. The scholarship amount would be Rs 30,000 or tuition fees or actual whichever is less and Rs 2000 per month for ten months as contingency allowance.

ICT enabled learning opportunities

Information Communication Technology (ICT) enabled Learning opportunities are likely to accelerate outreach, improve quality and promote equity by facilitating access to the best educational resources for learners/ teachers.

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active –Learning for Young Aspiring Minds): Under this programme, Professors of centrally funded institutions like IITs, IIMs, Centrally universities will offer online courses to citizens of our country. All courses will be made available free of cost for learning. In case the learner requires a Verified Certificate, a small fee will be applicable. At least one crore students are expected to benefit in two to three years through this initiative.

National E-Library: The E-Library has been envisaged as an online portal that will democratise access to knowledge by ensuring availability of quality content from central universities and premier educational institutions in digital format. The content can be easily accessed by students, working professionals and researchers across the country through laptops, smart phones and tablets.

Initiatives in Progress

  • A new committee has been constituted in June 2017 to frame the new education policy from scratch. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar has assured that the country will have a new education policy before 2019 elections.
  • The Ministry of Human Resource Development is also working on a draft legislation to set up a Higher Education Regulatory Council subsuming all existing regulatory authorities such as UGC, AICTE and NCTE.
  • The Government has also got cabinet’s nod to set up National Testing Agency (NTA) and has already appointed its head. The NTA will act as a single testing agency to conduct all entrance exams for admission to higher education

In a democratic country like India with such a diverse population, implementation of pan India reforms is a challenging task owing to its varied political, economic and social situations. The above initiatives are indicating that the reforms in education sector are among the top priorities of the Indian Government. Constant efforts have been taken to effectively revamp the education system in India to provide equitable access of education to everyone.

Shivaji University partners SPJIMR to strengthen faculty development programme

By
digitalLEARNING Network
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State-run Shivaji University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with S P Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai to strengthen its faculty development programme.

Besides the faculty development, the Mumbai-based institute will work with the state-run university to streamline case studies, research & development and curriculum development areas. It will benefit the students in Satara, Sangali, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Pune districts.

Expressing happiness on the partnership, Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Vinod Tawde said that such public-private partnerships are very crucial for the development of education system within the State.

The agreement was signed by Dr Devanand Shinde, Chancellor of Shivaji University and Dr Ranjan Banerjee, Dean of SPJIMR on May 23 in Mumbai.

According to Dr Devanand Shinde, the pact will allow the university to enhance its capabilities and ultimately help the students studying at its various colleges.

Shivaji University is home to more than 3,00,000 students which are scattered in its affiliated colleges across various districts.

Education should ensure holistic development: Vice President

By
Akash
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Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said the education should ensure holistic development, while advising students to think of becoming entrepreneurs or job givers and not merely job seekers.

Addressing a gathering at inaugural ceremony of the Academic & Seminar Complex and laying the foundation stone for Students and Research Scholars’ Hostel at Mizoram University, in Aizawl, the Vice President said: “Better infrastructure creates better conditions for quality learning to take place.”

Stating that education must lay the foundation for a strong character with uncompromising integrity, ethical values and inclusive outlook, the Vice President said: “It is imperative for today’s youngsters to be the torchbearers of a New India that will take its rightful place in the comity of nations.”

He also said that the education must aim at holistic development of an individual by imbuing the right qualities of head and heart.

Stating that the biggest strength of our country is the human resource capital—today about 65 per cent of the population being under 35 years of age, he said: “We need to fully tap this human resource potential to make India a leading economic power in the world. For that to happen, institutions like Mizoram University must play a pivotal role and reorient their syllabi as also the teaching methods.”

Talking about the problems the country is still grappling with such as poverty, illiteracy, atrocities on women and weaker sections, religious fundamentalism and terrorism, he said: “We have to collectively strive to eradicate various problems hampering the progress of the country.”

Stating that students are the future citizens of the country and in this globalised, highly competitive era, possessing a graduation or post-graduation degree was not enough, he said: “The universities in collaboration with the industries must initiate training programmes that are in tune with the demands of the market. On its part, the government has launched a massive Skill India programme to provide employment avenues to lakhs of youth across India.”

 “The students must utilize various opportunities provided by the Government of India particularly for improvement of skills, through various skill development courses…You should also consider becoming entrepreneurs, job givers and not merely job seekers. You have a number of alternative career paths. Choose the one that you feel passionate about and work to build up your skillset accordingly,” he said.

