Government focussing on improving the education landscape of Rajasthan: Kiran Maheshwari

News

By

-

August 23, 2017

Kiran Maheshwari, Minister, Higher and Technical Education, Sanskrit Education, Science and technology, Government of Rajasthan said that the state government is keen to improve the education scenario of the state.

Addressing the 10th World Education Summit in New Delhi, she said, “Its my proud privilege to be here at this mega educational event which has already witnessed nine glorious editions across the globe. I am indeed honoured to be among the galaxy of educationists, planners and guests from different countries”.

During her address she called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a visionary who has been focussing on qualitative higher education, capacity building and skill development to transform the biggest manpower treasure into better human resource.

While talking about the various initiatives of Rajasthan Government in education sector, she said, “In Rajasthan, our Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is focussing on improving the education landscape of the state. Various scholarship schemes like Chief Minister Scholarship, Dev Narayan Scooty Yojna, Medhavi Chhatra Yojna etc are launched to promote education among deprived sections of the society as well”.

Describing the schemes, policies and initiatives of the Higher and Technical Education Department of Rajasthan, she said that the department is tirelessly working to improve the quality of higher education and development of higher educational institutions in rural areas.

She said, “The Chief Minister’s Advisory Council is suggesting and guiding us for improvement in quality of higher education and higher educational institutes’ development. The council is also guiding our way to inculcate skills and entrepreneurship aptitude among the youths of the state. We have started skill and entrepreneurship related courses in association with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) from this session in the government colleges.”

“We are adopting the best practices from other states for upskilling the youth and qualitative improvement in education space of the Rajasthan. We already have taken several initiatives like Wi-Fi, establishing smart labs and smart classrooms to support our institutions on one hand and students on the other. We are also going to provide our students 24X7 online academic support through online social e-platform,” She added.

Explaining about the Indian Government’s focus areas, she said, “Government of India is also emphasising on cleanliness, health and hygiene, education and comfort of people by making the system responsible and transparent. We the Indians are enjoying our freedom and fundamental rights as it is reflected through the enhanced Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in schooling as well as in higher education.”

She also explained about the various schemes of Government of India like “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)” and “Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana” adding, “These schemes are directly benfitting the youth by providing them multistrada opportunities for quality enhancement and employment.”

She shared that the Central Government has targeted to train over one crore of youth over a three years of span from 2017 to 2019 and has allocated a fund of Rs 12,000 crore. The government is equally concerned to improvise the gender parity index and encourage the participation of deprived sector of the society in education.

IIT Ropar allocates land to set up state-of-art soil water plant lab

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 23, 2017

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, to address the issues related to soil and water faced by the farmers of Punjab, has allocated 2.5 acres of land in its new campus for setting up a state-of-art soil water plant laboratory.

“The lab will undertake research to address the problems faced by farmers. It will also help the state government in taking effective steps in this direction,” said IIT Ropar’s Civil Engineering Department head who is also heading this initiative.

IIT Ropar is planning to take up various initiatives in the area of water resources which are adversely affected by climate change. The initiatives would aim to address issues like falling water table, water logging, changing rainfall patterns, deteriorating water quality, floods, droughts etc.

Under the project, the institute has adopted the Sutlej-Beas Doab Region including the Harike Wetlands and wetlands around Ropar region in order to analyse the deteriorating ground level patterns.

Punjab to have regulatory authority for education reforms

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 23, 2017

Chandigarh : Punjab’s Technical Education Minister Punjab Charanjeet Singh Channi has stated that Regulatory authority will be established to control and reform educational institutes in Punjab.

In this regard, a special meeting with the vice chancellors of universities and education experts will be conducted so that implementation of education reform at the root level could be ensured.

The minister said that success of a state largely depends upon the basic education. He said that regulatory authority will be helpful in implementation of education reforms. He said that now right to service act will be implemented in true spirit. During this Channi said that present government is the first one in state to organise job fair to provide employment opportunities for the youngsters of the state. During these job fairs employment to 50 thousand youngsters will be provided. He said that by organizing such job fairs in the state, government has started fulfilling his promises to provide employment at every house.

He said that government is committed to provide employment opportunities to the youngsters of Punjab. He said that 21 job fairs are proposed to be organised till 31 august at various locations in the state that will host more than 900 reputed companies to shortlist the candidates for offering jobs.

He said that on the first day of job fair at Ryat Bahra University, 36 reputed companies arrived and approximately 6,000 youngsters having various technical qualifications will be selected by these companies. He revealed that such job fairs are being organised at various government technical institutes at Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda & Phagwara.

