Education News – Weekly Newsletter for January 3-10, 2011

Monday, January 10, 2011

Code of conduct planned for central varsities, says Sibal

CHENNAI – The central government is planning to introduce a code of conduct for central universities to bring about transparency and autonomy with accountability through self-regulation, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said Monday.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 98th Indian Science Congress here, Sibal said the ministry recognises that … Read more >>>.

Goa college cancels two papers after MBBS exam leak

PANAJI – The Goa Medical College (GMC) has ordered a probe after two MBBS question papers were leaked prior to the exams, forcing their cancellation.

Speaking to IANS Monday, GMC dean V.N. Jindal said the report on the leakage of the Medicine paper I and II for the 100-odd third year students submitted to …. Original article : Goa college cancels two papers after MBBS exam leak.

Agra schools close for two days as mercury dips

AGRA – Agra schools will remain closed Monday and Tuesday due to the intensive cold wave conditions in the Taj city, district magistrate Amrit Abhijat said.

With Wednesday a holiday due to Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, there are chances that the schools will reopen only Jan 10, said a teacher Hari Dutt Sharma.
The … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Agra schools close for two days as mercury dips.

Nursery admission process to begin in all Delhi schools Monday

NEW DELHI – Nursery admissions in Delhi will start in a full-fledged manner Monday as parents gear up to brave the cold while queuing up at schools for buying application forms.

We are all prepared to start the year by lining up for the admission form, said Yashika Malik, a software professional whose daughter turned …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Nursery admission process to begin in all Delhi schools Monday.

After cabinet, teachers to declare assets in Bihar

PATNA – After Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet ministers made public their assets last week, Bihar government school teachers also will have to submit their details by the end of this month.

It is seen as an initiative of Nitish Kumar, who declared a war against corruption after becoming the chief minister … Read more »»».

Chandigarh’s RTE confusion delays admission process

CHANDIGARH – Confusion prevails here over implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act and activists are accusing private school managements of back-pedalling on flimsy grounds for fear of losing their elitist tags. This has delayed the admission process in various city schools.

The Chandigarh administration, the private schools association, social activists and parents are still … Read more >>>.

Orissa school girls to get free cycles

BHUBANESWAR – Orissa Tuesday decided to distribute free bicycles to Class 10 girl students with an aim to improve the state’s female literacy rate which has remained considerably low compared to the national average.

All girl students studying in Class 10 in government and government-aided schools will be given free bicycles, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik … Read more : Orissa school girls to get free cycles.

SNDT University honours Meira Kumar with doctorate

MUMBAI – Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was Tuesday honoured with a doctorate by the SNDT Women’s University on its 60th convocation day.

Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayan conferred the honorary degree on the speaker.
“I feel extremely honoured and privileged to receive the honorary doctorate conferred upon me,” Meira Kumar said.
“The SNDT University, …. Source article on Gaea Times at : SNDT University honours Meira Kumar with doctorate.

IGNOU to offer lectures for Ph.D students in economics

NEW DELHI – Starting its first face-to-face lecture for a Ph.D programme in social sciences, the Indira Gandhi National Open University is starting lectures for its economics students.

“Now, students aspiring to do their research work in economics can attend a face-to-face lecture,” a statement from IGNOU said.
“This has been started keeping in … Read more >>.

Setting up new Nalanda a challenging task: Amartya Sen

CHENNAI – Nobel laureate Amartya Sen Tuesday said restoring Bihar’s Nalanda University – the world’s oldest – was a difficult task, but progress was being made.

“The university is being re-started right now, and since I happen to have the diffcult task of chairing its interim governing body, I am finding out how hard it …. Read the original article : Setting up new Nalanda a challenging task: Amartya Sen.

Single parents in a fix over nursery admissions

NEW DELHI – Lack of clarity on the points distribution system for nursery admissions has created confusion among many parents in the capital, especially single mothers.

“Single parent only means ‘widow/widower’ to the schools. There is no mention of divorced women or those who have adopted a child, said a baffled Ritika Maheshwari (name changed), … Original article on : Single parents in a fix over nursery admissions.