The Vice President said with the Union Government’s Look East and Act East policy, “a lot many opportunities will most likely open up”, and advised everyone to “to keep yourself aware of emerging opportunities and seize them- first to enhance your knowledge and later to access career opportunities.”

He suggested students to “not to tread on beaten paths. Be creative, innovative and explore unchartered territories for making a mark in your career”.

Indian government likely to power 50 million rural jobs jointly with ImpactPPA

By
Akash
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Indian Government has partnered with decentralised energy platform ImpactPPA to generate 50 million rural jobs in the country.

Under the auspice of the Giriraj Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), ImpactPPA will be working with the MSME to carry out the government’s Bhartiya Harit Khadi Gramodaya Sansthan (BHKGS) initiative. The initiative is likely to introduce around 50 million jobs for female workers in India’s rural areas.

The initiative will be started with Khanwan village in Bihar. Under the programme, textile looms will be installed in the homes of women workers. As per the partnership, ImpactPPA will deliver renewable energy to power these looms, using the Ethereum blockchain to manage supply-chain logistics for the initiative.

“It’s an honor to work with the government of India to deploy out technology solutions,” Dan Bates, CEO of ImpactPPA, said. “A project of this scope clearly demonstrates that the use of renewable energy and blockchain technology has reached the mainstream. This partnership perfectly aligns with our fundamental mission to help improve quality of life with energy as the engine for social good and greater economic justice,” he added.

As per the estimations done under the partnerships, the female workers could generate 8,000-10,000 rupees (USD 115-145) a month which is around 60 per cent increase to the monthly incomes of some of the families. The joint monthly income for families in some of India’s poorest villages is estimated around 7,000 rupees (USD 100).

“Having worked with the government of India on various solutions and projects for social impact, this alliance is a game-changer,” said Aradhana Singh, CEO and managing director of Sarang Services Pvt Ltd, a company serving as India’s domestic partner for the project. “We are thrilled that ImpactPPA will be the provider of energy and blockchain technology and services for the project, bringing tangible economic growth opportunities while advocating women’s empowerment,” she further said.

UP Makes Strides under ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’

By
Akash
-

In a bid to take education to every nook and corner of Uttar Pradesh, enabling every household and section of society beyond caste, creed, and religion, the Yogi Adityanath Government appears resolutely working with a missionary zeal, says Dr Vedpati Mishra, Special Secretary, Basic Education Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and State Project Director, UP Education for All Project Board, as he shares his views with Elets News Network (ENN).

Dr Vedpati Mishra, Special Secretary, Basic Education Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and State Project Director, UP Education for All Project Board
Dr Vedpati Mishra, Special Secretary, Basic Education Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and State Project Director, UP Education for All Project Board

As part of this mission, a survey of families across the districts of Uttar Pradesh aimed to ascertain the number of children not going to schools was conducted recently between May 5-15. The survey revealed a total of 27,695 children were ‘out of school’, of which a total of 27, 251 were admitted into school, according to Mishra.

Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has already appealed to all parliamentarians, legislators, and local representatives to provide cooperation in the admission process of children (6-14 years) under ‘School Chalo’ initiative.

Stating that last year, the Hon’ble Chief Minister launched ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ drive on July 1, Mishra said it was carried out on a large scale across Uttar Pradesh and it continued till the month of August. Children were admitted into the school under this programme.

“Free of cost new school uniforms were made available for boys and girls studying in class 1-8 of district council and aided schools. A total of 1.59 crore students were benefitted with the same,” he said.

As part of a slew of measures in this spirit, under the ‘Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayala’ (KGBV) scheme following programmes were organised:

  • 90 episodes of Let’s Learn English radio programme were aired during 10:45 to 11:00 am
  • Through Radio programme, 27,895 children learnt spoken English skill at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayala (KGBV) and 56,680 at higher primary schools
  • 48,482 girls were trained at 638 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayala (KGBVs) were provided Self-Defence Training
  • On State level a sports competition was organised at Barbanki district in which 2,000 students participated
  • Girls students were taken on educational trip where they saw historical places, banks, post offices and Railway stations
  • Students of class 1-8 were provided free of cost quality notebooks and text books
  • During September 1-15, a fortnight-long cleanliness drive ‘Swachh Bharat Pakhwada’ was organised in the State
  • To make school management committees active in all schools, six members per school were provided training. Total 9.14 lakh members were trained in the State, Mishra said.