Addressing a question on vacant posts in the government departments, he said that these vacant posts will be field very soon. He said that employment fairs subsequent to the job fairs will also be organised in the state, whereat awareness about starting self occupation will be provided to the youngsters and low interest loans will also be provided to them. As such, a draft for organising such employment fairs is in progress, which will be implemented soon.

He said that skill development in the state will be enhanced and foundation course will be started in cooperation with the various companies so that training as per industry demand could be provided to the youngsters. Addressing a question on providing jobs to youngsters of Punjab, he said that priority will be given to the youngsters of Punjab for providing jobs. Besides these, youngsters of Punjab will be given priority for employment in the various industries of Punjab.

Explaining about the education reforms, he said that various new enhancements and process modification will be done in the technical education so that technical education as per industry needs could be provided. He further said that examination centres of Technical institutes will be established in government buildings whereat government officials will be deputed for duties and cheating in any form could not be accepted.

He also said that Rs 100 crore will be spent on development of basic infrastructure of technical institutions. He further said that more than 4 lakh youngsters have registered themselves for jobs at web portal of Punjab Government i.e. www.ggnpunjab.com. He said that with setting up job fairs, Industrialists has gained faith.

Before this while addressing the function, he motivated the youngsters to work with dedication and assured them that Punjab government is committed for providing employment opportunities for the youngsters of Punjab.
Earlier, Gurvinder Singh bahra Chairman Ryat & bahra University expressed thanks to Punjab government for organising such job fairs at the university.

He said that besides 2 universities, 75 institutions, unique skill development and five multi discipline camps are being operated by Ryat & bahra Group. University chancellor Dr. Raj Singh welcomed the Technical Education Minister Punjab.

During the fair, Additional Director Technical Education Mohan Bir Singh, Director Academic Narinder Lamba along with Joint director of university (Management) Pritam Singh Sohal and representative of reputed companies were present.

Now, Aadhaar mandatory for open school exams

News

By

Akash

-

August 23, 2017

The Central Government has now made Aadhaar Card compulsory for the students appearing for open school exams to ensure there are no proxy candidates.

The National Institute of Open Learning (NIOS) has decided it after the approval from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). From the next examination of NIOS, candidates will now require to show their Aadhaar to appear in it. The ministry has already made the Aadhaar mandatory for candidates appearing in JEE, NEET and UGC NET examination.

According to a senior NIOS official, “During the exams held in March, the inspection teams found proxy candidates who were appearing on other students’ behalf. To check this practice, Aadhaar has been made mandatory. There will also be scanner machines at examination centres and only those students whose thumb prints match with the existing data be allowed to give exams.”

The NIOS has also decided that the schools without CCTV facility will not be made examination centres. “This has been decided to ensure that videography of the entire examination process is possible and the footage can be checked in future if needed,” the official added.

Besides general and academic courses at secondary and senior secondary level, NIOS offers a number of vocational, life enrichment and community oriented courses. Established in 1989, NIOS also offers elementary level courses through its Open Basic Education Programmes (OBE).

YMCA University of Science and Technology signs MoU with Pratt and Whitney

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 23, 2017

Chandigarh: With a view to provide an opportunity to the students for exploring their future option in growing aerospace and aviation sector, YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad has signed an MoU with leading Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Company, Pratt and Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation.

The University became the first Institute in the State to introduce a programme in Aerospace and Aviation specialisation with Industrial Partnership. This partnership aims at facilitating the growth of an aviation ecosystem in India by helping in creation of an industry ready talent pool through a number of skill development programs and initiatives.

Present on the occasion were Vice Chancellor Prof. Dinesh Kumar, Dean (Institutions) Dr. Sandeep Grover, Chairman – Mechanical Engineering Dr. Tilak Raj, Palash Roy Chowdhury, Managing Director – India, Pratt and Whitney, Amit Pathak, General Manager, Customer Training Centre – India, Pratt and Whitney.

A two-day Industry Technical Workshop organised by Industrial Relations Cell of the University on ‘Introduction to Aircraft Engines and Systems’ was also inaugurated on this occasion which was coordinated by Dr Jyoti Verma, Director, Industrial Relations. Amit Pathak, General Manager, Pratt and Whitney India Training Centre (PWITC), Hyderabad was also present on this occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dinesh Kumar appreciated the efforts made by the Industry Relations Cell for making such industrial tie-up for the promotion of excellence in higher studies and motivation of students. ‘The University acknowledges the support that Pratt and Whitney has offered towards augmenting the academic resources of the University in the area of aerospace and aviation and we encourage such kinds of collaboration for the benefit of our students.

