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Availability of teachers in elementary education shows improvement in the country

July 14, 2014

Teacher availability in elementary education has improved with the additional recruitment of 15.06 lakh teachers funded under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme. The national pupil teacher ratio in government and government aided schools is 28:1 at primary, 31:1 at upper primary and 34:1 at secondary level as per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) of 2013-14. Over 25 crore children are enrolled in classes I to XII in the country.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory elementary education to all the children of the age of 6 to 14 years in a neighbourhood school. Section 11 of the RTE Act also provides that the appropriate Government may make necessary arrangements for pre-school education. A Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) sub-committee was setup on 4^th August, 2011 to consider the extension of RTE Act, 2009 to pre-primary classes. Final recommendations have not been received.

Govt to monitor mid-day meal scheme: Irani

digitalLEARNING Network

July 14, 2014

According to the information given by the Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question on 14 July, the midday meal guidelines lay down that on an average 25 percent of schools should be inspected every quarter by State Government officers belonging to different departments at District, Sub-Division, Tehsil/Taluka, block and other suitable levels.

In addition, the Joint Review Mission consisting of representatives of Central Government, State Government, UNICEF and Supreme Court Commissionerate, also help in detecting anomalies in the scheme. Similarly, 41 independent monitoring institutions such as IIT Chennai and Visva-Bharati etc. also monitor the MDM scheme.

The States / UTs have formed Committees with members from Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes to inspect the preparation and distribution of mid day meals. Priority is given to recruitment of cook-cum-helpers from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, wherein more than 30 percent cook-cum-helpers are from the SC and the ST communities. The States / UTs have been advised that the nodal officer or nodal agency in the States should make regular field visits and conduct surprise inspections every month. States and UTs have been advised to hold periodic interactive sessions in schools against caste discrimination.

Recognition of B.tech course by AICTE

digitalLEARNING Network

July 14, 2014

As per directive dated 29.06.2014 of University Grants Commission (UGC), University of Delhi has to obtain appropriate approval of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for its B. Tech Programmes in Computer Science, Electronics, Food Technology, Instrumentation Electronics and Polymer Science started in academic year 2013-14.

However, the Supreme Court, in its Order dated 9/05/2014, has mandated that prior approval of AICTE is compulsory and mandatory for conduct of a technical course by an existing affiliated Technical College for conduct of its Technical Courses/ Programmes for the academic year 2014-15. Therefore, the approval for B.Tech Programmes became mandatory again with effect from. 09/05/2014.

Regarding approval of AICTE for the B.Tech course conducted by the colleges affiliated to University of Delhi, the Supreme Court, in its Judgment dated 25/4/2013, had excluded colleges affiliated to University from the definition of “Technical Institution” as defined under Section 2(h) of the AICTE Act, 1987. Therefore, B.Tech. Programmes started by University of Delhi, in academic year 2013-14, did not require approval of AICTE, as per the prevailing case law at that time.

NIIT University signs MoU with University of Missouri, Kansas City, USA

digitalLEARNING Network

July 14, 2014

The NIIT University (NU) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Missouri – Kansas City’s School of Computing and Engineering (SCE), to offer a 5-year program that will allow students to secure B.Tech degree from NU and Master’s of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) from SCE. The MoU was signed by Dr. Rajendra Pandey, President, NIIT University and Mr. Kevin Z. Truman, Vice Provost, UMKC, & Dean, School of Computing & Engineering, University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Under this MoU, NIIT University in collaboration with the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s School of Computing and Engineering will offer a unique 5-year program that will give students the opportunity to complete both B.Tech and MSCS, with successful candidates being awarded Bachelor’s of Technology (B.Tech) by NIIT University (NU) and Master’s of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) by UMKC. This is the first of its kind landmark agreement between two educational institutions to collaborate in B.Tech and MS degree programs and research activities through the exchange of degree seeking students and faculty members in the area of computer science and computer engineering.

Students undertaking the course will be required to complete 3.5 years at NU and 1.5 years at UMKC’s School of Computing and Engineering (SCE). Candidates will be admitted to UMKC’s SCE graduate program based on IELTS score of 6.5/9.0 or higher, or an IBT score of 79/120. Course grade of 70% or higher in each completed course at NU (3.0/4.0 GPA – USA scale) is also mandatory. Successful candidates should complete all the necessary requirements for the NU B.Tech degree and the UMKC MSCS degree.

Speaking on this significant collaboration Dr. Rajendra Pandey, President, NIIT University, stated that NIIT University offers a new model in higher education based on the principals of innovation and learning, to help open exciting career avenues in today’s knowledge economy. To this end, the MoU with UMKC’s School of Computing and Engineering will offer unique dual technical certification opportunity to students from two reputed institutions.

13 percent budget hike in Higher education

digitalLEARNING Network

July 11, 2014

In order to boost the higher education sector and to make ‘world-class’ centres of learning in India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the budget for 2014-15 allocating budget which earmarked Rs 27,656 crore for higher education. It saw an increase of almost 13 percent over 2013.

