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Education Policy

Only 6.26% of Schools Complete SQAAF Evaluation Amidst SSC-HSC Exam Rush

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Amidst the ongoing SSC and HSC board exams, only 6.26% of schools in the state have completed the School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF) evaluation. The low completion rate is attributed to the heavy workload of teachers, who are engaged in exams, paper inspections, and capacity-building training. The evaluation, conducted by the State School Standards Authority Cell (SSSAC) under the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), requires schools to self-assess their performance based on 128 standards. Schools must upload comprehensive information, add photos of activities, and create individual Google links for each standard. Initially, SCERT had set a deadline of February 28 in a circular issued on February 3. However, due to teacher complaints regarding the complexity and time-consuming nature of the process, an extension was granted. As of March 17, out of 1,08,530 schools, 99,457 have begun the process, but only 6,796 have completed it. Former State Principals’ Association vice-president Mahendra Ganpule noted that teachers have been preoccupied with planning and training, which has delayed the evaluation. He suggested that scheduling SQAAF assessments at the start of the academic year would have improved completion rates. A principal, speaking anonymously, highlighted the logistical challenges, stating that schools must retrieve photos from past activities without state-provided devices or data packs. Additionally, creating 128 separate Google links has added to the workload. Attempts to reach SCERT Director Rahul Rekhawar for comments were unsuccessful. Source: punemirror

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Delhi High Court Stays Suspension of Jamia Students, Forms Committee to Ease Tensions

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The Delhi High Court has directed the formation of a committee to de-escalate tensions at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) following student protests over the university’s ban on demonstrations without prior permission. The committee, to be supervised by the Vice Chancellor, will include university officials and student representatives. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also stayed the suspension of 17 students, who were penalized for allegedly protesting without approval and defacing public property, until the next hearing. The students had challenged the suspension, arguing that the university’s actions were disproportionate. Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioners, contended that the students had a clean record and were peacefully protesting outside the canteen. He criticized the university for siding with the Delhi Police, leading to the students’ detention. Advocate Abhik Chimni further noted that, per university regulations, suspensions cannot exceed two weeks. Jamia’s counsel, Advocate Amit Sahni, defended the university’s decision, stating that the students had been given opportunities to comply and that their protest was unrelated to academics. He added that no arrests occurred on campus, and the detained students were later released. The Court, while refraining from commenting on the reasons behind the protest, observed that the demonstration appeared peaceful. It emphasized that student participation in such movements is part of their civic training. Urging the university administration to take remedial steps, the Court ordered the committee’s formation and requested a report from the university. Until the next hearing, the Court has suspended the operation of Jamia’s February 12 suspension order. However, it clarified that this ruling does not impact any criminal cases filed against the students.

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Tamil Nadu-Centre Tussle Over NEP and Education Funds Escalates

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The debate over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has intensified, with Tamil Nadu strongly opposing the Centre’s insistence on implementing the policy in its entirety. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently stated that unless Tamil Nadu fully accepts the NEP, funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme—amounting to over ₹2,158 crore—will not be released. This remark, made at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi, has triggered sharp reactions from Tamil Nadu’s political leadership. Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Poyyamozhi responded by accusing the BJP-led central government of “paving the way for another language war.” He questioned why Tamil Nadu, which has successfully followed a two-language policy for decades, should be forced to adopt the three-language formula. Citing former Chief Minister CN Annadurai, he asserted that the demand for Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of funds was not a request for alms but a constitutional entitlement. The state government highlighted that over 4 million students and 32,000 teachers rely on these funds, with Tamil Nadu itself spending ₹76 crore per month on teacher salaries and ₹400 crore annually on the Right to Education (RTE) scheme. Several schemes for girl child education have also been affected due to funding delays. The Tamil Nadu government has argued that withholding funds to push NEP implementation suppresses dissent and reignites the decades-old language debate in India. Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly criticized the Centre, calling Pradhan’s stance “rash blackmail” and warning that Delhi must be prepared to face Tamil Nadu’s resistance. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu also questioned the conditional nature of central funds, pointing out that Tamil Nadu contributes 9% to India’s GDP without any such stipulations. Anbumani Ramadoss, president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), took a more balanced approach, stating that the Centre is duty-bound to disburse these funds irrespective of NEP compliance. He emphasized that NEP implementation and financial allocations should remain separate matters. The Centre’s rigid stance on enforcing NEP, particularly through financial coercion, has been widely criticized as an overreach that disregards federal principles. The debate is now at the heart of a larger battle over education policy, language rights, and state autonomy in India. Source: Hindustan