“In alignment with the ‘Skill India’ initiative of the Government, this partnership shall enable a more practical learning experience for our students and make them industry ready for the exciting job opportunities opening up in the aerospace and aviation sectors,’’ he added. The Vice-Chancellor said that with this collaboration, the University would further explore the possibilities of developing and launching a BE/BTech course with Aerospace/Aviation specialization in the future.

Speaking about this announcement, Palash Roy Chowdhury, Managing Director – India, Pratt and Whitney said “India has emerged as the fastest growing aviation market globally today thanks to growth of low cost carriers as well as industry friendly policies of the government. In support of the Indian government’s initiative on ‘Skill India’ we are delighted to partner with YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad to drive the skill development initiatives in the aviation and aerospace sector in the country.

Through this partnership, we aim to create a talent pool of highly skilled and trained technical professionals to support the significant growth projected in the aviation sector in the coming decade. This alliance will also help in bridging the gap in the availability of skilled manpower in the aerospace and aviation sectors”
Prof Sandeep Grover, Dean (Institutions) said that YMCA is known for its quality students and placement record. The University has achieved major milestones in a short span of time including accredited with Grade-A by NAAC and has ranked amongst the top Government Engineering Institutions in the state as per the latest ranking of NIRF-2017.

Dr Tilak Raj, Chairman of Mechanical Engineering Department said that the university has introduced an elective subject on ‘Aircraft Operations and Maintenance’ for B Tech students in 3rd semester from the current academic session. Under the faculty development programme, five faculty members from Mechanical Engineering Department would attend a week long training programme on basic skills in aircraft repair and maintenance at Pratt and Whitney India Training Centre (PWITC), Hyderabad.

This joint initiative will allow Pratt and Whitney and YMCA University of Science and Technology to explore short–term executive development programs aimed at developing skill and talent needs of the aviation ecosystem and thereby supporting “Make in India” initiatives of the Government of India. Further, the memorandum also aims at developing customised elective courses that will be offered alongside existing university curriculum to better prepare students for the opportunities in the aerospace and aviation sectors.

The partnership will also provide industry exposure to students and faculty through internships, industrial trainings; value added courses through Virtual Reality (VR) technology, guest lectures and workshops conducted by aerospace industry experts.

It may be noted that Pratt and Whitney has a worldwide large commercial engine maintenance, repair and overhaul network. The company supplies engines to the 25% of the world’s passenger Aircraft fleet. It has a long and distinguished record of providing top-of-the line military engines to 31 armed forces around the world which includes F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, as well as the C-17 Globemaster III military transport and Boeing’s KC-46 Tanker. In 1960, when Air-India rolled-out its first Boeing 707 aircraft, it got powered by Pratt and Whitney’s JT-3D Engines.

Sri Lankan Government striving to improve the education sector: V S Radhakrishnan

News

By

Akash

-

August 23, 2017

Sri Lankan Minister of State for Education V S Radhakrishnan has said, ” The present government has put forward many things to improve the education sector of the country”.

Speaking at the 10th World Education Summit in New Delhi earlier this month, the minister shared about Sri Lankan government’s plan for the education sector of the country. He said that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe are focussing on boosting the education sector.

He said, “The Sri Lankan government in its budget has allocated six percent of the country’s GDP towards bringing improvement in the education sector”, divided into school education and higher education.

The minister said, “The government has made 13 years of education compulsory for every student in the country. If they failed to clear General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O Level), they can opt for vocational training with their relevant subject or for training in Information Technology (IT).”

“There are about 4.5 million students studying in the Sri Lankan schools. There are about 2,11,000 teachers and about 10,100 schools in Sri Lanka. Out of these schools over 350 schools are under Central Government which are also known as “National Schools”. These National Schools are running as ‘Super Schools’ as they are provided with all the facilities by the government and are equipped with all the latest technologies and follow the best global practices. All the other schools are handled by the provincial councils,” he said

“We are also trying that the students after leaving the schools go for the jobs not the ordinary ones but the better ones i.e. the white collar jobs. To achieve this we have set up 42 vocational training institutes and in 2018 we would like to add 105 more such institutes to improve the job scenario in the country. It is government’s effort to not only create jobs but also develop entrepreneurial skills in the students,” he added.

Describing about the Sri Lanka, he said, “Sri Lanka is a small country. The biggest source of Sri Lanka’s revenue is tourism and tea and rubber export. There are around 22 million people living in Sri Lanka and to administer them the country has nine provincial councils.”

