Education Community

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2022-23 on Tuesday, February 1. At the budget speech, Sitharaman stressed on digital education and skilling programmes. Sitharaman said, “A digital university will be established to provide access to students across the country for world class quality universal education with personalised learning experience at their doorstep. This will be made available in different Indian languages and ICT formats. The university will be built on a network hub and spoke model.” The following has been announced for the education sector in the budget: World class universities will be allowed to offer courses in financial services and technology free of Indian regulations. AICTE will take lead in improving urban planning courses 5 academic institutions on urban planning to be made centres of excellence. The institutions will get endowment of Rs 250 crore each A digital university will be established to provide access to students across the country for world class quality universal education with personalised learning experience at their doorstep. This will be made available in different Indian languages and ICT formats. The university will be built on a network hub and spoke model High quality e-content in all spoken languages will be developed for delivery via internet, mobile phones, tv and through radio and digital teachers. The competitive mechanism for development of quality e-content by the teachers will be set up to empower and equip them with digital tools of teaching and facilitate better learning outcomes Agricultural universities will revise syllabi to meet the needs of modern-day farming Skilling programs will be reoriented, and ITIs will start courses on skilling. The Digital DESH e-portal will be launched for skilling, upskilling & reskilling of the youth One class, one TV channel’ program of PM eVIDYA will be expanded from 12 to 200 TV channels. This will enable all states to provide supplementary education in regional languages for classes 1 to 12.  

The government is not against Ed-Tech companies; however, they can’t be allowed to delve into areas that aren’t their domain like providing degree courses and diplomas, according to All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe. The feedback from AICTE chairman comes after the technical education regulator and University Grants Commission (UGC) warned universities and faculties towards providing programs in distance learning and on-line mode in affiliation with Ed-Tech companies, saying no “franchise” agreement is permissible as per norms. “We are not against Ed-Tech companies, but they cannot be allowed to delve into areas that are not their domain. Norms are norms.” “We have given approvals to universities and colleges to offer degree and diploma programmes but they are supposed to offer it on their own and not piggyback on private companies or outsource their job to any third party,” Sahasrabudhe told PTI in an interview. He mentioned that after intently observing the companies, it was discovered that they had been instantly releasing commercials and had been providing programmes like MBA and MCA. “These are postgraduate programmes in management and computer applications that can only be offered by universities and approved colleges. Top institutions in the country like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are also not allowed to offer management degrees, they offer diploma in management. How can we allow ed-tech companies to do so?” he mentioned. The UGC and AICTE have also advised students and parents to check the recognition status of any programme on their websites before enrolling in any course. “I am not undermining the importance of Ed-Tech companies which have emerged, especially start-ups from our approved colleges and universities. All of them have their own significance in terms of skilling and training and they can also issue certificates for the same but not degrees and diplomas. “As far as universities are concerned, it is perfectly fine if they are using the platform of Ed-Tech companies for conducting classes or online exams but it cannot be beyond that and cannot be franchise agreement,” he explained. The Education Ministry had earlier this month also issued an elaborate advisory to parents and students dealing with ed-tech firms asking them, among other things, to exercise caution while making payments. The ministry had said that parents, students and all stakeholders in education have to be careful while deciding on opting for online content and coaching being offered by a host of Ed-Tech companies. Source: PTI

All schools and colleges in Maharashtra’s Pune district will reopen from February 1, announced Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday following a COVID-19 review meeting. However, Pawar announced that parents would need to give their consent for students to attend offline classes. “For classes 1 to 8, the school timings will be half of the regular timings, but for classes 9 to 10, the school will run as per the regular schedule. Colleges will also function as per regular time,” Pawar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. “The further decision for classes 1 to 8 will be taken in the next meeting,” he added. Pune was scheduled to reopen schools and colleges last week but the decision was postponed for eight days after a spike in COVID-19 cases. Later, the junior Pawar had said that a decision on reopening schools would be taken following the COVID-19 review meeting on January 29. “I am in favour of reopening of schools, but the decision is postponed by eight days following a spurt in Covid cases in Pune,” he had said. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 situation in Pune has slightly improved. On Friday, it recorded 7,166 COVID-19 cases, taking the district’s tally to 13.88 lakh, while 12 deaths increased the toll to 19,429. An official, quoted by news agency PTI, said 3,374 cases were reported in Pune city, 2,261 in Pimpri Chinchwad and 1,205 in rural and 98 cantonment limits. Till Friday, Pune had 2,520 active cases in institutional isolation and 73,471 in home quarantine, the official said.