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Kerala Cabinet Approves Draft Bill for Establishment of Private Universities

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The Kerala Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has approved the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Draft Bill, 2025, setting the stage for private universities in the state. The bill outlines strict guidelines for eligibility, infrastructure, and governance to ensure high academic standards. According to the draft bill, only credible sponsoring agencies with prior experience in the education sector can apply to establish private universities. Institutions must own land as per regulatory guidelines and deposit a ₹25 crore corpus fund in the state treasury. For multi-campus universities, the main campus must span at least 10 acres. The bill also mandates adherence to UGC and state government norms regarding faculty appointments, the selection of the Vice-Chancellor, and overall university administration. To ensure local representation, 40% of seats in each course must be reserved for students from Kerala, aligning with the state’s reservation policy. Additionally, scholarships and fee waivers will continue for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. Applicants must submit a detailed project report along with the application fee, ensuring transparency and credibility in the process. The move signals Kerala’s commitment to expanding higher education opportunities while maintaining regulatory oversight.

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Govt Panel Recommends NTA Focus on Entrance Exams, Restructuring Begins for 2025

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The government panel on exam reforms has recommended that the National Testing Agency (NTA) focus exclusively on conducting entrance examinations, starting from 2025, while discontinuing recruitment exams. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the decision following the release of the panel’s report on Tuesday. The seven-member panel, chaired by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, was formed in June 2024 after allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, marred the NEET-UG exam. The delayed counselling process highlighted the need for comprehensive reforms in exam governance. Key recommendations include a major restructuring of the NTA to improve governance, efficiency, and transparency. The panel proposed forming an empowered governing body supported by three sub-committees focused on ethics, test audits, and stakeholder relationships. The report emphasizes transitioning to online exams, introducing multi-level testing for candidate pools exceeding two lakh, and launching a ‘Digi Exam’ system to prevent impersonation. The panel also advocates closer coordination with district-level authorities, akin to the election process, to secure test administration. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed the government’s intent to implement the recommendations. “From 2025, the NTA will only focus on entrance exams for higher education and step back from recruitment tests,” he stated. The report further calls for bolstering NTA’s leadership, recommending that the Director-General position be held by a senior official of additional secretary rank, free from external pressures. Other proposed reforms include establishing divisions for technology infrastructure, security, research, and international collaboration. The reforms aim to address persistent issues of exam integrity while enhancing transparency and operational efficiency in India’s testing ecosystem. The implementation is already underway, signaling a renewed focus on improving high-stakes entrance examinations across the country. Source: ThePrint Photo Credit: ThePrint

Govt Panel Recommends NTA Focus on Entrance Exams, Restructuring Begins for 2025 Read More »

Maharashtra Govt Announces Free Higher Education for EWS, SEBC, OBC Girls in State

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In a significant move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Maharashtra government announced on Monday that higher education for girls from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will be made free. According to officials, this initiative is part of a broader women-focused policy. The decision, which also includes waiving tuition and examination fees for orphaned students regardless of gender, was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The policy change was formalized through a government resolution (GR). Rs 906 Crore Aid for Female Students The decision will be implemented from the academic year 2024-25 and is expected to cost Rs 906 crore. A GR stated that female students seeking admission to recognized vocational courses through the Centralised Admission Process in government colleges, aided private colleges, semi-aided private colleges, non-aided colleges, polytechnic, and autonomous government universities, and open universities can avail the facility. Wide Range of Courses Covered, Specific Eligibility Criteria Outlined These include courses run by departments such as higher and technical education, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and dairy development. However, students from private autonomous universities/self-funded universities, and those enrolling through management and institutional quotas will not be eligible for the scheme. The GR said female students whose annual family income is Rs 8 lakh or less and who are from EWS, SEBC, and OBC are eligible for the fee waiver. New admissions as well as students currently pursuing their degrees will also be eligible for the scheme. Opposition Questions Funding for New Schemes In the state budget, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced several initiatives including Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojana (aimed at giving three free cylinders to women), Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Krishi Pump Yojana, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (eligible women in the age group 21 to 60 years will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500), and a scheme to provide free education to women. The opposition has questioned the source of funding for these schemes and claimed they are aimed to woo women voters ahead of the state assembly polls. However, Chief Minister Shinde has stressed that monetary provisions have been made for the schemes and the initiatives will be permanent.