Asked about any initiative taken for the visually challenged students, Mishra said: “To provide education to visually challenged and hearing impaired students, a total of 94 residential camps were organised in all the districts of the State. A total of 5,135 students were provided free of cost residential education.”

In addition, 419 medical assessment camps were organised where 31,173 students were given medical checkups. They were given a ‘Divyang certificate’, confirming them as differently abled individual. 1,834 visually-challenged, handicapped children were provided Brail textbooks. In addition to that, 21, 790 students were given machines, he added.

To improve standard of education, 1.03 lakh teachers were given training in English and 96, 500 were trained in environment studies.

For overall evaluation of schools, Indian Government’s ‘Shaala Siddhi’ portal was implemented. Total 1.52 lakh schools uploaded self evaluation data on the portal.

To provide computer aided education in schools, 1,166 schools were equipped with computer facility.

To increase curiosity for science among students and to make subject popular, National Invention Campaign was organised.

Uttar Pradesh Reforming Higher Education Holistically

By
Akash
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Uttar Pradesh has its focus on imparting innovative learning by infrastructural development, extending opportunities for the capacity building, professional development of faculty and producing skilled and employable human resources, says Narendra Shankar Pandey, Special Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Director, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).

What are the major categories under which RUSA is supporting the State to improve its higher education sector?

Narendra Shankar Pandey, Special Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Director, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh
Narendra Shankar Pandey, Special Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Director, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has submitted proposals under the different components of RUSA. But the State so far has received funding only for the components (1) Model Degree Colleges, (2) Infrastructure grants to Universities, (3) Infrastructure Grants to Colleges, (4) New Professional Colleges, (4)Faculty Improvement, (5) Preparatory Grants and (6) MMER. (7) Upgradation of the college to universities.

What are the major initiatives taken to ensure affordable and quality education to underprivileged sections of the society?

To facilitate access of SCs/STs/Weaker Sections and Minorities, to reduce social disparity and ensure affordable and quality education in the State, construction of 26 Model Degree Colleges has been started with central assistance under RUSA.

Of these 26 Colleges, the academic session has been started in 14 Model Degree Colleges from session 2016-17. In rest 12 model degree colleges, efforts are being made both at directorate as well as Government level to make sure these colleges start functioning from academic session 2018-2019.

How the infrastructure grant is helping universities and colleges to improve the educational environment?

The infrastructure grant is sanctioned to 13 State Universities which is helping them in developing new laboratories, buying new equipments, procuring computers, books and furniture, developing or revamping their web portals, and acquiring E books and journals.

Project Approval Board has sanctioned the infrastructural grant to 84 colleges along with nine Government colleges were selected for funding under this component. But due to lack of NAAC grading these colleges could not get funding. Government Degree College, Adalhat, Mirzapur has recently submitted this certificate to project directorate, which has been forwarded to ministry with a request to release the funding. Efforts are underway to take these colleges on priority basis for NAAC grading. Uttar Pradesh State Higher Education Council is putting extra efforts and is in constant touch with the principal of the concerned colleges to providing them necessary support for Institutional Information for Quality Assessment(IIQA) submission.

What government initiatives have been undertaken to improve higher education scenario in Uttar Pradesh?

Two new professional colleges are under construction in District Gonda and District Basti. The Central Government shared its first installment share whereas the State Government has dispersed its complete share of Rs 20 crore.

The State has also received Rs 65 lakhs under Faculty Improvement Programme from the Central Government. The fund will be utilised to train and equip the faculty with the latest and the best teaching skills and practices. Other major State initiatives include:

  • New Institutions in underserved and unserved areas especially dominated by vulnerable groups
  • Promotion of equity initiatives and improvement in access to quality education
  • Vocationalisation/skill enhancement in institutions of higher learning in States
  • Online Affiliation module is in the process of development through NIC. This effort is to bring transparency and efficiency into the system
  • Higher Education Quality Enrichment Incentive Scheme: To provide financial assistance to self – finance courses running in Government aided colleges to avail the services of competent teachers

Etawah – PAVING WAY FOR ‘EDUCATION for EVERY CHILD’

By
Akash
-

We have taken several initiatives to make learning an enjoyable experience in schools resulting in improved students’ enrollment and daily attendance. We are trying to develop the schools as “Ideal Schools” in every aspect, says Selva Kumari J, District Magistrate, Etawah, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in conversation with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

In line with the UP Government’s vision of State’s holistic development, what are the initiatives undertaken for easy access of “Education to All”, especially for the deprived and economically weaker section of the society in Etawah?

