Education News – Weekly Newsletter for January 1-3, 2011

IGNOU starts online training programme for teachers

NEW DELHI – The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started an online capacity development programme for teachers covering topics like evaluation of assignments, development of study skills and usage of new technologies for student support.

The programme is called the Academic Counsellor’s Training-Online (ACT-Online).
“Grounded both in theory and practice of Open Distance … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : IGNOU starts online training programme for teachers.

Gujarat to focus on education in a big way: Modi

AHMEDABAD – After making Gujarat “investor-friendly”, the government’s focus would now be on developing the state’s education sector from the primary to the professional level, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Monday.

“While the state has achieved investor-friendly status, education is it’s next primary field of concern. The state had nine universities in 2000 and … Read more »»».

Haryana to introduce computer education in state colleges

CHANDIGARH – All government colleges in Haryana will run computer education courses to prepare youth from the state for the information technology (IT) industry, a senior official of the states higher education department said Wednesday.

Haryanas Department of Higher Education has planned to introduce computer education in 67 government colleges of the state to provide … Read : Haryana to introduce computer education in state colleges.

Cold wave shuts schools in Noida

NOIDA – In view of the harsh winter, the authorities have decided to shut all schools in Noida and Greater Noida till Jan 2, 2011, an official said.

We have decided to close all schools for the time being, Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate Deepak Agarwal said. North India has been shivering under …. Read the original article  : Cold wave shuts schools in Noida.

Students break fast after Mamata’s promise

KOLKATA – Ten students Tuesday broke their fortnight-long fast after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee assured them that their demand to include the word madrasa in the name of Aliah University here will be fulfilled if her party comes to power in West Bengal.

The Pashimbanga Madrasa Students union has been demanding the inclusion of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Students break fast after Mamata’s promise.

Lucknow University enrolls country’s youngest matriculate

LUCKNOW – ‘Wonder Kid’ Sushma Verma, who holds the distinction of being the country’s youngest matriculate at the age of seven, will now pursue her graduation from Lucknow University at the age of 10.

University authorities Tuesday approved the application moved by Verma’s parents a few months ago for enrolling their daughter in a science …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Lucknow University enrolls country’s youngest matriculate.

Why unsafe Delhi schools not demolished, asks rights body

NEW DELHI – The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has issued a notice to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), asking why there is a delay in demolition of 35 MCD school buildings that have been declared unsafe.

This, the commission said, was a violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Why unsafe Delhi schools not demolished, asks rights body.

Snow shuts down high schools in Kashmir

JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday announced the closure of all high and higher secondary schools in the Kashmir Valley, reversing its own decision of keeping these educational institutions open during winters.

“All high and higher secondary schools in Kashmir Valley have been closed till further orders,” an official spokesperson said.
The government … Original article on : Snow shuts down high schools in Kashmir.

Five Kerala schools get infotech upgrade

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Five government schools in Kerala have been designated as “smart schools” and will receive Rs.1.25 crore each to install multimedia projectors, wireless internet and other infrastructure, an official said Wednesday.

Called the “ICT in Schools Scheme”, the project is an initiative of IT@School, the technology arm of the general education department of the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Seats in technical education to be increased

NEW DELHI – Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Thursday announced revised norms for All India Council for Technical Education to increase the seats in technical education.

The ministry also made it mandatory for technical institutions to reserve 5 percent seats for the weaker sections of society.
The aim is to increase the …. Read the original article  : Seats in technical education to be increased.

Vice chancellors appointed for two Maharashtra varsities

MUMBAI – Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan Thursday appointed new vice chancellors for the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth in Ahmednagar district and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad district, a statement said.

Dr. Tukaram A. More, the former director of Indian Institute of Vegetable Research in Varanasi was appointed the vice chancellor of Mahatma Phule … Original article on : Vice chancellors appointed for two Maharashtra varsities.

Sibal announces additional 200,000 engineering seats

NEW DELHI – In a pleasant surprise for students, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Thursday announced an increase of almost 200,000 seats in engineering courses in India.

As part of reforms in All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms, the minister also announced additional 80,000 seats in management and 2,200 seats in architecture … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sibal announces additional 200,000 engineering seats.

Haryana schools to remain closed Jan 7-16

CHANDIGARH – The education department of Haryana Friday announced that all schools will remain closed from Jan 7 to 15, 2011, in view of the cold conditions prevailing across the state.

Director of Secondary Education Vijayendra Kumar said that the schools would reopen after winter vacations Jan 17.
…. Source article  : Haryana schools to remain closed Jan 7-16.

Kerala education channel to go online Jan 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Now you can watch Kerala government’s education channel live on your laptop as it will go online in the new year.

IT@School ViCTERS (Virtual Classroom Technology on Edusat for Rural Schools) is the only channel in the state to air specific curriculum-based programmes, international programmes on science and technology prepared by Deutsche Welle …. Original article  : Kerala education channel to go online Jan 1.

Winter holidays for Bihar kids extended

PATNA – Bihar Sunday extended the winter holidays for public and private school children till Jan 9 to save them from the intense cold wave in the state.

“The government has ordered the closure of all schools till Jan 9,” the official said. The schools were earlier scheduled to reopen Monday.
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Winter holidays for Bihar kids extended.

HLL Lifecare ties up with IGNOU to offer two courses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – State-owned HLL Lifecare Ltd which makes condoms and vaccine and offers consultancy has joined hands with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to offer two clinical engineering and management courses, a statement said Saturday.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad will formally launch the professional distance education courses … Read more : HLL Lifecare ties up with IGNOU to offer two courses.

‘IGNOU at par with international institutions’

NEW DELHI – The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is at par with other national and international institutions of higher learning, Vice-Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said Saturday.

Pillai said that IGNOU has established itself as a national resource centre and a provider of quality education through its high-quality self-learning material and innovative programmes.
[..] Read the original article: here.