Maharashtra Govt Announces Free Higher Education for EWS, SEBC, OBC Girls in State Read More »

Chhattisgarh Moves to Offer Primary Education in 18 Local Languages and Dialects

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The Chhattisgarh government has initiated a move to provide primary education in local languages and dialects in remote tribal regions as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This policy recommends that the mother tongue or the local language be the medium of instruction at least up to the fifth standard. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed the State Education Department to develop and distribute bilingual books in 18 local languages and dialects for free, focusing on providing high-quality educational resources. “The new initiative of providing education in local language will also be helpful in preserving local culture and traditions,” Sai said while addressing the state-level ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ programme at Bagiya village in the tribal-dominated Jashpur district. The Shala Praveshotsav is an annual event held at the beginning of the new academic session to motivate children to enroll in schools. This year, it was moved from the state capital Raipur to Bagiya, the CM’s hometown. The literacy rate of Chhattisgarh is 70.28%, lower than the national average of 76%. School Education Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi mentioned that courses will be prepared in several languages, including Chhattisgarhi, spoken by 65.83% of Class 1 students; Sargujiha (spoken by 9.38%); Halbi (4.19%); Sadari (3.97%); Gondi-Dantewada (2.33%); and Kudukh (0.7%). An Education Department official stated that in tribal areas, primary school exams can also be taken in local languages and dialects. “But for higher classes, it will still be conducted in Hindi and English,” the official said.  

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Dr. T. V. Christy, Vice Chancellor, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Sc. & Tech. Vallam talked about four pillars of the New Education Policy (NEP)

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“The New Normal is about being student-centric. Education should focus on where graduates go after graduation, anticipating their future needs. ” said  Dr. T. V. Christy Could you tell us more about your group of institutions? I am from The Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology, famously known as PRIST deemed to be University, recognized by the University Grants Commission. It is located in Thanjavur, and we run programs in various disciplines, including engineering, arts and science, agriculture, pharmacy, and law. When we talk about sustainability in education, what special initiatives have been taken by your institution? We have empowered our students by first making them aware of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We conduct various sessions to ensure that our students and faculty members understand the importance and significance of these SDGs. Our management is very particular about integrating these goals into our educational practices. Regarding education policy implementations, what initiatives or developments have you undertaken? The four pillars of the New Education Policy (NEP) can be summarized as AE AQ: Accessibility, Equity, Accountability, and Quality. We ensure that these principles form the basis of our NEP implementation in our campuses. If the first three (Accessibility, Equity, Accountability) are in place, Quality naturally follows. What are the leading roles of your institution in terms of the incubation center and industry engagement? One of our best practices is ensuring that every faculty member is in touch with a minimum of two industries. For example, in a department with 15 faculty members, we have connections with 30 industries. Faculty members develop relationships with industry professionals, bring them to address students, and ultimately establish memorandums of understanding. This approach brings industry-oriented skills meaningfully into our university. What does the term ‘New Normal’ mean to you in the context of education? The New Normal is about being student-centric. Education should focus on where graduates go after graduation, anticipating their future needs. The goal is to foresee the skills and knowledge they will require three to four years after graduating and adapt our educational practices accordingly. This forward-thinking approach is what I consider the New Normal. How do forums like this, which bring together representatives from schools, higher education, skill education, technical education, and tech companies, benefit the society at large? I’m really touched by the name “ARCOM.” It stands for Community, Aspiration, Reimagination, Digitalization, Opportunity, and Readiness. These are exactly what we need in today’s educational scenario. Such forums motivate students and ensure they serve the community. Bringing industry leaders and educational leaders together provides a platform for sharing best practices and learning from each other. It’s an excellent initiative that should continue. Any message for ArdorComm Media Group? Continue your efforts and gather feedback from participants. Learn from any challenges or difficulties faced in conducting this program and strive to improve in future events. Bringing together industry and educational institutions on one platform is a mammoth task, and you are doing an exceptional job. Congratulations! Any final thoughts? Thank you so much for inviting me to this forum. It was a pleasure and honor to participate. Your efforts in connecting different stakeholders in education are commendable. Thank you.