Selva Kumari J, District Magistrate, Etawah, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Selva Kumari J, District Magistrate, Etawah, Government of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is committed to provide “Education to All”. Significant efforts have been taken at the State level to achieve this dream. We are also undertaking various initiatives at district level to resolve infrastructure related and various other problems. There are 1,775 schools in Etawah where 1,04,578 students are getting education and among them many students are from deprived and economically weaker sections of society. All students are provided free text books, uniforms, mid-day meals, bags, shoes and socks, and winter wears like sweaters as per the Government schemes. We have taken several initiatives to make learning an enjoyable experience in schools resulting in improved students’ enrollment and daily attendance. We are trying to develop the schools as “Ideal Schools” in every aspect. Some of our initiatives in Etawah are:

  • Running water and toilet facilities are now available in every school
  • Around 200 schools have been equipped with furniture and colourful wall paintings to attract the child while in the rest of the schools the same is going on with the help of Gram Panchayats
  • Teaching Learning Material (TLM), reading learning corner, science laboratory, library and many other resources have been arranged forquality education
  • Dining platforms in 475 schools and incinerators in 186 upper primary schools have been constructed and in the remaining schools the process is going on
  • 1,450 teachers received training at DIET Etawah under health and hygiene programme to conduct health and hygiene related practices in their schools leading to lesser absence of students due to illness
  • Educational Chaupal Programme is also being organised in villages for awareness about education especially girls’ education
  • Educational calendar and time-table have been provided to every school to complete the syllabus in time
  • A group of teachers has been formed to share innovative ideas through meetings and social media platforms
  • Yoga, games and other co-curricular activities are being organised in the schools for the holistic development of the children
  • Meena Manch – Workshops to discuss and resolve problems of girls and to make them aware about Government-run programmes for girl education and safety being organised
  • KGBV residential schools — 2 KGBV residential schools are also functioning in Etawah district where 200 girls from deprived and economically weaker section of the society are getting free and quality education
  • Life skill development programmes like stitching, sweater making etc are also conducted in these schools of Etawah l Three-month Judo-Karate camp — self-defense training is also oraganised in KGBV to empower girls
  • “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” scheme has been implemented effectively
  • A small book having 300 general knowledge questions is also provided in all schools to improve the general knowledge of students
  • Cassettes and DVDs are also provided to schools for the Learning Process
  • WhatsApp groups have been made for teachers and education officials for easy communication
  • In the current session, free NCERT textbooks will be provided to all students in the district for similarity to CBSE/ICSE schools
  • “School Chalo Abhiyan” is conducted very effectively in the presence of Hon’ble MP and MLAs and other representatives to improve the enrollment in all the schools resulting that the enrollment has increased

Technology is having a profound effect on governance and education. In Etawah schools, we are usingtechnology to improve learning experience.

How an increased use of technology has improved the teaching-learning process in Etawah district?What has been the impact of Smart Classes?

Technology is having a profound effect on governance and education. In Etawah schools, we are using technology to improve learning experience. Projectors have been provided to primary and upper primary schools under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, to familiarise students familiar with smart classes. It enabled students to understand concepts using visuals, media and graphs resulting in increased interest of students in learning. We believe that the use of technology can help in achieving the dream of “Education to All”.

Our teachers have been trained to use learning applications available on smart phones to improve their knowledge. Smart classes and use of technology have increased the attention span of students, helped them connect with huge knowledge base available online.

Biometric machines are being provided to Gram Pradhan (village head) for the attendance of teachers and students so that this positively affects the entire school environment.

What plans does the Government have to bring schools at par with global standards to develop Uttar Pradesh as educational hub of the country?

Priority of the State Government is to improve the infrastructure in the schools. Laying of tiles, electrification, availability of running water and toilet facilities are some of the steps taken by the Government to improve the overall school experience. Facilities for sports and yoga are also being provided. Smart classes are being introduced in phases. Teachers are being encouraged and trained to access latest learning aids on internet to benefit the students. English medium schools have been also started for rural students to help them get red of fear of English.

