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Weekly Update on Education (Issue No 220)

08 Jan 2013

New helpline launched for RTE Act
The Hindu, January 8th, 2013

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Education Committee has taken up responsibility to create public awareness around the provision in the Right to Education (RTE) Act calling for 25 per cent reservation in private schools for children from disadvantaged groups and economically weaker sections of society. The five-day awareness campaign which has been started in collaboration with the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) coincides with the notified calendar of admission (January 1-15) during which applicants have to procure and submit Common Admission Forms from private schools.

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Applications for RTE seats to be issued from today
Times of India, January 7th, 2013

The first phase of RTE admission is all set to kick off in the state. The application forms for the admission in private schools under the quota for underprivileged children will be issued from Monday.

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Display break-up for admissions, govt. tells schools
The Financial Express, January 5th, 2013

The Directorate of Education (DoE) on Friday notified that unaided recognised private schools in Delhi should display the break-up of points secured by each student as part of the nursery admission process. This applies to schools following the 100-point admission system.

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Why large section of Indian households today prefer private education over government’s?
The Economic Times, January 3rd, 2013

Indian households are increasingly spending more money on education, and for a majority of households today, children's education is one of the key motivations for saving. Estimates from National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data reveal that even though food has been a priority in the consumption basket of Indian households, its share has been declining. On the other hand, the share of many non-food items is on the rise: in particular, education, along with health, durable goods, consumer services and conveyance.

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25% Bangalore North schools out of RTE
Times of India, January 3rd, 2013

In its second year too, the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act looks certain to run into problems in Bangalore, as elsewhere in Karnataka. With private schools continuing to resist to fall in line and confusion among officials over many clauses of the act, key gaps between policy and implementation still exist.

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Commission recommends core changes in education
The New York Times, January 2nd, 2013

Forcing teachers to pass a kind of bar exam, like the ones aspiring lawyers and doctors must sit for. Extending the number of hours and days students must spend in school, to break with academic calendars formed in an agrarian age. Consolidating school districts; making schools a hub for health care and social services; and giving 4-year-olds in the state’s poorest areas access to full-day prekindergarten.

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Around 7% cut in school education, literacy budget
Hindustan Times, January 3rd, 2013

The government has imposed around 7% cut in the Rs. 45,000 crore school education and literacy budget to control expenditure in view of the economic slowdown.The reduction has been about Rs. 3,240 crore in the Rs. 45,969 crore budget earmarked for this fiscal, said sources in the HRD ministry.

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Forum wants RTE quota in unaided minority schools
Daily News and Analysis, January 5th, 2013

Parent bodies in the city are upset with the state’s latest circular which has excluded unaided minority institutions from reserving 25% seats at entry level for students from weaker sections. Forum for Fairness in Education, a parent-teacher body, has decided to move the Bombay high court.

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Odisha Teacher’s Eligibility Test Results out, better than CTET
Times of India, January 5th, 2013

In comparison to Central Teachers' Eligibility Test (CTET), results of Odisha Teachers' Eligibility Test (OTET) were found encouraging. The OTET results were made public on Friday. While only eight per cent Certificate Teacher (CT) students were found eligible to become teachers in primary schools, little over 10 per cent B.Ed students of the State have shown that they have it in them to become teachers in High schools.

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Continuously and Comprehensively evaluating Children
Economic and Political Weekly, January 12th, 2013

Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation is a key educational reform in assessment proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education for primary and upper primary classes in affi liated schools. This article makes an attempt to analyse the teachers' manual for class sixth to eighth. The premise of such an evaluation framework is sound but the manual actually goes against its very spirit. CCE is not so much about assessment per se as it is about understanding the ways in which children learn, refl ecting on the teaching-learning processes employed in schools and empowering both students and teachers in processes related to schooling.

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Education in rural India
Town mouse and country mouse, we of anglicized schooling were taught, realized that they were very different mice. They loved their respective ways of living and could not live in the other mouse's mileu. Country mouse could not learn the ways of the town, and town mouse could not learn the skills of survival required in the country. When we seek to school our children, it may be wise to heed this parable. Click here to read more

Peer learning networks
What I miss as a teacher is a staff room where I can share my concerns, my ideas and my trials in the classroom. The joys of a good class are shared by all. I would not want the journey to stop there. I want to be able to learn from another teacher’ experiment with a class, to learn to repeat that success consistently. And to be able to share it with others. All without being judged. Click here to read more

Poll
Should teachers be made to pass exams like bar exams for lawyers and other professionals?

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)

Through this document the Centre for Civil Society seeks to highlight the lacunae in the current framework for 25% reservation for weaker and disadvantaged groups in unaided private schools and seeks to provide inputs on effective implementation of the same.

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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