Dr. T. V. Christy, Vice Chancellor, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Sc. & Tech. Vallam talked about four pillars of the New Education Policy (NEP) Read More »

Uma Kannan Founder Principal, Sri Venkateswara Group of Schools, Ambattur expressed how pedagogies and new strategies can upskill and reskill the students

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“The New Normal refers to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and a technologically driven society” said Uma Kannan Could you please highlight some of the initiatives of your institution and give us more light on what your institution is doing? In each and every institution, we take up the growth of the student to bring out the awesome holistic children within the students and through the teachers. The pedagogies, introduction of new strategies to upskill and reskill the students’ energy as well as the faculty’s energy, are crucial. Only then can they produce very good social beings to develop the nation. We are doing a lot of service through seminars and conferences. Would you like to throw some light on the education policy and any initiatives your institution is doing in this regard? Recently, in 2020, the central government adopted a new educational policy and framework. One aspect of that is the 21st-century learning skills, another is the sustainable developmental goals, and the third is design thinking. We incorporate all these with the teachers through some orientation programs to upskill their energy, and then we transform that into the classroom. Any takeaways from today’s forum? Definitely. I learned how to parent the child. Parenting is very necessary with all biological modulations. We need to transparently open up the biological changes to the students. Kudos to Manjula and Chandan for bringing in this transparency. Teachers are the second parents, and we need to instruct the parents to be the first educators, giving all this transparently to the children to bring in a good social being. What does the phrase “New Normal” mean to you? The New Normal refers to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and a technologically driven society. We need to incorporate this into the educational curriculum. However, we should not forget the traditional way of teaching, as it provides an aesthetic approach and emotional well-being for the child and the adult. Any message for ArdorComm Media Group? ArdorComm, you are keeping the summits in very reputed cities like Delhi, which are educational hubs. I want this to extend to all corners of the country, even the villages. Your service should be extended to smaller cities and towns. Thank you. It was a pleasure having you at this forum. Thank you so much. Thank you, Chandan. All the best.

Uma Kannan Founder Principal, Sri Venkateswara Group of Schools, Ambattur expressed how pedagogies and new strategies can upskill and reskill the students Read More »

Haryana Revises School Timings Amid Heatwave Alert; Announces Summer Vacation

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In response to a heatwave alert issued for several states, the Haryana government has announced revised school timings. Starting immediately, the first shift in all schools will run from 7 am to 12 pm, while the second shift will commence at 12:45 pm. This change applies to both government and private schools across the state. Additionally, the Haryana government has declared summer vacation for all schools, starting June 1 and lasting until June 30, 2024. This decision, based on a press release, aims to protect students from the extreme heat predicted by the Meteorological Department. According to weather forecasts, Haryana will experience intense heat waves in the coming days, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 46 degrees Celsius. In light of these conditions, weather experts have issued yellow and orange alerts for various districts. The revised school timings are expected to provide some relief to students during this period of extreme heat. By adjusting the hours of operation, the government aims to reduce the exposure of children to the harshest parts of the day. Similar measures are being taken in neighboring regions. All government schools in Delhi were closed on May 11, while summer vacations in private schools are expected to start in May. In Uttar Pradesh, summer vacations are set to begin by May 25, 2024, across most schools. Additionally, schools in areas where Lok Sabha voting will take place will also be closed to facilitate the electoral process. These steps reflect a broader effort to ensure the safety and well-being of students amid extreme weather conditions. As temperatures continue to rise, the proactive measures taken by the Haryana government and other states aim to mitigate the risks associated with the heatwave.    

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