SHEMBLOG

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) have decided to provide online question bank and online test facility for its students. The database of question bank will be based on Higher Order Thinking System (HOTS) , a concept by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to develop analytical and logic building skills of the students.

After the implementation of this scheme, students of KV’s will be able to assess their analytical skills by taking online tests of themselves. The automated test will randomly pick questions from the question bank and will present it to the student. A complete test report will also be generated after successful completion of the test.

This methodology of online tests will help students prepare better for various entrance examinations.

The dropout rate of teenagers is increasing in West Bengal, which is worsening the condition of education in the state. According to state government records, about 5000 teachers posts are also lying vacant in rural and semi-urban areas of the state. This further aggravates the situation as enough teachers are not available in the schools to teach the students.

Records from state government shows that from 120 million children aged between 6 to 14 years who are going to school in the state, 60 million out of them drop their school education before reaching 10th grade. This makes the dropout rate of 50%, which is very high and needs immediate attention from the state government.

Another factor that aids in worsening of this situation is pathetic conditions of schools in rural and semi-urban areas. Schools do not have basic facilities and teachers are not regular in their duty.

Delhi Government has announced scholarships for economically backward students who want to take admissions for higher studies in various institutes in Delhi. A trust “Delhi Higher Education Aid Trust” will be created which will be headed by minister of education for the state to look after the fair distribution of scholarships. The trust will also manage distribution of stipends and prizes for poor students of the National Capital Region (NCR).

The government has decided to contribute an amount of Rs. 1 crore as corpus fund for the trust. This move will encourage students from weaker sections of society to take on higher studies.

From the academic year 2009-2010, ICSE board has decided to revise and re-structure class X syllabus. Except mathematics, whose syllabus was revised earlier in 2007-2008, all other subjects will be reviewed and necessary changes will be done in the syllabus.

The ICSE management has given clear indication that these changes will help students prepare in a better way for various engineering and medical entrance examinations. It’s a common public perception that CBSE syllabus is much more well structured when it comes to preparation of various entrance examinations. It seems that ICSE wants to change this perception by introducing drastic changes in its syllabus.

Group of Ministers (GoM) have received the Right To Education Bill 2005 from union cabinet for approval. Once it will get approved by GoM, the bill will be introduced in the parliament in monsoon session.

On successful implementation of this bill, children aged between 6 to 14 years of age will get the right of free and compulsory education.

Bihar Government has decided to revise and amend the recruitment process of teachers in the state. Under the amendment process following recruitment rules will be changed.

Bihar Panchayat Elementary Teachers (Employment and Service Conditions) Rules,      2008
Bihar Urban Local Bodies Elementary Teachers (Employment and Service Condition)      Rules, 2008
Bihar District Board Secondary / Higher Secondary Teachers (Employment and      Service Condition) Rules 2008
Bihar Urban Local Bodies Secondary / Higher Secondary Teacher (Employment and      Service Condition) Rules 2008

After the complaints of irregularities in the appointment process, the state cabinet has decided to remove the loopholes in the whole process and make it more transparent and credible. Under the new amendment, only the candidates appearing in the merit list will be called for counseling and interview. The certificates verification time has also been increased to 15 days. It has also been decided to publish the advertisements for all the posts simultaneously, to reduce the complexity of the recruitment process.

Leaves quota has also been amended with increase in maternity leave, casual leave and leave without pay. Education fraternity has welcomed these amendments and is expecting a more transparent system which will give fair opportunities for deserving candidates.