Finance Minister said that the country needed large number of ‘world-class’ centres of higher learning. He also proposed to set up National Centre for Excellence in Humanities in Madhya Pradesh.

The allocation for the department of school education and literacy saw an increase of 9.93 percent over 2013-14. The government has set aside Rs.55,115.1 crore for the department for 2014-15.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani in a statement said the focus of the budget has been on education and skill development.

An amount of Rs 28,635 crore has been allocated for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which aims to achieve universalisation of elementary education in a time bound manner. On the other hand Rs 4,966 crore is allocated for the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). It aim to enhance access to secondary education.

To motivate teachers and infuse new training tools, the ‘Pandit Madan mohan Malviya New Teachers Training Programme’ is being launched. Jaitley stated that a sum of Rs 500 crore has been set aside for the scheme.

The government also announced the setting up of five new IITs and IIMs.

While the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) were proposed to be set up in Jammu, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) would be set up in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra.

The government further announced that a school assessment programme was being initiated at a cost of Rs.30 crore.

Decline in drop-out rate among girl students

digitalLEARNING Network

July 10, 2014

HRD Minister Smriti Irnai in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question stated that the District Information System for Education (DISE), the average annual drop-out rate among girl students at upper primary level has decreased to 4.01% in 2013-14 from 6.08% in 2011-12.

The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme provides for a multi-pronged approach to check drop out amongst girls through inter-alia, enhancing access to primary & upper primary schools by opening schools within one kilometer and three kilometers. respectively, strengthening school infrastructure especially girls toilets, improving the teachers pupil ratio, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms, as well as strategies for gender positive textbooks, gender sensitization of teachers and educational administrators. In addition, 3602 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas or residential schools for girls at upper primary level in educationally backward blocks of the country, have been set up. The mid-day meal programme is also implemented in elementary schools, to help retain children in schools, including girls.

Government plans more polytechnic institutions in the country

digitalLEARNING Network

July 10, 2014

In information given by the HRD Minister, Smriti Irani in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question today stated that A total of 614 proposals were received by the Government from private entities under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) component of Model School Scheme for setting up of schools in respect of 3203 Non-Educationally Backward Blocks spread all over the country.

Of the 614 proposals, 192 private entities were shortlisted based on the shortlisting criteria specified in clause 2.2.2 of the Request for Qualification (RFQ) document. Remaining 422 proposals were not shortlisted and the reasons for non-shortlisting were conveyed individually. The Government proposes to undertake a review of the PPP component of the Model School Scheme.

Government to set up Model School under PPP mode

digitalLEARNING Network

July 10, 2014

New IIITs to be established

digitalLEARNING Network

July 10, 2014

Union HRD Minister Smt. Smriti Irani informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply to its question that the centrally funded IIITs, currently located at Allahabad, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Kancheepuram are fully funded by the Central Government through plan and non-plan allocations. The concerned State Government provides approximately 100 acres of land, free of cost and encumbrances.The capital cost of each IIIT is Rs. 128.00 Crore to be contributed in the ratio of 50:35:15 by the Central Government, the State Government and the industry respectively (57.5:35:7.5 in case of North-Eastern region). Concerned State Government will provide 50-100 acres of land, free of cost and encumbrances.

Based on Public-Private-Partnership(PPP) model, the Union Cabinet approved a Scheme for setting up 20 New Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), on 7 December 2010, with an outlay of Rs. 2808.71 crores (Rs. 2558.71 crores for non-recurring, Rs. 200.00 crore for recurring expenditure and Rs. 50.00 crore for faculty development expenditure).

Measures to control commercialisation of higher education

digitalLEARNING Network

July 10, 2014

There have been reports about the unfair practices in admission and related matters by institutions for higher education and exploiting students by charging capitation fee. This was confirmed by HRD Minister Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Lok Sabha question on 9^th July.

The AICTE has informed that in 02 cases collection of capitation fee was proved. It has imposed stiff penalties and directed refund of the capitation fee amount.

UGC has informed that it has taken up the complaints with the appropriate authorities of the concerned institutions and also with the Central Bureau of Investigation in one case for necessary action.

The Government has taken various measures to curb the commercialization of higher education. Accordingly, the UGC has issued the UGC Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities, 2003. Para 3.9 of these regulations provide that “the admission procedure and fixation of fees shall be in accordance with the norms/guidelines prescribed by the UGC and other concerned statutory bodies. The UGC has also issued the UGC (Institutions Deemed-to- be Universities) Regulations 2010. Para 6.5 of these Regulations provides that, “the level of the fees charged for the courses offered in deemed-to-be universities shall have a reasonable relation to the cost of running the course. The fee structure shall be displayed in the prospectus and on the institution’s website”. The UGC has further issued the UGC (Institutions Deemed-to- be Universities) (Amendment) Regulations 2014. According to these amended regulations the deemed to be universities have to mandatorily publish a Prospectus before commencement of admission process indicating the details of the fee structure, the number of seats approved for each course, the age limit prescribed for candidates etc. The regulations prohibit such universities from publishing any advertisement inducing students for taking admission claiming to be recognized by appropriate authority where it is not so recognized.

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