Soon, protein supplements from slaughterhouse waste

CHENNAI – India will soon bring a legislation to allow extraction of nutritional ingredients from slaughterhouse waste, which will then be sold in the market as protein supplements, the Central Pollution Control Board chief said here Tuesday.

The total availability of offal/bones in the country generated from large slaughterhouses is …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Soon, protein supplements from slaughterhouse waste.

Winter chill shuts Noida schools

NOIDA – In view of the harsh winter, authorities Wednesday decided to close all schools in Noida and Ghaziabad on the capital’s outskirts till Jan 9.

While Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate Deepak Agarwal declared the schools closed in Noida, a similar order was given by Ghaziabad District Magistrate Hridesh Kumar.
North India has been … Read : Winter chill shuts Noida schools.

‘Education should be inclusive’

BHUBANESWAR – Minister of State for Education D. Purandeswari Wednesday said here that making education inclusive was the main focus of the government.

The bigger challenge before Indian higher education system is to bring equity in quality of education across the length and breadth of the country, Purandeswari said addressing a special session of Central …. Source article on Gaea Times at : ‘Education should be inclusive’.

Sibal stresses on promoting Urdu

NEW DELHI – A national strategy is needed to preserve the heritage of the Urdu language, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said here Wednesday.

We need to preserve the past and at the same time need to make the study of Urdu relevant as regards the aspiration of the youth, Sibal said while addressing …. Original source : Sibal stresses on promoting Urdu.

Google tech-head, Bluetooth inventor to address Mumbai students

MUMBAI – Google’s Chief Technology Advocate Michael Jones, Bluetooth inventor Jaap Haartsen, and constructor of the world’s tallest building William Baker will address thousands of students at the ‘Techfest’ organised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay starting Friday.

While Jones will speak about how Google developed Google Earth and Google Maps, Haartsen will talk … Read more »».

Madhya Pradesh schools shut due to cold

BHOPAL – All primary and middle level schools in Madhya Pradesh will remain closed Jan 6-15 due to extreme cold, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here Wednesday.

The past few days’ cold wave has brought down mercury levels across the state, with minimum temperatures hovering between 1-4 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Bhopal … Read : Madhya Pradesh schools shut due to cold.

Sibal invites Indian diaspora back home

NEW DELHI – Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal Friday called for “collaboration” from the Indian diaspora in building the education sector and invited them back to the land of “new opportunities”.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the ninth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in the capital, Sibal said collaboration from the Indian diaspora … Original article on : Sibal invites Indian diaspora back home.

Chill forces MCD to extend winter vacation in schools

NEW DELHI – The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Thursday extended the winter vacation for school students till Jan 13 in view of the cold wave that has been sweeping north India since the past one week.

The vacation was earlier scheduled from Dec 25-Jan 9.
Keeping in view the effect of low temperature on … Read more : Chill forces MCD to extend winter vacation in schools.

Nursery admissions: Schools make parents dance to their tunes

NEW DELHI – The nursery admission process in Delhi schools is proving to be confusing and chaotic for some parents, who have blamed a few institutions of ignoring the government’s suggestions and making them dance to their tunes.

Like in the previous academic session, children seeking admission to nursery for the …. Source article : Nursery admissions: Schools make parents dance to their tunes.

AICTE Norms Upset Institutions

DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The new rules of the All India Council for Technical Education commonly called AICTE have not gone down well with the B schools that offer PGDM programs countrywide. The AICTE diktat says that the prevalent management entrance exams conducted by reputed management schools like the XAT, MICAT or …. Source : Gaea News Network.

IGNOU invites applications for online nutrition course

NEW DELHI – The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Friday invited applications for its month-long online programme on nutrition to be conducted in February.

“The main objective of the programme is to sensitise and guide, policy and programme leaders to rely more on evidence based programming for achieving nutrition-based security and sustainable development,” a …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Global academic ’roundtable’ in Gujarat Jan 10

GANDHINAGAR – As part of the ensuing Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit, the state government Friday announced ‘International Roundtable for Academic Institutions’ (IRAI) to be held here Jan 10.

The IRAI aims to connect several international academic institutes with various Gujarat universities. The ’roundtable’ is designed to bring together renowned leaders, academicians and opinion-makers to …. Read the original article : Global academic ’roundtable’ in Gujarat Jan 10.