Uttar Pradesh is committed to provide “Education to All”. Significant efforts have been taken at the State level to achieve this dream. We are also undertaking various initiatives at district level to resolve infrastructure related and various other problems.

What innovations have been introduced to curb malnutrition and how did you ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all?

Malnutrition is being tackled with a targeted and focused approach. Initially, 124 villages were targetted and 96 villages have been saturated. Under this approach, malnourished children were attended by Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC). Food with enriched nutritional elements is distributed among students. Poshanvatika (Nutrition Garden) is another innovation in this regard. Under this scheme, high quality vegetable seeds containing seeds of all important seasonal vegetables are provided free of cost to families and priority is given to families with pregnant women and children aged 0-6 years. Families are given technical assistance to grow these vegetables in their backyard. Through this approach, families’ food intake now contains nutritious and fresh green vegetables.

As far as healthcare is concerned, the Government schemes are ensuring affordable and quality healthcare. Diagnostic tests are done for free. Under Ayushman Bharat scheme, camps are being organised in villages for enrollment of eligible people.

As the District Magistrate, what are the citizen-centric initiatives have been taken by you?

Some of my initiatives which have bore fruit and helped common citizens are:

  • A campaign called ‘Mere Gaon Mere Miti” has been started by me in villages during which more than 750 ponds were freed from illegal occupation and at least 3 – 4 chakroads were constructed in every village with their soil. This measure has drastically reduced number of IGRS complaints on Government lands. This is in addition to almost 90 per cent clearance of encroachments on department lands like Forest, Irrigation, Electricity Department, PWD etc. Many parts of the villages where ambulance, fire services or police vehicles could not reach, have now become accessible
  • Initiative of ‘Poshan Vatika’ (Nutrition Gardens) in each village for improvement of health of pregnant women and children in age group of 0-6
  • Implemented ‘Nekiki ki Diwar’ (Wall of kindness), a unique concept where food, clothing etc. for needy and destitute are available for 24 hours \
  • Promoted setting up of ‘Rural Haats”/ Smaller upmandi at nyaya panchayat level to help farmers sell their produce like fruits, vegetables, meat and fish l Ensured all schools in Etawah have toilets with running water facility
  • Supply of menstrual pads in all villages for all the women of the village, along with an incinerator in every village for disposal of menstrual pads. These measures helped in improvements in enrollment ratio of girls in school and retention of girl children increased
  • Blending scheme of distribution of school uniforms with skill training and self-employment of women. About 2,000 women earned between Rs 10,000 – 12,000 due to the initiative in Etawah
  • Implementing e-attendance and spreading awareness using CSCs using projectors purchased through Mudra loan from Bank
  • Constructed more than 80,000 toilets during my stint in Etawah. The district to achieve ODF shortly for which Government has awarded me
  • In recognition of my innovations, I received two SKOCH Platinum Awards also

Please give a brief detail about plans ahead.

Currently, my team is working on solution of “Housing for all” problem by trying out low cost and effective solutions. We are also working on making “Gau Sadan” – a form of old-age home for cows which are deserted by people. We are building a shelter where we will be able to accommodate more than 2,000 cows. This will greatly control stray cattle in city, highway and rural areas. We are also working on creating a village model where all the farmers’ income doubles by adopting modern practices including organic farming, cooperative farming and allied farming activities.

UP Inculcating Cultural Values in Youth through Education

By
Akash
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In Uttar Pradesh, the need of hour is to inculcate cultural values among youth of the State. For this, various unique courses have been started, says Ramesh Mishra, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in an interview with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

What is the reason for education system of Uttar Pradesh for lagging behind in education system of other States?

Ramesh Mishra, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Ramesh Mishra, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh

The education system of Uttar Pradesh is a traditional one that helps inculcating moral values like respecting teachers and elders in the society. But, nowadays it is sad to see that States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar which were the pioneers of education in ancient time, given country the education system like Gurukul, where the teachers used to be respected more than the parents, are struggling to maintain a good environment for teachers and students since last 50 or 60 years. Such a good environment may help the education system of Uttar Pradesh to be at par with the other States.

What initiatives have been taken to improve Uttar Pradesh’s education landscape?

After joining as a secretary, I gave priority to inculcate those traditional philosophies, customs and ethical values which used to exist in our culture.

