Education News – Weekly Newsletter for December 1-6, 2010

Conditional practicing licence for Gujarat law graduates

GANDHINAGAR – The law graduates of Gujarat will now get licence to practice in courts without having to clear the professional test conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI).

Bar Council of Gujarat president J.J. Patel Monday said that a resolution in this regard has been passed and licences will be issued after taking …. Source article  : Conditional practicing licence for Gujarat law graduates.

Adult education programme can benefit from literacy drive

NEW DELHI – Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari Monday said the adult literacy programme “Saakshar Bharat” should look on to benefit from the infrastructure created under the literacy drive “Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan”.

“The important point is how to bring convergence between the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Saakshar Bharat, Purandeswari said addressing …. Original source  : Adult education programme can benefit from literacy drive.

School makes girls perform bike stunts

LUCKNOW – A renowned girls’ school in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh is facing enquiry after a local TV channel aired footage of students performing stunts on bikes as part of preparations for its annual day programme, an official said Wednesday.

Students of classes IX to XII of St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School were shown …. Read the original article  : School makes girls perform bike stunts.

Student protesters clash with police in Rome over cuts

ROME – Police in Rome Tuesday baton-charged groups of students who launched eggs and other missiles in protest against the Italian government’s proposed university reforms.

Several people received light injuries in the clashes, which took place near the lower house of parliament. At least one person was detained, news reports said.
The reform proposal presented …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Student protesters clash with police in Rome over cuts.

Himachal to sensitise students about AIDS during school prayers

SHIMLA – The Himachal Pradesh government will disseminate information about HIV/AIDS during the morning prayer session of every senior secondary school to sensitise students about the scourge, a minister said Tuesday.

“To sensitise the young minds about AIDS, the government has decided to start educating the students in the prayer session of every senior … Original source on Gaea Times at : Himachal to sensitise students about AIDS during school prayers.

Chew gum in class, German school pupils told

LONDON – Students at a school in Germany are permitted to chew gum as “it helps the children concentrate and deal with stress”, an official said.

Wolfgang Ellegast of the education ministry said students at the Volkenschwand school were being allowed to chew gum because it is good for the children’s health and improves their … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chew gum in class, German school pupils told.

China ranks 4th in world’s research spending

BEIJING – China has spent more than 580 billion yaun (about $87 billion) in scientific research and development (R&D) in 2009, making it the world’s fourth major investor after the US, Japan and Germany, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.

The findings, published Wednesday, was part of the national R&D resources survey, held …. Read the original article  : China ranks 4th in world’s research spending.

University employees hold rally, seek funds for education

NEW DELHI – Thousands of employees from about 200 universities across the country Wednesday gathered at the Ramlila Ground in Delhi and marched to parliament to press the government for hike in education funds.

The employees staged a mass-meeting at Jantar Mantar to press for their eight-point charter of demands, Bhabani Hota, former …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : University employees hold rally, seek funds for education.

Haryana now has a library policy

CHANDIGARH – For the first time, a library policy has been formulated in Haryana for the proper management and organisation of the reading material among students, a senior official said here Wednesday.

The policy, formulated by the higher education department, is aimed to ensure optimum utilisation of the resources available in the libraries of the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Haryana now has a library policy.

Panjab University to host its pre-1970 alumni, including PM

CHANDIGARH – It’s an institution that has had the likes of a president, prime ministers, union cabinet ministers, Nobel laureates, governors, chief ministers, actors and other distinguished people on its rolls.

As Panjab University in Chandigarh gets down to hosting its biggest alumni meet in February next year – what it calls the “first …. Original article  : Panjab University to host its pre-1970 alumni, including PM.

All work and little play for Chinese kids

BEIJING – Yuang, the mother of an eight-year-old who studies in a public school in the Chinese capital, says, “My daughter hardly gets time to play. She goes for school at six in the morning and comes back by evening. After that she has to finish loads of homework.”

Parents in China have been expressing … Original article on : All work and little play for Chinese kids.

Supreme Court issues notices to government on Tata’s plea

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday issued notices to the central government on a petition of Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group of Companies, seeking a ban on publication of transcripts of corporate lobbyist Nira Radia’s phone intercepts related to the 2G spectrum scam.

