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Weekly Update on Education (Issue No 225)

19 Feb 2013

Right to Education Act is not applicable to nursery admissions, says Delhi High Court
The Financial Express, Feb 19, 2013

The ongoing nursery admission process in the national capital would remain unaffected as the Delhi High Court today upheld the validity of two government notifications that gave powers to private unaided schools to formulate their own criteria. "We uphold the notifications," a bench comprising Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain said while disposing of a PIL seeking quashing of the notifications issued by the Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry and the Directorate of Education (DoE) respectively.

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Higher education in India is worrisome with the accent more on "job-oriented courses": Jamia Millia VC
The Times of India, Feb 18, 2013

The quality of higher education in India is worrisome with the accent more on "job-oriented courses" rather than "broad-based, good, solid education backed by original quality research", says Jamia Millia Islamic vice-chancellor Najeeb Jung.

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State of affairs: Big money but bad education
Daily News & Analysis, Feb 15, 2013

The UPA government claims that its flagship Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme – which promises free and compulsory education to children in the age group of six to 14 years – has seen disbursal of 88% of the Centre’s share for the scheme in the current financial year. However, even as the allocation as well as disbursal for the scheme have shown increasing trend over the past few years, issues such as quality of education and migration to private schools, among others still dog the project eleven years after its inception.

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Will RTE Act rein in private schools?
The Times of India, Feb 01, 2013

With the Right to Education (RTE) Act coming into force, is it right on the part of state education department to allow private unaided schools to charge a bomb for allowing category-based admissions in preparatory and kindergarten sections? There are 10,000 private primary schools in Gujarat. Of this, 1,200 are in the city and its suburbs. Earlier this week, the Delhi high court stalled all admissions in nursery schools in the national capital after it found the process followed by the schools was not in confirmation with the RTE Act.

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National Advisory Council approves monitoring mechanism for RTE
The Times of India, Jan 29, 2013

The National Advisory Council has given in principle approval for a monitoring and grievance redress architecture from local to national level for effective implementation of Right to Education (RTE). The recommendation submitted by a working group to the NAC had suggested HRD Ministry to take steps in this direction.

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Schools still await govt notice on RTE
Daily News & Analysis, Feb 15, 2013

Once again when it comes to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the state is lagging behind. Even as the deadline to implement the RTE Act is just a few weeks away, the state has not yet issued any government resolution (GR) for the implementation of the Act. Schools are left in the lurch as they have been asked to complete 25% of the admissions by February.

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1 apex body needed for higher education
The Times of India, Feb 16, 2013

There is an urgent need for a single apex body in the field of higher education. This apex body should treat knowledge in an integrated manner. This was stated by eminent scientist, professor and president of the Global Research Alliance National Chemical Laboratory (GRANCL) Dr R A Mashelkar at the second convocation of Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) at Changa in Anand district on Saturday.

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Reality show on education
The Times of India, Feb 16, 2013

The Odisha Talent Hunt, an education based reality TV show aimed to bridge the gap between talent and education, will start in the state shortly. The programme, being jointly organized by SDM Foundation and Paramahansa Foundation, will educate and empower the future generation and find leaders and social entrepreneurs.

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Soul-search on future of Indian education
The Times of India, Feb 16, 2013

The Planning Commission’s recent proposal in the draft 12th Five Year plan to promote ‘for-profit’ initiatives in higher education is likely to have an effect on the education system, felt speakers at a seminar on the ‘Role of Higher Education in Building a Knowledge Society’. The panel discussion was held on Monday by the O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat in Haryana. National Capital Region of Delhi, held the panel discussion on Monday at a city club.

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The emerging world’s education imperative
Official delegations from the world’s nine most populous developing countries just met in New Delhi to discuss a subject vital for their countries’ futures: education. The meeting of ministers and others from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan, known as the E-9, is the latest in a series of encounters held every two years to fulfil the pledge of “education for all” by 2015. Click here to read more

What value does a university add?
In judging what a university does to a student, a key problem lies in distinguishing differences in raw material vs. differences in training. Do IIT graduates do well because they were smart to start with, or because they learned something at IIT? The resources being expended by society on universities are misplaced if the universities aren't adding value. Michael Spence showed us the value of signaling in the labour market in 1973: it may be rational to employ IIT grads even if the university teaches them nothing. Click here to read more

Poll
Should RTE apply to the nursery admission process?

To vote click here

RTE Coalition
To initiate and continue the discussion amongst concerned groups and individuals on the issue of right of education and monitor the implementation
of the RTE Act, an RTE Coalition has been formed. Join the coalition to make universal elementary education a reality in India.

Log on to www.righttoeducation.in
for more information

Skill Vouchers - Global Experiences and Lessons for India
(
Leah Verghese and Parth J Shah)
A study of the role that skill vouchers can play in catalysing demand for quality skill development services. This study examines global experiences with skill vouchers and draws lessons for India from these experiences.

For more click here

Reservation in Private Schools under the Right to Education Act: Model for Implementation
(
Shekhar Mittal and Parth J Shah)
A comprehensive analysis on reservation in private schools under the Right to Education Act, providing a seven-step model for 25% implementation.

For more click here

School Vouchers for Girls
400 girl children from poor families of North East Delhi receive school vouchers for a period of 4 years.
For details visit our website

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