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Weekly Update on Education

18 February 2009


Education gets a big boost
The Times of India, 17 February 2009

“Compared to last year's revised estimates, there is an increase of 16% in higher education, 10% in elementary, 13% in technical education and 52% in secondary education. However, it needs to be pointed out that the hike in secondary education is due to underperformance in the current fiscal. Out of Rs 5,139 crore (plan and non-plan) allocated to secondary sector, only Rs 4,056 crore could be spent.” More [+]


Centre blames states for low public spending on education
The Economic Times, 11 February 2009

“NEW DELHI: With elections just round the corner, the Congress-led central government blamed the states for its failure to increase public spending on education to 6% of the gross domestic product.”More [+]


Sam Pitroda favours special education zones
The Times of India, 14 February 2009

“CHENNAI: National Knowledge Commission (NKC) chairman Sam G Pitroda has favoured setting up of special education zones (SEZ) in the country to promote access to higher education and improving the quality of education.”More [+]


The Right to Education Bill focusses on minor details, not overall quality
Indianexpress, 13 February 2009

“A closer reading of the Bill however, makes one wonder whether it would really be capable of meeting its lofty objectives. The process of arriving at consensus decisions, so important in any democratic system, often ignores the larger objective, focusing instead on the smaller, more acceptable bits of the issue. As a result, what is finally acceptable to all parties is often an animal that tries very hard but satisfies no one completely, which indeed was the fate of the earlier version of this Bill in 2005. The present Bill unfortunately appears to be much the same.” More [+]


Income windfall may spur spending on child education in India: Survey
ZeeNews, 13 February 2009

“Mumbai, Feb 13: Around 44 per cent of Indians would consider investing in child education if they get a spurt in income, a report said. "As high as 44 per cent of Indian consumers will invest in duration for their family if they have a windfall in income compared to a mere 17 per cent across the world," a survey conducted by Aviva Life Insurance said. Aviva India conducted the survey across 25 countries on Consumer Attitude to Savings (CAS). ” More [+]


Over Rs. 300 cr. for setting up 6,000 model schools
The Hindu, 16 February 2009

“New Delhi (PTI): A sum of Rs 312.90 crore has been earmarked in the interim budget for 2009-10 for setting up of 6,000 model schools at block level as benchmark of excellence.” More [+]


Govt revives idea of higher education commission
Business Standard, 18 February 2009

“The government is considering the creation of a permanent higher education commission as an apex authority to anchor the increasingly large private role in the sector as well as the government colleges. The proposal is being pushed by the ministry of human resource development, which is known to be in favour of retaining education in state control." More [+]


No Dog Left Behind
Education Week, 28 January 2009

“Here's a question: Why are one-size-fits-all performance standards inappropriate to the point of silliness when applied to dogs, but accepted without question when applied to kids? If someone tried to set up a national program to teach every dog to do everything that various breeds are able to do, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would have them in court in a New York minute. But when authorities mandate one-size-fits-all performance standards for kids, and the standards aren't met, it's the kids and teachers, not the standards, that get blamed.” More [+]


Teacher Effectiveness
Education Week, 3 February 2009

“Federal lawmakers should shift their teacher-quality focus from front-end qualifications to supporting state and district efforts to measure and identify effective teachers based on student-performance outcomes, a paper from the Washington-based Center for American Progress argues. The report recommends that, as part of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government should include grants to enable states to improve their data capacity and assessment quality and create valid and reliable "value added" systems for estimating teacher effects.” More [+]


Decentralizing Education in Guatemala: School Management by Local Communities
Education Week, 3 February 2009

“Guatemala set out in 1992 to increase access to education in remote areas. Its National Community-managed Program for Educational Development (PRONADE) has evolved from a small, innovative pilot program in 19 rural communities, to a nationwide program reaching over 4,100 communities and 445,000 children. PRONADE is one of the most proactive managerial, administrative, and financial decentralization measures taken in Latin America. Isolated rural communities have been truly empowered to administer and manage the schools.” More [+]


Delhi Voucher Project: First Assessment Report Release

The Case for Right to Education of Choice: Key Findings from the Delhi Voucher Project will be held on 19 February 2009 from 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM at the India Islamic Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The Hon'ble Education Minister of Delhi, Mr Arvinder Singh Lovely is the Chief Guest for the event and will release the report.

Enrolment in Schools with Student-Classroom Ratio above 60 (Rural India: 2007-08)

Worst performing state:
Bihar: 74.34%

Best performing state:
Kerala: 2.67%

ASER Report 2008

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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