It is my belief that the Indian culture is respected and our philosophies are required to be honoured by making our students study about them. Our philosophies and religious practices are based on scientific and psychological analysis. For this purpose, I requested few vice-chancellors of the universities in our State to develop new curriculum and certification courses which are short in duration and also help students learn about their culture.

Recently, I met with few scholars of Lucknow University and the vice-chancellor in which we decided to conduct five certification courses and online courses on Buddhism, Jainism, Brahminic traditions etc. We have also started certification courses in astrology. One more course we are going to start in film making with the association of Canon India under which the students will be able to learn about using the different lenses in film-making, handling different types of cameras, editing, effects, sound, dubbing etc.

What is the vision behind starting unique courses?

Lucknow University is the first one to start such courses. We have prepared around half of the curriculum for the courses. We hope that soon the citizens of India not only within the country but also from abroad will be benefitted from these courses and know about their forefathers, old traditions through these courses. We are trying to provide them the knowledge of Indian philosophy online and we hope that gradually all universities and colleges will introduce such courses. Such courses will help to inculcate ethical values among the Indian Youth. I hope such courses on ethical virtues and moral responsibilities will help Uttar Pradesh to regain its place as a centre of culture not only in India but also in the world.

‘Lucknow Gearing up for Smart Education System’

By
Akash
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Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has started preparing for the launch of Smart Classes Concept in its schools and training of teachers for the same and a special budget has been set for smart classes this year, Lucknow Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia said on Wednesday.

It was inaugurated by Lucknow Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia who was the Chief Guest of the event.

Stating that parents are the “real mentors” who must develop an atmosphere at home to nurture brilliance among the children, the Mayor in her address said: “Working hard is the responsibility of students whereas guiding them is the responsibility of guardians and teachers.”

“Teachers and students skilled with latest technologies such as machine learning, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, cyber security, cloud computing, will get better results,” she said.

“Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has started preparing for the launch of Smart Classes Concept in its schools and training of teachers for the same…Along with this, the amount used in smart city projects and other schemes can be used if needed. Our effort is to ensure that Smart Classes are being implemented in the Corporation Schools as soon as possible,” the Mayor added.

While speaking on ‘Blended Learning: exploring transformative potential in Higher Education’, Ramesh Mishra, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said, “It defines the importance of coordination between various aspects important for imparting quality education to youth. Such an education will not only help the youth to build a better future but also help the nation to develop.”

Also, speaking on the occasion was noted educationist and Founder-Manager of City Montessori School, Lucknow, Dr Jagdish Gandhi. He referred education as one of the most important parameters for development of a country or society.

“Education aims to develop the human creativity which is latent in nature. It also helps in nurturing analytical abilities, will power and competency among the students.”

Selva Kumari J, District Magistrate, Etawah, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said, “In Etawah, we have decided to impart dignified education to every student. For this, we have taken care of certain factors so that the students do not feel socially or emotionally disrupted.

“We have tried to improve the infrastructure of Government schools in the district through wall paintings and by constructing the toilets proper seating arrangements for students during lunch,” the District Magistrate added.

The conclave was organised by Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd, the premier media and technology research organisation of Asia and Middle East, to showcase the educational initiatives in Uttar Pradesh leading the state towards prospective education hub of India.

Among those who received the highest honours for innovation and best practices in the field of education were Kumari J and Rampur’s District Magistrate Mahendra Bahadur Singh.

Apart from them, the founders of City Montessori School, Dr Jagdish Gandhi and Dr Bharti Gandhi were awarded with Lifetime Achievement Award. Lucknow Public School’s Founder-Manager SP Singh was awarded with the Innovation in Education Award.

The conclave also witnessed presentations from the senior officials of various industries including Eink Holdings, Havik Software Technologies, HP Inc, Vawsum Schools Pvt Ltd and Indiannica Learning Pvt Ltd among others.

Delivering Innovative, Influential and Relevant education

By
Akash
-

To nurture leaders of tomorrow with relevant skills, SP Jain School of Global Management Institute has adopted latest and best practices followed across the globe, says Hrishikesh Mehendale, CFO, SP Jain School of Global Management, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).

Today students have many options available to choose from in terms of streams and specializations. What are the top considerations that need to be kept in mind while taking these decisions? How can technology help them in this decision making?

