Education News – Weekly Newsletter for December 13-20, 2010

Maulana Azad varsity to open satellite campus in Srinagar

SRINAGAR – The Maulana Azad National Urdu University will open its satellite campus in Srinagar and start two womens polytechnic colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, a top official said here Monday.

University vice chancellor Professor Muhammad Mian said the varsity would offer post-graduate courses in commerce, political science, and Islamic studies.
We would offer masters …. Original article  : Maulana Azad varsity to open satellite campus in Srinagar.

Now, pigs teach tiny tots to behave in British school

LONDON – Two pigs are now teaching four-year-old pupils at a school in Britain to behave well and a pleased head teacher said: “It sounds bizarre but it’s working brilliantly.”

The miniature pigs – Charlie and Lola – are permitted to live in the classroom. They run around between the childrens desks or lie down [..] Read the original article: here.

India Post to print best tiger stamps by students

NEW DELHI – Three thousand schoolchildren took part in a Save the Tiger stamp designing competition here Sunday. The six best designs will be issued as India Post stamps on Children’s Day, Nov 14, next year.

The competition set the mood for the larger world philatelic exhibition, Indipex 2011, by the India Post next year, …. Read the original article  : India Post to print best tiger stamps by students.

Bihar’s Super 30 impresses Hollywood’s James Cameron

PATNA – Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron was all ears when Anand Kumar, who founded Bihar’s Super 30 free coaching centre for students, narrated the real life stories of hope that his institute has generated year after year.

“Cameron told me it was amazing to listen to my real life stories of hope. He was so …. Read the original article  : Bihar’s Super 30 impresses Hollywood’s James Cameron.

Apex court clears way for common medical entrance test

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday permitted the Medical Council of India (MCI) to conduct a common test for undergraduate medical courses while it is yet to decide on pending cases against the council.

The court said the Medical Council did not need court approval for framing the rules and regulations for conducting …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Delhi nursery admission guidelines out Wednesday

NEW DELHI – The confusion prevailing over nursery school admissions in Delhi is expected to be over Wednesday as the government would issue a formulated guideline system, Delhi’s Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said Monday.

“The guidelines will come on Wednesday. We will find out a way in which parents and students are not harassed,” … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Delhi nursery admission guidelines out Wednesday.

Introduction of Mandarin in CBSE syllabus hailed

NEW DELHI – The government Monday hailed the introduction of Mandarin Chinese language studies in the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), saying it will be a trust building measure between India and China.

“The introduction of Chinese in schools will increase trust between the two countries. It will help prepare …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Introduction of Mandarin in CBSE syllabus hailed.

Delhi students to flaunt their Mandarin before Wen

NEW DELHI – Nearly 50 students and teachers from a city school will showcase their proficiency in Mandarin to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Wednesday when he arrives here on his three-day India visit.

Wen will interact with students of Tagore International School during a talk on Mandarin, Chinese culture and calligraphy.
“The school has …. Original article  : Delhi students to flaunt their Mandarin before Wen.

British visa rules to affect 20,000 Chinese

BEIJING – Around 20,000 Chinese students may be forced to leave Britain if new proposals to tighten British visa policies come into effect next year, a media report said Wednesday.

The British Home Office intends to tighten visa regulations for international students to reduce the country’s annual migration and cope with high domestic unemployment. The …. Source  : British visa rules to affect 20,000 Chinese.

Chinese checkers: Mandarin teachers in short supply in India

NEW DELHI – Growing economic and cultural ties with China may have spurred a demand for Mandarin but experts say strict visa norms are preventing teachers of the language in China from coming to India, affecting the quality of instruction.

This even as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has plans to introduce Mandarin …. Source article  : Chinese checkers: Mandarin teachers in short supply in India.

Apex court questions states over deemed varsities

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday issued notice to all the states asking them how they would accommodate students of 44 private deemed universities if these were to be derecognised.

The apex court bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma said this while hearing a public interest litigation by Viplav Sharma who … Original source on Gaea Times at : Apex court questions states over deemed varsities.