School principals and parents’ associations were left disappointed with DDMA’s decision on Thursday to not reopen schools in Delhi, saying keeping schools closed is no longer a solution. All India Parents Association (AIPA) president Ashok Agarwal said it is a very sad move, and decision-makers have neither heart nor mind as the prolonged closures will promote and perpetuate class divide and inequality in education. “Studies and childhood of students have already suffered too much which is irreparable. Closing down schools has no scientific basis. It has reduced employment and led people to face hunger. So many people are sitting idle at home and waiting for schools to reopen,” he added. Sumedha Goel, director, The Shri Ram Wonder Years, Rohini suggested that schools for junior classes should be reopened in a phased manner keeping the hybrid model at its core. “Keeping the schools closed is not a solution. Like a seedling requires the right amount of water, sunlight, air to grow, similarly, a budding child requires social interaction, food for the mind and soul, emotional well-being, etc to attain holistic growth. “Covid-appropriate behaviour will be followed in schools to welcome back students and give them a congenial environment for growth and development. We propose the government enforce a law for mandatory vaccination, and impose a fine on the non-vaccinated adults.” The drive would be beneficial for children below 15 years, Goel said, adding the entire school staff should be fully vaccinated, and every fortnight, school spaces will be sanitised. Schools and colleges will continue to remain closed in the national capital and the issue will be taken up in the next meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), officials said on Thursday. During the meeting, the Delhi government, for its part recommended the reopening of schools, saying it was necessary to prevent further damage to the social and economic well-being of children as the COVID-19 situation in the capital has improved. Though the schools were briefly reopened, they have shut again on December 28 last year in view of the third wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant. “Today’s decision is deeply disappointing. The DDMA chairperson (lieutenant governor) and members should publicly disclose the reasons for keeping schools closed but allowing everything else, particularly when every expert body has recommended it,” said Tanya Agarwal, a lawyer who has been vocal about the reopening of schools. According to a survey conducted by the online platform Local Circles, 74 per cent of Delhi parents do not support the re-opening of schools at this time, while 66 per cent of parents believe schools should be reopened once the test positivity rate (TPR) falls to 2 per cent or lower. Asserting that online education can never replace classroom studies, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the government had closed schools when it was not safe for children, but “excessive caution” was harming them. A delegation of parents led by Chandrakant Lahariya, an epidemiologist and public policy specialist, had earlier met Sisodia and submitted a memorandum signed by over 1,600 parents demanding that the schools be reopened. Source: PTI  

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the universities and colleges to provide educational resources accessible to visually challenged students. The commission, which regulates higher education in the country has advised that all universities should adopt suitable educational resources including Braille-print books, large print books, tactile books, and audio books and adopt other assistive devices to meet the needs of visual impairments for equitable access to the curriculum. In the latest notice, the UGC said, “It is advised that all universities should develop/adopt suitable educational resources like Braille-print books, large print books, tactile books, audio books and such other assistive devices which better meet the needs of visual impairments for equitable access to the curriculum. Requesting to take action, the UGC further said, “Such educational resources, as far as possible, should be uploaded on the website of the university also and made freely available.” The UGC recently asked all institutions to promote and prepare for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022, an interactive programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with students, scheduled in February. The registration date for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022 has been extended till January 27. Interested students of Classes 9 to 12, parents and teachers can apply for PPC 2022 on the website, mygov.in.  

A proposal to reopen schools in the state from next week based on the local COVID-19 situations has been sent to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Maharashtra minister Varsha Gaikwad on Wednesday. The proposal includes the opening of pre-primary schools, she added. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government had announced the closure of schools in the state till February 15 as the number of coronavirus cases started spiralling from December amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant. “After COVID cases rose, the government decided not to continue with the school (offline) sessions. But after discussion with the experts, it has been decided to start the sessions where the number of cases is low based on the local COVID-19 situation,” Gaikwad said. “A proposal has been sent to the chief minister. It states that reopening of schools should be considered from Monday and all the power to do so should be given to the local authorities (municipal commissioners, district collectors, chief executive officers, education officers,” the school education minister added. A decision on this is expected to be taken this week, she said. She expressed hope that the chief minister would positively look into the proposal. Stressing the need to inoculate students in the age group of 15 to 18 years, the minister urged teaching and non-teaching staff to get fully vaccinated. Source: PTI

To enhance employment opportunities for the youths of Jammu and Kashmir, the government started a special awareness drive for growers on the cultivation, processing of aromatic plants in Kashmir. As per the climate point of view, Kashmir Valley is suitable to produce a variety of fruit, vegetable crops and a good quantity of plant material that can be utilized in medicinal and aromatic activities. Growers from the valley participated in the programme. It aimed to create awareness among youth to involve them in the cultivation of aromatic plants. With the help of aromatic plants, growers especially young entrepreneurs can establish their own units and they will also engage other people to generate employment. Speaking to ANI, Sabdhar Wani, a grower said, “through this programme, we get knowledge about cultivation and processing. Scientists and scholars who participate in this programme share their knowledge so that we apply the right approach and avoid loss in production. The department of the Indian Institute of integrative medicine (IIIM) and the department of agriculture started special awareness programmes aimed to provide proper information to growers about the cultivation and processing of aromatic plants. Dr Shahid Rasool, Organizer and Scientist IIIM said, an awareness programme is very important so that growers can cultivate aromatic plants properly at a large scale. Under the CSR flagship programmes, it is providing knowledge to farmers. “This farming is different from the traditional method. Farmers don’t have much knowledge about this. This kind of programme enhances their knowledge about cultivation, processing and packaging so that they can apply the right approach.” In the coming time, the government is also going to distribute good quality medical plants among growers at subsidy rates so that they will produce a good quantity of plant material in future aimed to get benefits at large scale. Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Lavender grower said for the past four years I am associated with the aromatic plant’s programme. It helps growers to understand the right way of cultivation and processing. During this awareness drive growers participated at a large scale by following Covid guidelines and they demanded such types of programs should be continued in future. Source: ANI