Hrishikesh Mehendale, CFO, SP Jain School of Global Management
Hrishikesh Mehendale, CFO, SP Jain School of Global Management

There has been a radical shift in the world of education and I totally agree with the fact that there are innumerable options available to the younger generation. We are looking at a generation which bears in mind, their goals and aspirations and are focused towards their aim. There are certain considerations that in my opinion, every student should ponder upon, before jumping on to conclusions. The first and the foremost factor is to evaluate the positives and negatives of joining an institute and whether that institute is providing and catering to the essential needs of students or not. It should not only restrict to the needs of conventional teaching methods but introduce modern day technology as well.

Technology is an essential for youngsters of today.The millennial’s connection with technology is one of a kind. We don’t even need to teach them about it because they already understand it so well. Therefore, we have realized that the combination of technology and education have the potential to break the barriers in the minds of kids and can help them become future ready as well as industry ready.

There have been a lot of conversations around emerging technologies like IoT, AI and VR/AR. How is the education sector getting affected by these technologies?

Emerging technologies like AI and Machine Learning are set to transform the education sector in two ways.  First educators and education institutes will have no option but tolearn to live with these technologies as they will be a central to every student’s life in the future. Theywill need to start using new technologies to increase our efficiencies by automating repetitive tasks like taking attendance, sending out fees reminders, alumni outreach etc. Educators can leverage technologies like virtual reality, which will enhance the experience of students and can enable better learning and retention of information.

The other aspect is to bring the current generation up to speed for the future. There is a severe talent crunch in the market. Organisations are not able to find workforce with suitable skill-sets. These skill-sets primarily include analytics, data science, gamification etc. The workforce should not only be able to understand these technologies but should also be able to leverage them for business benefits for their employers. Educational institutes should give impact knowledge to their students to not just to help them earn a living but should enable them to add value to their own lives.

What is the role that technology in helping you in functioning seamlessly across campuses, considering that you have multiple locations including overseas?  

Our vision is to be the business school recognised around the world for its innovative, influential and relevant education. We pursue our vision by being innovative and professional, earning respect and trust from all our stakeholders. We are in the continuous process of achieving our vision across our campuses across 4 cities including Dubai, Singapore and Sydney. Technology plays an exceedingly important role to keep the world class quality of the education courses that we offer. We continuously share best practices, challenges and achievements regularly via fast communication. Every country has a different set of compliance issues. It is with the help of technology that we have been able to keep pace with different and ever-changing compliance scenarios across locations.

In India, we have implemented Oracle ERP Cloud as it does not require continuous time-intensive and costly upgrades, gives immediate access to new capabilities and features as they become available and have enabled us to achieve our vision. With the help of such cutting-edge technologies, we have been successful in creating an environment of innovation across our campuses.

How best can a university inculcate the virtue of entrepreneurship amongst its students? How are you planning to churn out more employable students? Will technology be an enabler here?

Technology is the game changer that plays an exceedingly important role in promoting innovation, experimentation, thus leading to entrepreneurship. This is the reason we chose cloud technology. With such state of art technology, we have been able to provide our students with complete freedom for experimentation, to given them the space to grow and thrive. We understand the industry requirements for the future. Our technology implementations can give our students the opportunities to delve deeper in their researches and provide any work-related information from anywhere across the globe available to our students.

Why did you choose Oracle ERP Cloud? What were the challenges that you were facing before this implementation and how has Oracle ERP Cloud helped in addressing these challenges?

Every education institute have two set of activities – academic and non-academic. This is the reason that we were looking for a platform which can unify all these activities to make monitoring and evaluating possible. Technology should be able to lend complete transparency by giving access to the right information to faculty, students and to the parents at the right time. Most importantly, all the operations should be integrated to provide maximum efficiency.

The decision to move to Oracle Cloud ERP was based on many factors. The SaaS model being a subscription-based model – ensured a lower total cost of ownership, reduced overhead, as the need to buy license, additional hardware and overhead for upkeep of hardware is eliminated completely.  Time to value, ease of implementation, the ability to try before you buy, and the ongoing vendor accountability and engagement, were among other factors that we thought of.

Oracle ERP Cloud not only provides robust support by giving easy access to ERP system but is also cost-effective. We were able to easily understand the interface and have also experienced its ease to maintain and upgrade. Also, the cloud solutions easily integrated between heterogeneous software systems.

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