Parents await Delhi’s new nursery admission system

NEW DELHI – The Delhi government’s decision to balance both the point and lottery systems in the new nursery admission guidelines that are likely to be announced Wednesday, has drawn a mixed response from parents in the capital.

“The new guidelines should be just and based on a rationale. The lottery system was totally random, …. Read the original article  : Parents await Delhi’s new nursery admission system.

Panel to monitor right to education law implementation

NEW DELHI – As the government prepares to implement the right to education law from 2011, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Tuesday announced setting up a committee to monitor quality.

We are setting up a committee which can set the guidelines for quality of education under the law, said Kiran … Read more : Panel to monitor right to education law implementation.

Students shiver as winter schooling begins in Kashmir

SRINAGAR – Winter schooling has started in nearly 650 schools of Kashmir Valley, but the lack of heating arrangements in these institutions is worrying parents as most students are shivering their way through the classes.

“It was very nice to go to school, but despite wearing a ‘pheran’ (tweed overgarment worn by locals to ward … Read more »»».

Aviation fuel prices raised 3.6 percent

NEW DELHI – State-owned oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Wednesday raised aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices by 3.6 percent, taking them up by Rs.1,636.58 a kilolitre to Rs.46,876.58 in the national capital.

The new rates would be applicable from Thursday. The hike comes against the backdrop of a decision taken by the three …. Original source  : Aviation fuel prices raised 3.6 percent.

Delhi schools to set nursery admission criteria, parents jittery (Second lead)

NEW DELHI – Heeding to pressure from schools, the Delhi government Wednesday allowed them to set the criteria for nursery admissions but said they must reserve a quarter of their seats for poor families. Parents, however, feared the freedom will be misused.

Announcing the guidelines, Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said 25 percent of nursery … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi schools to set nursery admission criteria, parents jittery (Second lead).

India-China friends forever: Wen Jiabao

NEW DELHI – “India-China friends forever” was the message sent out by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao when he visited the Tagore International School here Wednesday to interact with its students.

Wen who arrived here Wednesday on a three-day visit, interacted with nearly 50 students of of the school during a talk on Mandarin, Chinese … Read more : India-China friends forever: Wen Jiabao.

Delhi schools free to formulate nursery admissions criteria

NEW DELHI – The Delhi government Wednesday left schools free to devise their own criteria for nursery admissions but said they must reserve a quarter of the seats for poor families.

Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely announced the guidelines.
He said 25 percent of nursery seats will have to be kept aside for children … Read more >>>.

Chinese premier Wen visits Delhi school

NEW DELHI – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at the Tagore International School here Wednesday afternoon to interact with students and talk on Mandarin, Chinese culture and calligraphy.

The premier, who arrived on a three day visit to India earlier in the day, received a warm welcome by the students and teachers here.
…. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese premier Wen visits Delhi school.

1,200 Delhi schools lack fire safety measures

NEW DELHI – As many as 1,200 schools in the national capital, including some top privately run institutions, are flouting fire safety norms, a right to information (RTI) query has revealed.

While many government schools do not have basic fire-fighting equipment, many private schools have not bothered to get their facilities certified from the fire …. Read the original article  : 1,200 Delhi schools lack fire safety measures.

Delhi nursery admissions to balance point, lottery systems

NEW DELHI – Delhi government has formulated guidelines for nursery admissions and it will be a balance of both the point and lottery systems, an official said Wednesday.

“The admission guidelines for unaided public schools will be announced Wednesday evening as it has been formulated. The government has tried to balance both the point and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi nursery admissions to balance point, lottery systems.

Punjab students hail Australian visa review

CHANDIGARH – Students aspiring to study in Australia and overseas education consultants in Punjab Thursday hailed the proposed relaxations announced by the Australian government in the student visa norms.

“The new rules, when they are implemented, will cover 38 different countries, including India. They have upgraded India as a lesser risk country. Now Indian students …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Punjab students hail Australian visa review.

China welcomes introduction of Mandarin in schools

NEW DELHI – Welcoming India’s decision to introduce Mandarin studies in schools, China Thursday offered its help in implementing the programme.

