JSSs Directors to formulate district plan soon

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September 11, 2015

Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Smriti Irani, exhorted the directors of Jan Shikshan Sansthans to draw a skill map of the district in which they are located and then draw a specific plan which may be called My District – My Plan.

Present in the Orientation workshop organised by National Literacy Mission, Irani said, “My District-My Plan should also cover plan to meet literacy requirements of non literates falling in the age group of 40 to 60 years.”

She further added that JSS should formulate their District Plan by 1^st October, 2015 with clear timelines for completion of various components of the Plan and then it should be uploaded along with the photograph of their Directors on the National Portal. The Portal will be launched as a Deepawali gift this year.

Touching the role of JSSs in the field of adult literacy and skill development, she stressed that as skill requirements vary from district to district there cannot be a uniform solution for all the districts. The Union Minister of HRD conveyed her appreciation for commendable contribution made by JSSs in mobilisation of people to avail the benefits of Jan Dhan Yojana and Suraksha Bima Yojana launched by the Prime Minister. She said that in case any bank was not cooperating with Director of JSSs in promotion of these schemes, such instances may be brought to her notice and she would personally speak to the concerned bank for its immediate solution.

While welcoming the Union Minister, Director General (NLMA) briefly explained that the workshop was being organised for the orientation of the Directors mainly on the new initiatives of the government in the various fields including skill development, social security, financial inclusion etc. and the manner in which Jan Shikshan Santhans are required to associate themselves with these initiatives. He also apprised the Union Minister about the efforts made by JSSs in mobilisation of their target group for the social security schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana & Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

Grade the deemed varsities, says HC to NAAC

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September 10, 2015

In a most awaited move, the Supreme Court has asked the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to assess and grade the 41 deemed universities, which were sought to be de-recognised (on the basis of the Tandon Committee report), based on the 2012 Regulations of NAAC, without considering the 2010 UGC Regulations.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant gave this direction after senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for a few DUs, submitted that the DUs concerned had not sent their self-appraisal report of compliance with the 2010 UGC Regulations, which had been quashed by two high courts. He said since the appeal is pending in the apex court, assessment should not be done on UGC regulations.

The bench in its order took note of the submissions made on behalf of the government and consulting all the stake-holders, — the All-India Council for Technical Education, UGC, National Assessment and Accreditation Council and National Board of Accreditation — for evolving new guidelines and framing statutory rules in three months.

Prof. R. Sethuraman, vice-chancellor of SASTRA University, appreciated the move and said: “The Supreme Court has rightly nailed the coffin by ignoring the Tandon Committee report and ordering NAAC to conduct inspection and submit its report.”

“The government of India ignored the statutorily-empowered NAAC and relied on the arbitrary grades of the Tandon Committee which also upgraded from B to A deemed universities with unauthorised off-campus. The 9th and 10th Five-Year Plans and the UGC’s gazette notification dated January 19, 2013 had clearly delegated powers of conducting inspection and awarding grades by NAAC. The action of constituting the Tandon Committee and its report is superfluous, and the direction of the Supreme Court asking NAAC to conduct accreditation is in the larger interest of higher education,” said Sethuraman.

The bench directed the NAAC to complete the gradation/accreditation in eight weeks and said the DUs concerned should send the self-appraisal reports in 10 days and directed the matter to be listed for further hearing on November 19.

‘ICT compulsory, but not implemented in schools’

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September 9, 2015

In a bid to ensure that advanced learning through digital education is practiced in schools, the Tamilnadu B.Ed Computer Science Teachers Association have demanded implementation of ICT-enabled education from Class VI to X.

Premkumar from the association opined that the Samacheer Kalvi mandate says that ICT is compulsory, but is not implemented in most schools.

“Initially, computer science was being taught to these students, but even this stopped six months after implementation,” he said. “The government should strengthen their schools to put them on par with private schools that introduce computer science as a subject for the younger classes,” he added.

The association is also demanding that the Teacher Eligibility Test examination allow teachers with a B.Sc Computer Science and a B.Ed qualification to appear for the examination.

“Although B.Ed colleges allow people with a B.Sc computer science to complete their B.Ed, we are not allowed to appear for the TET, which limits our scope of getting jobs,” K. Punitha, another member said.

Even in Class XI and XII, the computer science stream is taught by temporary teachers who are not B. Ed Qualified, she added.

The group had recently staged a protest regarding the cause near Chepauk in the state.

AP signs MoU with TISS

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September 8, 2015

Andhra Pradesh government and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementing programme activities of ‘Andhra Pradesh University Students Employability Skill Development Programme,’ a flagship initiative of the state government.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Minister of HRD Ganta Srinivas Rao were present during signing of the MoU, said an official release. “We aim to transform Andhra Pradesh state into a knowledge hub by providing quality education and giving opportunities for students to develop employability skills among the Universities and Colleges in the state,” said Naidu.