Centre plans 40% girls quota in proposed schools, higher education institutes

By

Akash

-

August 22, 2017

Girls-education — Women in India have two sides to them â they are worshipped in the form of Goddesses on one side, while on the other they face exploitation, discrimination, and even threat to their survival. Working towards their development and empowerment will give back in countless ways to improve the lives of their families, communities and nations at large. The âBecause I Am a Girlâ â BIAAG â campaign, initiated by Plan International, and being implemented by Plan India, is a step in this direction to prioritize girlsâ rights as the salient issue in the coming decades, and girlsâ education is foremost to achieve the campaign objectives.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (I/C) and Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the government is planning to offer 40% reservation to girls in proposed 100 Navodaya-type schools and five higher education institutes.

He said that the Central Government is planning to set up these institutions in minority concentrated areas of the country. “We want to empower the communities with dignity and, therefore, are focusing on the education sector. We will give 40% reservation to girls from the communities in the schools and also in the institutes. This is to ensure they complete their education,” Naqvi added.

A report by a high-level panel formed by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) recommended a three tier model to tackle educational backwardness among minorities, particularly the Muslims. MAEF is a government funded agency.

In the suggested model, 211 schools, 25 community colleges and five higher education institutes will be opened to create infrastructure for imparting quality education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The proposed schools would work on the lines of Kendriya Vidayala or Navodaya Vidyalaya. They are also provided with food and lodging facilities.

According to Naqvi the schools are expected to be commissioned next year in buildings developed under the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP).

The minister said that the governments in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have expressed interest in setting up the institutes for higher education.

ICSE schools’ association to aware students on misuse of social media

News

By

Akash

-

August 22, 2017

ICSE schools’ association in West Bengal is soon going to organise a workshop for the students of its member schools to make them aware about the misuse of social media and the risk of online games like ‘Blue Whale Challenge’.

“We will be holding the workshop by September 2017 where two student leaders from class 9 and 10 and one teacher from each school will be participating and speak on the ‘abuse and misuse of social media’ and online games like ‘Blue Whale Challenge’,” Association Secretary Nabarun De said.

During the workshop, cyber experts will inform the student leaders about the inherent dangers of social media addiction, how it affects their studies, personal lives and how online games like ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ can be fatal, De added.

“They will then communicate the message to their classmates in a more cogent manner. We will be inviting all schools affiliated to our association including those in the Hills. We are sure of the participation from schools located in the plains,” he said.

The move is followed by a workshop at Central Modern School where De is the Principal.

“We have already conducted this exercise in my institution where the students showed a lot of interest as resource persons interacted with them and their teachers,” he said.

De also said that the workshop also apprise the students that addiction of smart phones may distract them from other curricular and extracurricular activities.

Over 250 schools spread across West Bengal are expected to participate in it.

IITs and IIMs may evaluate and accredit other institutes`

By

Akash

-

August 22, 2017

The Centre may engage IITs and IIMs to evaluate and accredit other institutes to ensure transparency and to reduce the time taken for accreditation of higher education institutes.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar said that a meeting is proposed with eight IITs and eight IIMs to expand the base of evaluating agencies.

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous institution under the UGC, solely carries out the accreditation. Earlier this year, the government think-tank Niti Ayog recommended that the ministry should allow accreditation by reputed private institutions.

Javadekar said that the government was instead looking at using resources from within. “We have a huge talent pool of teachers and students who can use the entire exercise of evaluation as a learning tool,” he said.

Even though some IITs have shown their reservations towards participating as agencies citing faculty shortage.

NITI Aayog to launch “Mentor India” Campaign for students

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 22, 2017

The Government of India will engage leaders to guide and mentor students in order to foster innovation. NITI Aayog is all set to launch the Mentor India campaign for students at more than 900 Atal Tinkering Labs established across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission.

The aim of Mentor India, a strategic nation building initiative, is to maximise the impact of Atal Tinkering Labs, possibly the biggest disruption in formal education globally.

“The campaign envisage to nurture and guide students in the Atal Tinkering Labs. These labs are non-prescriptive by nature, and mentors are expected to be enablers rather than instructors,” NITI Aayog stated in official statement.

The leaders are expected to spend between one to two hours every week in one or more such labs, helping students experience, learn and practice future skills such as design and computational thinking.

Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated work spaces where students from Class 6th to Class 12th learn innovation skills. Laced with state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, robotics & electronics development tools, Internet of things & sensors etc, the labs empower students to develop ideas required for transformation of India.

The government is in the process of setting up 900+ such labs across India and aims to have 2,000 such labs by end of 2017.

LATEST NEWS

Top Trending News

Top Trending Categories