Following a rise in Covid-19 cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday extended the closure of all schools and colleges in the state till January 23, 2022. On January 5, the Uttar Pradesh government had ordered to close all government and private schools for students up to class 10 till January 16. Several other states are also extending the closure of schools due to rising COVID-19 cases. Telangana on Sunday ordered the educational institutions to remain closed till January 30, 2022. Similarly, schools and colleges in Madhya Pradesh will remain closed till January 31. Schools in Bengaluru will remain closed till January 31 while schools in Kerala for students up to class 9 will remain closed for physical classes till January 21. In a statement, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that in view of changing circumstances and rising Covid-19 cases, all schools and colleges have been ordered to remain closed till January 23. However, online classes will continue, the statement said. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister also chaired a meeting to review COVID situation. He also inspected arrangements related to COVID-19 management in King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow. Speaking to reporters, Yogi Adityanath informed that the state has around 1.03 lakh active cases. “Lucknow has reported 2,300 positive cases today, active cases stand at 16,300. Less than 1 per cent patients are admitted to hospital,” he added. “Vaccination drive has been so well that third wave hasn’t impacted us as much. UP vaccinated around over 22.87 crore people, of which 21.37 lakh are children aged between 15-18 tears and 3.87 lakh are people above 60 years of age or those with comorbidities with booster doses,” Yogi said. Source: ANI

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday invited students, teachers and parents to participate in the 5th edition of “Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022” and get a chance to be mentored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Valuable mantras to beat exam stress, excelling in career & life and much more! Here is your chance to get mentored directly by PM Shri @narendramodi ji. Inviting students, teachers and parents to participate in #PPC2022,” Pradhan tweeted sharing the registration link. The first edition of the prime minister’s interaction programme with school and college students “Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0” was held at the Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018. In the subsequent editions of the programme, students, parents, teachers from across the nation and also from overseas interacted with him to discuss and overcome the stress emerging out of examinations in order to celebrate life. “The format of this programme is proposed to be in online mode like in 2021. An online creative writing competition is being conducted on various topics from December 28 to January 20, 2022, to select participants. Questions asked by selected winners will be featured in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme,” a senior Ministry of Education official said. The topics for creative writing for students include — exam stress management strategies during COVID-19, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a self-reliant school for self-reliant India; Clean India, Green India; digital collaboration in classrooms, environmental conservation and climate change resilience. Similarly, the theme for teachers is “National Education Policy (NEP) for Naya Bharat” while the themes for parents include — Beti Padhao, Desh Badhao; Local to Global – Vocal for Local; Lifelong Students’ Yearning for Learning. “About 2050 participants selected through competitions on MyGov will be presented with a certificate of appreciation from Director, NCERT and a special Pariksha Pe Charcha kit comprising ‘Exam Warriors’ book in Hindi and English, written by the prime minister,” the official said. Source: PTI

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) has appointed Prof. V. Kamakoti as the new director of the institute. He succeeded Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, who is stepping down after completing two terms, an official release here said. An Alumnus of IIT Madras, Prof. Kamakoti, is currently the Associate Dean for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (ICSR), IIT Madras. He is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board, Government of India, the release mentioned. Speaking about his priorities, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Incoming Director, IIT Madras, said, “In the last two decades IIT Madras has focussed on Inter disciplinary translational research of relevance to our Nation. We have also reached out to large number of students through NPTEL, Swayam and On-line degree programs. With these gathered strengths, our immediate priority would be on augmenting the skill-set for indigenous technology development addressing local and global requirements aligning with the objectives of the National Education Policy.” Congratulating Prof. V. Kamakoti on his appointment, former director Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi said, “With Prof. Kamakoti at the helm, IIT Madras is poised to scale new heights in the coming years. He is an excellent teacher and researcher, and an able administrator. He has played key roles in many national projects, bringing to bear his deep expertise in computing and cybersecurity. The Institute and the country will benefit tremendously from his services”. Prof. Kamakoti, who is a faculty in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, led the Research team that designed and booted up India’s first Indigenously-developed Microprocessor ‘SHAKTI’ that can be used in mobile computing devices and networking systems. He was appointed by the Union Commerce Ministry in 2017 as the Chairman of a Taskforce on leveraging Artificial Intelligence for development across various fields. The professor has been conferred with various awards which includes, Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship, 2020, IESA Techno Visionary Award, 2018, IBM Faculty Award, 2016 and several others.