China will offer support for training Chinese language teachers and providing Chinese language training materials, said a joint communique issued by the two countries during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s India visit.
The Central Board …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China welcomes introduction of Mandarin in schools.

A university to teach how to laugh your way through life!

BANGALORE – Imagine a campus where you learn how to laugh instead of mugging up textbooks, where you are trained to accumulate health instead of wealth, where you don’t lose sleep over exams and instead get cured of insomnia. A ‘university’ like that will soon be a reality on Bangalore’s outskirts!

The city, which … Read : A university to teach how to laugh your way through life!.

China asks teachers not to accept holiday gifts

BEIJING – China has warned schools and teachers not to accept any gift or bribe or “misuse” public money during the coming New Year holiday season, a media report said Saturday.

The ministry of education has issued a circular saying teachers have been banned from accepting money, securities and other costly gifts from students and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : China asks teachers not to accept holiday gifts.

Notice issued over nursery admission guidelines

NEW DELHI – The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) Friday issued notice to the Delhi government over the nursery admission guidelines, saying they were violative of the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

“The commission issued notice to the principal secretary, education, Delhi government to re-examine the order on … Original article on : Notice issued over nursery admission guidelines.

Campus violence should stop: Buddhadeb

KOLKATA – Days after a student was killed in clashes at a college in Howrah district, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said Sunday that campus violence is unacceptable and should stop immediately.

“A student lost his life in campus violence. Another student suffered a severe eye injury. These kinds of incidents are totally unacceptable. … Read : Campus violence should stop: Buddhadeb.

Students get teacher’s body at first dissection

LONDON – It was their first dissection, but students at one of Sweden’s top medical schools were faced with a familiar sight in the classroom – the body on the table belonged to their late teacher.

“The first autopsy is really, really emotional, and we autopsied someone we knew,” one of the shocked students …. Read the original article  : Students get teacher’s body at first dissection.

India is favourite destination of Canadian varsities

TORONTO – India is back on the radar of Canadian universities and colleges which are looking to ramp up enrolment of Indian students, says the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).

According to AUCC president Paul Davidson, who led a huge educational mission to India last month, India is now becoming the favourite …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Hostel’, a film on horrors of ragging

MUMBAI – Horrific stories of ragging, especially of a student who was made to strip and dance naked every night, and even raped by his seniors, filled “Sarkar” writer Manish Gupta with rage. It has now taken the form of his debut film “Hostel”, which shows the extent to which ragging can affect an individual’s … Read more >>>.

UAE to set up aerospace research centre

Abu Dhabi, Dec 18 (IANS/WAM) The UAE plans to set up an Aerospace Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC) in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with global academic and industrial institutions, it was announced Saturday.

The Khalifa University and Mubadala Aerospace have signed an MoU to set up the centre at the university’s campus here. … Read : UAE to set up aerospace research centre.

Now, a UAE institute to teach good business ethics

Abu Dhabi, Dec 18 (IANS/WAM) An Islamic institute to help organisations inculcate good business ethics is being envisaged here, it was announced Saturday.

In this endeavour, the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) have signed an MoU to create the region’s first Institute of Islamic Economics and Ethics.
…. Original article  : Now, a UAE institute to teach good business ethics.

Inter-school painting contest winners get UN awards

NEW DELHI – Winners of an inter-school painting competition, which aimed at promoting awareness of hunger and malnutrition issues among the youth, were awarded by the UN in the capital Saturday.

Hosted by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), hundreds of students from 18 schools in the National Capital Region — comprising Delhi and …. Original article  : Inter-school painting contest winners get UN awards.

Seven kids burnt in face for chatting in class

BEIJING – Seven kids were burnt in the face using an iron by a teacher because they didn’t listen to her and chatted during class at a kindergarten in east China’s Jiangsu province, a media report said.

The teacher, a single woman surnamed Yi, would have hurt more children Dec 14 in Xinghua city if … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Seven kids burnt in face for chatting in class.