The MoU has strategic partnership with civil society organisations, public sector bodies, private sector institutions and social entrepreneurship organizations, etc. to complement the efforts of the AP state Knowledge Mission. TISS will be working for the implementation of National University Student Skill Development Programme (NUSSD), which aims to enhance employability skills of students. The skill development model develop by the institute will have elements of English, communication and soft skill, digital/computer skills, financial literacy, legal literacy, entrepreneurship, leadership development. The model will help to make the graduating youth employable.

International Literacy Day

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September 8, 2015

**On the occasion of International Literacy Day President Pranab Mukherjee and Union Minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Irani gives Saakshar Bharat Awards for best performing institutions.**

President gives Awards to best institutions

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September 8, 2015

8^th September has been proclaimed as the International Literacy Day by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), with aim of highlighting the importance of literacy among communities, societies and individuals.

To confer the academies, President of India, Pranab Mukherjee and Union Minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Irani along with Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha and Dr. Ram Shankar Katheria, awarded Saakshar Bharat Awards for best performing institutions to mark the occasion of International Literacy Day.

More than 3.65 crore adult learners were certified as literates and more than one crore beneficiaries mobilised and facilitated to avail benefits of social security and financial inclusion schemes of Government of India.

On the occasion Smriti Irani “The International Literacy Day is not only an occasion to reaffirm our resolve to eradicate illiteracy but also to acknowledge the crucial role played by adult education functionaries and volunteers in helping us to move towards our ultimate goal of creation of a literate and sustainable society.”

In the last one year, efforts for propagation of literacy have been intensified. As a result a record number of 1.91 crore learners have appeared for assessment of their literacy skills in the tests held in March and August 2015.

Besides, the scope of literacy has been widened to include empowerment especially of women through special initiatives undertaken for their financial inclusion and social security. The strenuous efforts made by the literacy functionaries in undertaking mass campaigns to take these initiatives to the doorsteps of our target groups are commendable. These efforts have yielded notable results in facilitating opening of over 1 crore Bank accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna and mobilisation of around 93 lakh persons to avail benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna.

Smriti Irani lauds Punjab girls

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September 8, 2015

Lauding the indomitable spirit of skill, courage, resilience and dedication inherited by the Punjabi girls, the Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani called upon them to play a proactive role in women empowerment at the national level.

Addressing the gathering during her visit to the Dashmesh College for girls, the Union Minister said that the Union government was organising National Arts and Craft festival in the month of December with ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao’ as its theme. She said, “The students from the state must participate in this national level festival to make their presence felt in the country by showcasing the rich cultural heritage of their state.”

Irani said that besides cementing the bond of unity amongst the students of various states this festival would be also instrumental in perpetuating the cultural legacy of the country amongst the students.

It is the need of the hour to eliminate social maladies like female foeticide. She said, “Keeping this in mind the Union government has also decided to hold the national arts and craft festival on the theme of ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’. It was must for ensuring women empowerment in the country.”

Emphasising on the need for imparting quality education to the girls, the Union Minister said that educated girls could prove to be important pillars of a democratic country like India thereby fairly contributing in its economic, social and political development.

Laying thrust on the all-round development of the girls by equipping them with quality education, she said, “Given an opportunity the girls could do any stupendous task and easily achieve their target due to which the need of the hour was to provide them more and more opportunities to showcase their ability.”

Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema, Inspector General of Police BK Bawa, Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh, Circle President Avtar Singh Vanwalla and Member Women Commission Veerpal Kaur Tarmala.

Foundation laid for Central University in Punjab

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September 8, 2015

Central University to come up within 18 months, Union Education Minister Smriti Irani lays the stone with Chief Minister PS Badal.

Massive growth in education facilities in Punjab in the recent past has made the state a hub of education in the country. Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Central University of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab said that the Punjab government has taken unprecedented steps to boost the education sector in the state.

He said, “Apart from setting up 10 new Universities and 17 Degree Colleges, the state government has also given due emphasis on strengthening the infrastructure in government schools across the state.”

The Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal while addressing the gathering said, “Today is a historic day for the Malwa region, especially Bathinda, as a novel beginning has been made in the field of education. On the completion, the university would impart quality education to 18,000 students who would be given every possible facility. A budget of Rs. 2,000 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.”

Divulging more details about the development initiatives of the State Government, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “1 lakh government jobs would soon be advertised and every assembly constituency would get Rs. 25 crore for carrying out the development works.”

In her address the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Zubin Irani said, “Central University of Punjab was one of the best universities of the country. Punjab must take the lead of introducing farm techniques, water, rural and food processing management courses in the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) set up at Amritsar so that the rest of country should follow it.”

Irani also mooted a proposal for possible tie-up between the Union HRD Ministry and Food Processing Ministry chalking out a roadmap for expansion of food processing industry in the state by imparting education to the students.

