Education News – Weekly Newsletter for February 21-28, 2011

A school for their children – a gift from illiterate poor parents

SIROHI – They can’t read or write but are determined to ensure their children get proper education. A community of tribals in Rajasthan who toil hard to make just about Rs.70 a day have built a school for their children with their hard earned money.

The tribals in the tiny Vasela Phali village in Rajasthan’s …. Read the original article  : A school for their children – a gift from illiterate poor parents.

Jamia is minority institution, rules commission

NEW DELHI – The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Tuesday observed that the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is a minority education institution founded by the Muslims for the benefit of community.

“We hold that the Jamia Millia Islamia is a minority education institution,” said the three-member bench of the NCMEI in its judgment … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Jamia is minority institution, rules commission.

Global design competition for Nalanda university

NEW DELHI – As the historic Nalanda University is set to be rebuilt, Vice Chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said Monday that a global design competition for the building’s architecture will be announced in three to four months.

Talking to reporters in Delhi at a press conference, the newly appointed vice chancellor said that the new university …. Original article  : Global design competition for Nalanda university.

Kerala’s ICT textbook to teach audio, video technology

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The text book on information and communication technology (ICT) for Kerala’s class-nine school students will help them learn audio recording and video editing, an official said Monday.

The text book, developed by the IT@School Project, will be available from the next academic year beginning in a few months’ time.
Apart from …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kerala’s ICT textbook to teach audio, video technology.

Government will universalise secondary education: Patil

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil Monday said that after Right to Education for primary education, the government is committed to universalising secondary education.

“My government is committed to universalizing secondary education through the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. Girls’ hostels are being set up in each of the 3,500 educationally backward blocks in the country …. Original source  : Government will universalise secondary education: Patil.

UAE students to get study material on BlackBerry phones

Abu Dhabi, Feb 23 (IANS/WAM) Learning in Abu Dhabi University will now move beyond the walls of the classroom as the students will get BlackBerry smartphones to access all course materials and topic updates whenever and wherever they are.

The university is implementing a mobile education programme powered by Etisalat in collaboration with Blackboard Inc.
…. Source article  : UAE students to get study material on BlackBerry phones.

Jamia secular in spirit: Vice chancellor

NEW DELHI – Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has been a secular institution from its very beginning, Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung said soon after the varsity was given a ‘minority institution’ tag Tuesday.

“Our institution has been secular institution in spirit, ever since its establishment in 1920,” Jung said.
Jamia Millia Islamia university was Tuesday granted … Read more >>>.

Pakistan situation to be discussed at Jamia seminar

NEW DELHI – Six eminent scholars from Pakistan, the UK and Sweden will participate in a two-day international seminar on The State of Pakistan Thursday organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia.

The main objective of the seminar is to discuss and understand politics and the state in Pakistan.
In recent years, the concerns about …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistan situation to be discussed at Jamia seminar.

Glitch forces ISRO to shut educational channel, students suffer

BANGALORE/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Indian space agency ISRO has suspended the telecast of popular educational programmes in many states due to an unidentified glitch in its ground equipment, says a senior official. As a result, millions of students have been affected.

“This is the first time we have been asked to suspend conducting virtual classroom teaching …. Original source  : Glitch forces ISRO to shut educational channel, students suffer.

Community radio crackles to life at Panjab University

CHANDIGARH – Using spoken words to develop intimate bonds among students and providing a platform to voice opinions, Panjab University has joined the few universities in northern India that have their own community radio.

Jyotirgamaya is the second community radio in Chandigarh after Vivek High School’s ‘Vivek 90.4 FM’ which has been operating for the …. Source article  : Community radio crackles to life at Panjab University.

University strips German defence minister of degree

BERLIN – The University of Bayreuth stripped German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg of his degree Wednesday, a week after the disclosure that parts of his doctoral thesis were copied.

Ruediger Bormann, the university president, announced the ruling hours after the postgraduate committee of the law and economy faculty met.
The 39-year-old aristocrat had written …. Original article  : University strips German defence minister of degree.

Will ensure Tri-Valley students get relocated: Krishna

NEW DELHI – The Indian government Wednesday said it will ensure that Indian students caught in the Tri-Valley University fraud in the US are shifted to other American universities.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in parliament that the government and authorities in India are constantly in touch with their US counterparts to resolve … Original article on : Will ensure Tri-Valley students get relocated: Krishna.

