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Central board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has posted the answer sheets of class Xth high scoring students for session 2007-2008 on its web site. This step is widely appreciated by the education fraternity, as it will give help students in learning the right way to attempt the paper.

Following subjects answer sheets have been posted on the web site:

Answer Sheet: Mathematics – Class Xth Results 2008
Answer Sheet: Social Science – Class Xth Results 2008
Answer Sheet: Science – Class Xth Results 2008

Student can easily download these answer sheets in pdf format, for thorough analysis and learning.

Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur has announced the IInd revised Programme of M.Sc. IInd Semester Examination 2008.

IInd revised Programme of M.Sc. IInd Semester Examination 2008

Students are advised to obtain the official date sheet of exams in printed format from the university.

Lower middle class of the Indian society often face the dilemma of choosing the right school for their child. They have to choose between municipal corporation schools and private schools run by various groups, parishes and similar institutions.

Although municipal schools provide free books, mid-day meals and uniforms, but parents still prefer private schools for their kids for only one reason – “Better Education Quality”. Parents are ready to spend more to get better education for their children. Their only complaint with municipal schools is that the teachers do not teach and have no motivation for teaching.

Parents have also alleged that teachers of municipal schools in Mumbai talk on mobile phones in their classes. At the end of every month municipal schools remains closed, as teachers have to draw their salaries. It has also been noticed that a lot of time of municipal teachers is wasted in distributing books, mid-meals under the “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan”.

Despite a bit heavy on pocket, lower middle class and middle class prefers private schools for their children to build strong foundation of their kids, for better career opportunities in future.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is soon going to set up special study centers in UP madrassas. One such center has already been set up in a madrassa in Jalaun district of the state, informed an IGNOU official.

A special course, Bachelor of Preparatory Programme (BPP) will be introduced in these study centers. Any student completing this course can directly apply for graduation and can pursue his higher education. This scheme will encourage drop outs from madrassas to continue their studies.

The districts where Muslim population is more than 60% have been chosen by IGNOU to set up such special study centers in local madrassas.

Today India’s economy is booming and we are seen as a strong economic power in the coming years. Despite this fact, some social issues are still of concern and should be given enough importance if we have to sustain ourselves as a strong socio-economic super power. One such issue is ‘Gender Parity In Primary Education’, which needs immediate attention by state and central governments.

Let’s see some figures* related to gender distribution in primary and secondary education in India.

Primary Schools (Class I-V) -> Parity Index: 0.94 -> 94 girls for every 100 boys
Higher Secondary (Class IX-XII) -> Parity Index: 0.80 -> 80 girls for every 100 boys

*Source: HRD Ministry, Figures of 2005-2006

The above figures gives a clear picture of wide gap between school going girls and boys. The situation is even more worse in selective areas of the country, especially in west,north west and some parts of north India. The drop out rate of girls is most in primary education, as parents prefer to spend more on their son. Early marriage, security issues also play an important role in further aggravating the situation.

The noticeable difference in gender parity index in urban and rural areas clearly indicates that more attention is needed in rural areas, where drop out rate of girls is much higher than urban areas.

Programmes like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) launched by government in 2004, does help the cause to some extent, but more action is needed to tackle this situation. Some state governements are also offering free bicycles to girls to travel to school, resulting in decreased drop out rate of girls in these areas.

Unless, the whole outlook of society will not change on this issue, it would be very difficult to close the gap of gender parity index.

Mathematics Professor, Annaswamy Ranganath Rao is 100 years old and is one of the pioneers in popularizing the concept of Math labs in schools. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), recognized his method of teaching mathematics and made it mandatory to have math labs in CBSE schools. Since 2006, this concept has been introduced with 80 marks from theory paper and 20 marks from math lab.

Professor Rao introduced math labs way back in 1974, making it easy for students to understand various math theorems. He design new model, gadgets to explain these concepts to students, making these concepts more understandable and at the same time a playful experience too.

Department of science and technology, which has decided to nominate him for UNESCO’s prestigious Kalinga Prize for popularizing science.

Texas is going to be the first state in US, introducing Hindi textbook for high school students. Today, it is the fourth largest spoken language in North America. With the emergence of India as an economic power, states are realizing the importance to learn the Hindi language. Earlier US students were reading French, Spanish and even German in their regular curriculum.

The book ‘Namaste Ji” is developed by Arun Prakash, an Indian origin teacher. It took 8 long years for him to develop this book. Arun has been teaching Hindi to US students from 80’s and has vast experience in teaching US students.

Private companies may be allowed to invest in primary education sector in collaboration with public sector company, reported ‘The Economic Times’. Currently, the plan is under consideration by the government and is under review. If it is implemented, investment by private companies will be allowed, provided they collaborate with public sector company.

Currently, charitable trusts and societies is the most preferred structure in education sector, and major chunk of profits is barred from taking away as profit. With new proposed business model, companies will be able to invest in primary education and will be able to generate profits from it. However, they will be barred from any tax exemptions and will be treated as profit making entities.

It must be noted that the proposed business model will only be applicable to those private companies who are willing to do a joint venture with a public sector company, and is willing to share the dividends as per the agreement.

News Source: The Economic Times