The Union Minister also announced that the new campus of the Central University of Punjab would be ready within 18 months. She said, “The university would act as a catalyst of education in the entire region as world renowned experts from across the globe would be roped in to deliver important lectures to the students.” Irani hoped that this university would play an instrumental role in checking the brain drain of the region by opening new vistas of employment in education sector for them.

Development and parity in education, puts Bengal back in the league

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September 7, 2015

Bengal, the state known for its intellect and art and culture and breeding ground of some of the internationally acclaimed universities and colleges has always been the front runner in the fast evolving field of education. Over the years, the state has produced some of the most acclaimed teachers and academicians and students who later registered their contribution in the all round development of the nation.

Critics believe that, the educational Renaissance in West Bengal started before independence and later slowly with passing time it bloomed into a massive academic revolution which created a massive pool of intellectuals and academicians in the state. But during the left regime level of higher education was low and restricted within the urban periphery of the state. This left a massive impact on the development of the schedule caste and schedule tribes and also affected the academic growth of the minorities of the state of West Bengal. In the last three years, under the governance of Mamata Banerjee, the state has witnessed significant growth at different levels of education. The state took some striking steps to bring back the balance in the academic domain and made education susceptible to all.

The state took over specific steps in last four years to bring back the backward class into the mainstream of education. More than six universities were constructed in different, less developed areas of the state of West Bengal. Universities were set up in the small towns like Bankura, Diamond Harbour, Asansol and Raigaunj. The government special focus on these backward areas will help a massive population of students to get into the mainstream education system and it will also help them to procure a proper and apt career. A slew of private universities also set their bases in different parts of the state. Several well known brands such as AMITY, JIS and ADAMAS created state of the art engineering and management colleges and universities in the state. The Netaji Subhash Open University also opens the doors of the new campus to students of the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.

The government has taken extra care in establishing a robust system which will help in creating a proper ambience for the higher education. During the regime of Mamata Banerjee several stalled educational projects within the state were mobilised and also a plethora of new colleges established in different districts of the state. According to the official data, more than 34 government colleges were opened in the Bengal during this new regime. The state government gave special attention to the Maoist affected areas of the state and more than 12 colleges were opened in these areas. Statistics reveal that there has been a steep rise in the number of colleges in the backward areas of the state. Jangalmahal, once well known for Maoist related activities has multiple well built government colleges. The response from the residents is also overwhelming; more than 500 students enrolled themselves in different government colleges spread across these areas.

This massive educational Renaissance within the state not only helped in developing the ailing educational infrastructure of the state, it also helped in creating a mammoth pack of skilled workers for the state, which is an asset. This educational cavalcade driven by Government of West Bengal has generated massive employment for several youth. More than 700 teachers were taken on board in the government colleges and also more than 2000 teachers’ fetched jobs in the state aided colleges. The district of Jalpaiguri also ushered the first Hindi medium college of the state. More than 700 students enrolled themselves in this new built Hindi medium college.

In the year 2013, 17 per cent seats of the Higher Education was secured for the students of the OBC (Other Backward Caste).Government of West Bengal took this remarkable step to bring back parity in the field of education. The state government will be recruiting teachers of Santhal language and they will teach the language in different government universities. The recruitment procedure will be rolled out very soon.

The government has revamped the entire educational infrastructure of the state. To keep transparency within the system, the state government promoted and implemented e-admission throughout the state of Bengal. Admissions were done via e-admission procedure. As per the government data more than 6.5 lakh students got admission in varied streams of education through online. The central aid was properly utilised in the field of education by state and librarians and graduate laboratory instructors were elevated to the status of teachers in different colleges. As per the HRD Ministry report, there has been a considerable hike in the enrollment percentage of the students in higher education, which is again a great achievement for the state of West Bengal.

Delhi CM concern over commercialisation of education

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September 7, 2015

Addressing the gathering of teachers at the Award ceremony for Delhi Government school teacher, Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal expressed concern over the commercialisation of education. He said, “Commercialisation of education is the biggest drawback for any education system. It is one such sector which should not be turned into a business as the profit motive often gives platform for many irregularities.”

He further added, “We get complaints about fee hike in private schools, demand for donations for admissions, irregularities in nursery admissions etc. while we are trying to improve the standard of education in public schools. We are seeking suggestions about how these complaints can be tackled and the profit motive can be kept away from the sector.”

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the Delhi Government is exploring big reforms in the education system and education should not merely offer degrees but dignity too. He said, “We will allocate 25 per cent budget to education, conversion of 54 government aided schools into pilot schools where the atmosphere is more lively and appropriate for learning. But these are just indicators and not achievements.”

It is to be noted that the Delhi Government has announced 25 per cent reduction in the syllabus for primary classes upto VIII standard from October onwards to introduce more skill based education and extracurricular activities. The government is coordinating with CBSE to work out how a similar reduction in the syllabus for the classes 9 to 12 can be done.

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