Tata’s plea pressed for the enforcement of his right …. Read the original article  : Supreme Court issues notices to government on Tata’s plea.

BPO firms unaware of liabilities due to data breaches

NEW DELHI – Employees of more than three-fourths of the business process outsourcing (BPO) firms lack awareness on liabilities arising out of data breaches, according to a survey released Thursday by global advisory firm KPMG.

“The industry treats data security more as a hygiene factor, rather than a point of differentiation to gain competitive advantage,” … Original article on : BPO firms unaware of liabilities due to data breaches.

Kerala school project gets global recognition

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Kerala’s IT@School project has received an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the prestigious Stockholm Challenge Awards 2010, an official said Thursday.

The Stockholm Challenge Award, instituted in 1994 at Stockholm in Sweden, is considered to be the biggest recognition in information and communications technology (ICT) initiatives worldwide.
IT@School is the technology arm of the general …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Kerala school project gets global recognition.

Kerala to set up centres for disabled children

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate activity centres for autistic and visually impaired children here Friday, an official said.

Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) director Ishita Roy said Thursday that the activity lab for the autistic children and an audio library for the visually impaired would be inaugurated on the occasion of …. Original source  : Kerala to set up centres for disabled children.

Mizoram launches special literacy campaign

AIZAWL – Mizoram has launched a special campaign to make the northeastern state fully literate by March next year, Education Minister Pu Lalsawta has said.

The minister launched the Rapid Action Total Literacy Campaign (RATLC) in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district late Friday.
“The ambitious mission was aimed to make Mizoram a 100 percent literate state …. Read the original article  : Mizoram launches special literacy campaign.

On apex court orders, La Martiniere to take back expelled student

KOLKATA – La Martiniere For Boys student Srijan Banerjee, who was expelled from the well-known city school for not agreeing to the demands of a teacher, is to be taken back into the school soon, if possible Monday, following the intervention of the Supreme Court.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court Friday asked the … Read more >>>.

Punjab wants NRIs to help upgrade rural schools

CHANDIGARH – The Punjab government wants well-settled Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from the state to contribute to upgrade government schools in the states rural areas.

Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan Friday appealed to Punjabi NRIs living across the world “to contribute magnanimously for the upgradation of infrastructure in government schools situated in rural areas”.
Punjab …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sarva Shikha Abhiyan main vehicle for education: Sibal

NEW DELHI – The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) will be the main vehicle for implementation of the Right to Education Act, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said Friday.

The revised SSA programme is the main vehicle for implementation of the RTE Act, he said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The act, … Original article on : Sarva Shikha Abhiyan main vehicle for education: Sibal.

70 schoolkids fall ill after being given iron tablets

LUCKNOW – As many as 70 students of a primary school in Uttar Pradeshs Jhansi district were hospitalised Friday after they fell ill on consuming iron and de-worming tablets given by government medical staff, officials said. All the students are now out of danger.

Over 100 students of the government-run Durgapur Primary School were …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 70 schoolkids fall ill after being given iron tablets.

Chhattisgarh to open schools in Maoist strongholds

RAIPUR – Chhattisgarh will open three residential schools for boys in areas worst hit by Maoist violence, a statement said Sunday.

“The government will construct three ashram (residential) schools for boys with 50-seat capacity each in Dantewada district with Rs.94.42 lakh (over $208,000) on expenditure,” the statement said.
The ashram schools will come up at …. Original article  : Chhattisgarh to open schools in Maoist strongholds.

Reducing economic inequity in insurgency-prone areas

DEHRADUN – To catch them young and at their raw best – that is the motto of an environmental group that give skill training to 60 youths from India’s most insurgency-hit quarters to make them self-employed and help them overcome their temptation to join rebel groups.

For 19-year-old Alpha Rani Minj, life has always been …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sarkozy invites Indian students to study in France

BANGALORE – French President Nicolas Sarkozy Saturday invited Indian students to study in France and offered to expand ties with Indian universities.

“France wants to host more Indian students. We can educate and train young Indians in cutting-edge research,” Sarkozy said at a function within hours of arriving in this tech hub on a four-day … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sarkozy invites Indian students to study in France.