India asks US to prevent exploitation of foreign students

NEW DELHI – India Wednesday said it expected the US to prevent its universities from exploiting foreign students, as has happened in the case of Tri-Valley University in California in which about 1,500 Indians face an uncertain academic future.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha, said the …. Source article  : India asks US to prevent exploitation of foreign students.

Jamia vice chancellor to ‘play’ a new role

NEW DELHI – Jamia Millia Islamia university Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung will soon be seen in a new ‘role’ as he will act in a play staged in the campus.

The Outreach Programme of Jamia Millia Islamia in collaboration with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), Delhi, will put together two stage productions on … Original source on Gaea Times at : Jamia vice chancellor to ‘play’ a new role.

Jamia Millia reaches out to women in distress

NEW DELHI – The women’s studies centre in Jamia Millia Islamia has broken new ground by reaching out to distressed and deprived women on the capital’s fringes as part of its study module.

“We are trying to work with the community in an organised way because we are trying to make our academic curriculum more …. Read the original article  : here.

Private schools are money spinning ventures: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday said private schools were money- spinning enterprises and asked them to wake up to their corporate-social responsibility by educating poor children.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice K.S. Panicker Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar said this on a petition by the Society for Unaided … Read more »»».

Four more Indian students freed of radio tags in US

WASHINGTON – US authorities have removed radio tags of four more Indian students of the sham Tri Valley University (TVU) in California closed on charges of immigration visa fraud last month.

So far radio tags of 11 of the 18 Indian students who were forced to wear the monitor anklets have been removed by the … Read more : Four more Indian students freed of radio tags in US.

Jamia’s minority status won’t make it a madrassa: Vice chancellor (Interview)

NEW DELHI – Minority status for Jamia Millia Islamia will not change the secular nature of the 90-year-old university, says Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung.

“This is not going to change the secularist nature of the university. It is not fair to think that the minority status given to the institution will lead to ghettoisation in …. Source article  : Jamia’s minority status won’t make it a madrassa: Vice chancellor (Interview).

Recruitment drive in Aligarh Muslim University

ALIGARH – For the first time in the history of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), its students’ union organised a recruitment drive, an exercise to break away from the usual political muscle-flexing and rabble-rousing.

Four MNCs — HCL, Genpact, Kotak Securities and Valiant Media Group — were invited by the Aligarh Muslim University Students Union (AMUSU) … Read more »»».

Jamia students making their mark in Bollywood

NEW DELHI – They are making films with big names and editing critically acclaimed movies. The alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia’s Mass Communication Research Centre, who are going places in the film industry, give credit to the university for shaping them up.

At the same time, they feel ex-students working in Bollywood should have …. Source  : Jamia students making their mark in Bollywood.

Aligarh varsity film fest in March

ALIGARH – The University Film Club of Aligarh Muslim University will organise the 4th national film festival of short films and documentaries – “FILMSAAZ-II” – from March 8 to 10 at the Kennedy Auditorium, organisers said Saturday.

Adil Siddiqui, convener of the film club, said the film festival is one of its kind organised by …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Aligarh varsity film fest in March.

US assures ‘fair’ treatment to Indian students of sham varsity

WASHINGTON – The US has assured that hundreds of Indian students affected by the closure of a sham US university on charges of visa fraud would be given “fair and appropriate” treatment.

The US assurance came in a letter this week by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Indian Ambassador to the US Meera … Original article on : US assures ‘fair’ treatment to Indian students of sham varsity.

India second largest source of foreign students in New Zealand

WELLINGTON – India has emerged as the second largest source country after China for international students in New Zealand during 2010-11, according to official figures.

While student visa applications from traditional markets like China, South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan and Britain have declined in the past years, Indian students continue flocking to New Zealand for …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : India second largest source of foreign students in New Zealand.

4,000 Kerala schools to get high-speed net

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – At least 4,000 Kerala schools will get access to high-speed broadband internet connectivity, thanks to a deal between the state government and the state-run BSNL.

IT@School Project of the Kerala government will also provide high-speed VPN (Virtual Private Network) over broadband internet connectivity to 300 education department offices in the state.
K. … Read more >>>.

Jamia Millia Islamia to flag off cycle rally

NEW DELHI – The Jamia Millia Islamia will flag off its annual cycle rally from the Indo-Pak border Monday that will reach the capital March 8, a statement here said.

The university organises the rally on a specific theme every year. It was Pushkar-Ajmer-Delhi journey last year.
“This year, around 21 students and 7 members …. Source article  : Jamia Millia Islamia to flag off cycle rally.